Find one ant in your home and expect to find an army of thousands more. If you discover ants in your home, you should eliminate the problem before it escalates. There are several ways to eliminate ants without using toxic chemicals. However, you might need to call a professional exterminator if the situation worsens. Here are some practical, effective ways to get rid of ants naturally without using potentially harmful chemicals in the home. 

Boiling Water 

Boiling water is the simplest and cheapest method for getting rid of ants in the home. If you spot an ant crawling out of a small hole in the corner, pour boiling water into the hole and around the area. The hot water should kill most of the ants, it probably won’t get rid of a whole colony of ants, but it will undoubtedly help reduce the problem. 

Hand Soap 

Hand soap or liquid detergent is an effective remedy for getting rid of ants. However, soapy water eradicates the scent of ant pheromones. Pour soapy water on ant trails points of entry throughout your home. 

Pepper 

Ants cannot stand the smell of spicy substances; therefore, try black or powdered red pepper. Place red or black pepper behind appliances and in all four corners of every room. The scent of the pepper should deter ants from entering your home. 

Are ants still finding their way into your home? In that case, you will need to enlist the help of a professional pest control company that can effectively kill ants and eradicate the problem before it escalates further. 

Peppermint 

Peppermint is a natural and effective insect repellent that can help to eliminate your ant problem. First, create a homemade insect repellent spray by mixing about 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with two cups of water. Next, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray areas where ants usually congregate. 

Peppermint oil is excellent for use as an insect repellant; however, you must keep it away from pets, as most pets, especially cats, cannot tolerate the scent of peppermint essential oil. 

Tea Tree Oil 

Tea tree oil is also a natural insect repellent; to make the repellant, add 15 drops of tea tree oil to two cups of water. Then, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to entry points, baseboards, and behind appliances to deter ants from coming into your home. 

White Vinegar 

Kill ants with a white vinegar and water solution. Mix one cup of water with one cup of white vinegar. Pour the mixture onto a cloth and clean the area where you see the ants. If you have an ant problem, clean your kitchen surfaces, baseboards, and floors with white vinegar and warm water. 

If you catch an ant problem fast, you can use these natural remedies to deter or kill the ants. However, if you notice a large colony of ants, you might need to enlist the help of a professional pest control service to eliminate the problem for you.