How To Get Rid Of Ants with Essential Oils

The fight against ants in your home can be quite annoying! There are just so many of them, and you may have to treat the issue often. If you strive for a natural home, I can show you how to use your essential oils for ant problems and other pest infestations.

Most commercial ant killer sprays contain harsh chemicals that you may not wish to use.

Mother nature offers a natural ant repellent remedy in the form of essential oils. These oils are non-toxic, and much safer to use than chemical products.

If pesky little creepy-crawlies make their way into your house, use a natural ant spray to kill these bugs. Then, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dead ants.

Here are some of the ways to make this happen using the best essential oils for ants.

Which Oils Naturally Repel Ants?

In the art and science of aromatherapy, essential oils solve day to day problems. These oils can work at home, outside the home, or even at picnics. This short guide covers five essential oils to help you remove ants from your home. Plus, it gives you a quick and easy recipe for repelling ants in your home.

1. Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is rich in menthol. This substance repels ants and other pests.

• Take a small cotton ball and add 5 drops of peppermint oil onto it. Place each ball near the access points of ants. This could be the pantry shelves, kitchen cabinets, or under the stove or fridge.
• Replace these cotton balls every 2-3 days. Continue until the ants are completely repelled.

2. Patchouli

Choose patchouli essential oil if you want to get rid of ants in your home. Black ants and other pests dislike its strong scent, keeping the infestation at bay.

• Use a cotton ball and apply 5-6 drops of patchouli essential oil. Place these cotton swabs at all access points such as windowsills, doors, drawers or kitchen cabinets.
• Replace the pads every 2-3 days for an effective result.

3. Cedarwood

Cedarwood essential oil also has a strong smell that could repel ants. It is effective against fire ants and other dangerous species of ants.

• Locate the access points of these ants. Place a cotton swab with five drops of oil on it.
• You can also diffuse Cedarwood oil in your home to keep the ant infestation at bay.

4. Lemongrass

One of the best essential oils for tackling ants menace is lemongrass essential oil. It is rich in citronella and also used in insect repellent recipes. Use this oil in a DIY ant repellent spray on the trails left by ants while gathering their foods.

• Make an ant spray with Lemongrass oil (recipe below).
• Diffuse a blend with Lemongrass oil inside your home.

5. Cinnamon

Cinnamon essential oil contains cinnamaldehyde. This substance is useful for repelling and killing ants of all kinds, especially carpenter ants and fire ants.

• Make an ant spray with Lemongrass oil (recipe below).

Essential Oil Ant Spray

Fight the ant infestation in your home with a natural, homemade essential oil ant spray. The recipe and ingredients are simple. And essential oils really work great as natural ant repellent! This DIY ant spray is an all-natural technique that works without harmful chemicals.

Here’s how to make it:

• Grab an empty 8 ounce amber glass spray bottle.
• Add 1/2 cup of distilled water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar.
• Blend 15 drops of Cinnamon essential oil and 15 drops of Cedarwood oil into your mixture.
• Cover the lid tightly. Shake the bottle well to mix the blend.
• Spray on affected areas of the home. Repeat this process three times daily for best results.

I’ve found it quite effective to not only spray the ant entry places to our house, but to also spray their scent trail. If you watch the ant invasion for a little bit before applying your natural home remedy, you can learn a lot! See where the ants travel and spray their whole path.

Feel free to substitute other oils to repel ants. Use whatever you have at home already. Or shop for what you need with one of the top recommended essential oil brands.

Keeping Things Clean Helps to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Ants have quite the determined instincts for survival. No matter how neat your home may be, ants still crawl out of corners, cracks or kitchen areas. Other places of concern are pet food pans, food stores, and house plants.

Keeping your home neat and tidy is an important factor in keeping the ants away. Clean up the kitchen sink and seal off cracked doors and windows to prevent their entry.

Diffuse essential oils in your home often.

You can get rid of ants from your home by keeping things neat and tidy. It’s also good to diffuse ant-repelling essential oils often. Try these tips:

1. Clean your home using a floor cleaner with Lemon, Lemongrass, or Tea Tree essential oils. Ants don’t like strong fragrances.
2. Regularly wash recycling bins and trash cans with soap and water. Food residues attract ants.
3. Clean pet food bowls regularly.
4. Check your house plants for the infestation of ants. Remove such flower pots, wash them, and replant your flowers.
5. Remove liner papers on pantry shelves and kitchen cabinets periodically.
6. Diffuse essential oils that ants dislike often, especially in your kitchen areas. Start here to find a cheap diffuser.

Ants like to go where there are food sources such as crumbs or food scraps.

Final Thoughts

You can repel ants by using essential oils or other home remedy methods. Using natural products won’t harm your home, floors or furniture. Even if you have to apply the solution often, essential oils are safe to use around your home. But if you have a pet, some essential oils can be fatal to them! Please take these special considerations into account.

I’ve had the best success with the cotton ball method. Sprays are ok too, but I don’t usually like to spray the floor – I use a spray more outside or on the patio.

Try it out! I hope this helps you control the ant pest in your home. And please let us know how it all worked out for you in the comments below.

References

1. Ant Killer: How to Get Rid of Ants
2. 5 Essential Oils to Repel Ants Naturally
3. 6 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants
4. How to Get Rid of Ants: 8 Home Remedies That Do the Trick
5. How to Kill and Repel Ants Safely