Got Ants In Your Pants…Er, That Is, Pantry?

An ant invasion is not usually welcomed in your living space, whether inside or out. But knowing the cumulative effects of toxins in the body, you want to avoid using chemicals of any kind. Are there any natural insect repellents or pesticides that really work? Because believe me, there are some that just plain don’t, whether they are store-bought and have all kinds of claims, or whether they are a homemade remedy.

However, there are two very effective non-chemical ways to get rid of ants, inside or out.

1. Diatomaceous earth

DE is basically ground-up shells of these teeny organisms called diatoms. While the finished product you see in the bag feels like a fine flour, it is actually hard enough to scratch the tender soft bodies of insects, causing them to dry up and die. (Because of this quality, you want to avoid inhaling it, as it will scratch and dry up your lungs, as well.)

A couple of years ago Jerry discovered a fire ants nest in our attic (!). He crawled through the crawl space and sprinkled DE everywhere, and the ants disappeared from our house within a day or two.

Buy the food grade kind, like what the company Soil Mender provides, so that you don’t have to worry if your toddler or pets get into any that you might spread around.

2. Essential oils

Specifically, peppermint and oregano (undiluted). Ten drops of each in two and a half cups of water, shake together in a spray bottle, and spray the the area where they are entering your house. Direct contact will kill them; the smell will keep them from crossing over the essential oil border.

If you have an ant problem and want to avoid chemicals, either of these two ant-i-cides will work great.