Discovering a hoard of ants has somehow made their way into your home can be an absolute day-ruiner, and with the current warm weather and long days, the critters are busier than ever.
While the summer can be a great time for your plants, insects also begin to thrive and before you know it your windows and doorways are covered in ants.
Ants can not only be unsightly, but they can also play havoc inside your house, munching and destroying any houseplants, working their way into your kitchen cupboards and in some cases even finding a new home inside your walls.
But before you head to the shop to buy some expensive chemical repellents, you could help the planet – and your wallet – by using this natural solution that uses just a few kitchen scraps that were destined for landfill or the compost bin.
Ants can hate certain strong smells, and one such thing they can not stand is the smell of citrus. Old orange, lemon and lime peels are full of strong citrussy essential oils and have a proven track record at keeping ants away.
The experts at Places for People add: “Certain natural substances, including vinegar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and peppermint oil, have a proven track record for repelling ants. Ants take a particular dislike to the strong citrus aroma of fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits.
“Consider spraying these deterrents around entry points and along ant trails as a natural ant repellent for the house and to discourage intrusions.”
The mixture is cheap and simple to make and only calls for one part lemon juice, to three parts water. Mix in some more citrus peels for an even more potent mix and load into a spray bottle.
A quick spray along your windows, doorways and anywhere the ants may have appeared should send them packing.
They added: “This natural method effectively deters ants without causing them harm, offering a sustainable and humane solution to your pest control needs.”
Another benefit of staying away from the strong chemical sprays is that the citrus hack can be pet friendly too, giving dog and cat owners peace of mind knowing that the lemon juice is perfectly fine for your four-legged friend.
It’s not just ants that the solution deters, it can also help to keep aphids, whiteflies and even mosquitoes away during the hot and humid summer nights.
But it’s not just inside that ants can be a nuisance, they can quickly find a home in your garden and lawn and start eating away your prized flowers.
Luckily for gardeners, citrus peels can be great for outside and issues too. Fantastic Pest Control added:” “Orange peels are very useful when dealing with an ant infestation in lawns. Believe it or not, they are deadly to ants. The organic components they contain are toxic to the favourite meal of ants – fungi.
“Since ants will search for fungi if they can’t find them, they will choose another garden. Collect the peels from the oranges you have eaten and spread them in your yard.”