When the weather gets warmer, you may start noticing a trail of ants in your kitchen or around food storage areas. These tiny creatures may seem harmless at first. However, once they establish a colony, it becomes difficult to manage their numbers. Many people use chemical sprays or toxic baits to get rid of them.

However, these solutions can harm beneficial insects, your pets, and even the soil. Moreover, these harsh products often leave behind harmful residues that can impact your health and the environment in the long run. Therefore, people are opting for eco-friendly pest control methods.

In places where eco-conscious living is trending, such as Burnaby, people are becoming more aware of the impact of traditional pest control methods. Therefore, ant control in Burnaby is increasingly focused on natural and non-toxic solutions. In this article, we will explore some effective, eco-friendly methods to get rid of ants.

Eco-Friendly Methods to Control Ants

Seal Entry Points to Block Ant Access

You should start by observing where the ants are coming from. They usually enter through tiny gaps in windows, door frames, or foundation cracks. Sealing these entry points is one of the most effective and environmentally safe ways to keep them out.

You can use silicone caulk or weather stripping to close these gaps. It will stop the ants from entering your space without using any chemicals. This method doesn’t harm the environment and offers long-term protection. Moreover, sealing gaps also improves insulation, which ultimately makes your space more energy-efficient.

Use Natural Ingredients

You can opt for a wide range of natural ingredients to get rid of ants. The following are the 4 most effective natural ingredients that help repel ants.

1. Vinegar: It helps remove the scent trails ants follow. You should mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spraying it along windowsills, door frames, and where ants gather can help repel them. Its strong smell confuses ants and keeps them away.
2. Lemon Juice: It breaks down ant trails and repels them with its citrus scent. You can simply squeeze fresh lemon juice near entry points and wipe surfaces with it. It also acts as a natural cleaner, which makes your home less attractive to ants.
3. Cinnamon: It acts as a barrier, and its strong smell disrupts ant movement. You can sprinkle ground cinnamon across entry points or use cinnamon sticks near windows. It’s safe and smells nice. Moreover, ants avoid crossing it, making it an effective natural repellent.
4. Peppermint Oil: Its strong smell makes it one of the most effective ant deterrents. You can mix 10 drops with water and spray it around baseboards and cracks. Ants dislike the minty smell and avoid the area. It’s also a great way to keep your home smelling fresh.

Keep Surfaces Clean

Ants are mostly attracted to leftover food, sugary spills, and crumbs. If your home offers them a food source, they’ll keep coming back. Therefore, you should regularly clean your space with eco-friendly products, such as baking soda or lemon juice, to remove these temptations.

When doing so, you should pay special attention to kitchen counters and dining areas. When ants find nothing to eat, they lose interest in your home. This simple habit can reduce the need for any pest control products. Clean surroundings naturally lead to fewer pests and a healthier home.

Use Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a natural powder made from crushed fossilized algae. It’s safe for humans and pets but deadly to ants. When ants walk over it, the powder damages their exoskeletons, which leads them to dehydrate and die. All you have to do is sprinkle a thin layer around ant trails, behind appliances, and near entry points.

Make sure you use food-grade DE. Moreover, you should apply it after cleaning your space for lasting results. It’s an eco-friendly option that leaves no toxic residue and is safe to use indoors and outdoors.

Create Homemade Ant Baits Using Borax

If the infestation is large, you can make your bait using borax and sugar. Mix one part borax with three parts sugar, and add a little water to form a paste. Now, you have to place small amounts of this paste near ant trails using bottle caps or paper plates.

Ants will take the bait back to their colony, eventually killing the queen and stopping reproduction. Though borax is a mineral, it should be used with caution and kept out of reach of pets and children. It’s much safer than commercial chemical baits and effective in reducing ant numbers naturally.

Encourage Natural Predators

Nature has its way of balancing the ant population. Birds, frogs, and even certain beetles eat ants. You can plant a garden that attracts these natural predators. As a result, they can help reduce the ant population without using any harmful methods. This approach supports biodiversity and helps keep your outdoor areas in balance.

By following the aforementioned simple yet powerful tips, you can keep ants away without disturbing the ecosystem. Instead of using harsh sprays or harmful baits, these eco-friendly solutions allow you to protect your home and the planet.