For most homeowners, ants can be a serious problem. While there are many commercial products that promise to help you get rid of them, there are more natural ways that are cheaper and healthier. Follow these steps and the ants will be gone.

  1. Locate the place where the ants are entering the house. You can do this if you follow their tracks.
  2. Purchase diatomaceous earth at your local hardware store and apply it to any holes or cracks where ants enter. If you have trouble finding it, buy baby powder, as some contain this material. Check back regularly, and if they’re still there, apply some more. Ants will not go near this spot, because they die almost immediately if they touch it.
  3. You can get rid of any remaining ants by sprinkling them with baby powder mixed with water. Be sure to sweep the floor after doing this.
  4. For a more animal-friendly way to get rid of ants, try spraying them with a mixture of water and peppermint essential oil. You can also soak a long piece of string in peppers or cinnamon and put it around your house.
  5. Consider planting mint plants throughout your home. Not only is it useful for other things and gives off a nice smell, but it will keep ants away forever.
  6. Keep your house clean. If you wash the dishes regularly, mop the floor, and clean the kitchen tables every day, there will be no reason for ants to come in, as they are looking for food scraps and sugar.