Bid farewell to pesky ants invading your kitchen with this ‘genius’ concoction

Gone are the days of pesky ants taking over your kitchen thanks to Melbourne mum, Chantel Mila who has shared her formula to keep them at bay.

Taking to her Instagram page, Mila revealed the concoction she swears by, labelling it a “must-have to keep ants away”, even better “it doubles as a great multipurpose cleaner” for non-porous surfaces and bathrooms.

To bid farewell to ant invasions, follow these simple steps:

1. Add lemon or orange peels to a mason jar + cover with white vinegar
2. Allow this to infuse for up to 2 weeks
3. Combine this mix in a spray bottle with equal parts water
4. Spray on windows and cracks to deter ants, thanks to the limonene in the lemon and orange peels and the smell of the white vinegar

 

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A post shared by Chantel Mila Ibbotson (@mama_mila_au)

Australians, united in their frustration over kitchen-invading ants, flocked to the comments section to praise the method. Many expressed eagerness to try it out, hopeful to bid a final farewell to those persistent pests.

“How good is that,” one wrote.

“Looks great tips! We must try this too.”

“Oooo I’m trying this as we have a real problem with ants in the summer,” commented another.

“Oh that’s a great hack!”

“Wow! You’re a genius!”

In addition to Mila’s clever method, there are several other ways to get rid of unwanted ants and other bugs that don’t involve reaching for any chemical-laden sprays or repellants.

1. Draw with chalk

It sounds crazy, but the chalk your grandchildren love so much could actually be an effective way to repel ants. Just as we don’t like walking through mud or dirt if we don’t have to, ants don’t like passing across chalk. As many people on social media have pointed out, the insects can’t stand stepping onto it. The smell of the chalk disrupts the ants’ ability to pick up scents and they become confused.

2. Serve up some herbs and spices

Herbs and spices can transform a meal from average to delicious, but that’s not their only super power. Black pepper, mint, cinnamon and garlic powder all produce smells that ants can’t stand.

All you have to do is leave the herbs in small bowls or sachets around the house or, alternatively, you can dip cotton balls in oil versions of the spices. Even better, this doesn’t just work on ants, with a number of other critters – such as cockroaches and fleas – also turned off by the herbs’ scent.

3. Mix water with vinegar

Vinegar is an effective cleaning product, but did you know it’s also a deterrent for ants? Just like chalk and herbs, vinegar causes problems for ants’ scent trails.

Just mix together equal parts water and vinegar and wipe down the areas where ants have congregated. It may take several wipes, but in time you’ll notice the ants are no longer sticking around like they used to.

4. Spray citrus scents

Believe it or not, citrus is toxic to ants and will kill them on contact, so it’s normal for them to avoid the scent like the plague. If you place citrus peels near the entry points of your home, ants won’t dare go anywhere near them and will leave in search of another food source.

Citrus fragrances and scented sprays and wipes also do the trick. You can even spray lemon juice and water through different areas of the house to stop them from coming back.