20 Safe Ways To Kill Ants In Your Home Without Toxic Chemicals

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How to Get Rid of Ants Safely and When to Hire an Exterminator

Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Amialya Elder Durairaj and Corey Whelan — Updated on January 10, 2024

Natural ways to eliminate ants
Kitchen ants
Other solutions
Exterminator
FAQ
Takeaway

Some household products, such as white vinegar, Borax, essential oils, and coffee grounds, may help get rid of ants, as can pesticides. Certain items may not be safe to use around pets or children.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, there are more than 12,000 species of ants worldwide. The vast majority of these ants are harmless to people.

Ants may carry bacteria, making them potential transmitters of disease or infection. For example, a small 2019 animal study showed that Monomorium ants can carry pathogenic bacteria, which can be dangerous to people.

Keep reading to learn about how to kill and repel ants safely.

20 natural ways to eliminate and repel ants

Here are some of the best ways to kill and repel ants naturally using ingredients found in the home or at a local store.

1. Borax (sodium tetraborate)

Borax, or sodium tetraborate, is a powdery white substance. It’s often used as a cleaning product, emulsifier, or insect repellent.

To use borax, follow these steps:

Put on safety gloves.
Make a solution of 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) borax, 8 tsp sugar, and 1 cup warm water.
Stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved.
Saturate cotton balls and place them around your home in areas where you commonly see ants.
After use, wash containers thoroughly.

It’s imperative to keep borax away from pets and children, as it may be harmful.

2. Diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide)

Diatomaceous earth is made up of silica. It’s made of fossilized remains of aquatic organisms called diatoms, a type of plankton.

Diatomaceous earth isn’t a poison. It kills ants and other bugs by absorbing the oils in the exoskeletons, which dries them out. However, since it’s an irritant, avoid breathing it in or getting it on your skin.

To use it to kill ants, follow the package directions, or sprinkle the powder anywhere you see ants.

3. Glass cleaner and liquid detergent

Ants leave a scented pheromone trail behind when they walk. This acts as a map of food sources.

Using glass cleaner may help remove the scent and deter the ants from reentering your home.

Here’s how to do it:

Mix glass cleaning spray with liquid detergent, like dish soap, into a clean spray bottle.
Spray the mixture on areas where ants seem to enter from or congregate around.
After spraying, wipe down the area, leaving a light residue.
Repeat the above steps as often as needed.

If you don’t have glass cleaner available, using soapy water of any kind (i.e., hand soap, dish detergent) may likely remove the scent of ant pheromones.

4. Ground black or red pepper

Black or red (cayenne) pepper is a natural ant deterrent, as the insects may find the smell irritating.

Sprinkle pepper around baseboards and behind appliances.

5. Peppermint

The authors of a 2020 study found that peppermint oil helped repel the invasive European red ant, Myrmica rubra (L.).

To use peppermint essential oil as an ant deterrent, complete the following steps:

Mix 10 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil with 2 cups of water in a clean plastic spray bottle.
Spray the mixture around the baseboards and windows of your home.
Allow the mixture to dry and repeat as needed.

Keep peppermint oil out of reach of pets, especially cats, which can become very ill if exposed.

You may be able to find peppermint oils at your local grocery chain or health food store.

6. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has been shown to effectively kill flies, which may indicate it could be an effective ant deterrent.

To use this method, complete the following steps:

Mix 5 to 10 drops of tea tree essential oil with 2 cups of water in a clean plastic spray bottle.
Spray the mixture around the house where you typically see ants. Alternatively, you can saturate cotton balls with the mixture and place them around your home.

If the scent is too strong, try mixing tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and water.

Like most essential oils, keep tea tree oil out of reach of pets.

You can purchase tea tree oil at your local grocery store, health food store, or online.

7. Lemon eucalyptus oil

Oil extracted from the lemon eucalyptus tree is another natural insect repellent. It contains citronella, which is used in candles to repel mosquitoes and has been shown to repel certain types of ants.

To use, complete the following steps:

Saturate cotton balls with the undiluted lemon eucalyptus essential oil.
Place the cotton balls in areas where you usually see ants in the home.
Replace the cotton balls weekly with freshly saturated cotton balls.

Do not ingest lemon eucalyptus oil and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

You can likely find lemon eucalyptus oil at your local health food store.

8. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)

Despite their similar names, the oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is different from lemon eucalyptus essential oil. OLE comes from the gum eucalyptus tree, which is native to Australia. It contains a chemical called p- Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which is an effective insect repellent.

PMD is classified as a biopesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is considered safe to use.

You can find OLE at your local hardware and gardening store or online.

9. White vinegar

White vinegar, available at all grocery stores, is a cheap and effective way to kill and repel ants. It’s also a natural cleaning agent.

Try using a 1-to-1 vinegar and water mixture to clean hard surfaces, including floors and countertops, wherever ants are likely to travel. If you see ants, spray the mixture on them or wipe them up with a paper towel.

Ants can smell the vinegar after it dries, but the scent doesn’t remain long for most people.

10. Boiling water

If you notice ant holes near your home, pour boiling water into them. This method will effectively and immediately kill many of the ants inside. Anthills may appear small, but the ant colonies underneath them are vast.

The boiling water won’t be enough to kill off the entire colony. For this reason, make sure to treat every ant hole you see within your home’s proximity.

11. Cornstarch

Cornstarch, available at grocery stores, can be an effective way to smother many ants at one time.

There are two different ways to employ cornstarch to kill ants:

The first method is to liberally pour cornstarch over the entire group of ants and add water on top. The result will be many dead ants encased in cornstarch, which you can then clean up.
The second method is to cover the ants with cornstarch and then vacuum them up, taking care to dispose of the sealed vacuum bag outdoors immediately.

12. Cinnamon leaf essential oil

A 2008 study found that compounds in cinnamon leaf essential oil, including trans-cinnamaldehyde, could be effective at killing and repelling ants.

Saturate cotton balls with the undiluted cinnamon leaf essential oil.
Place the cotton balls in areas where you typically see ants in the home.
Replace the cotton balls weekly with freshly saturated cotton balls.

Keep cinnamon leaf essential oil out of reach of pets.

Health food stores often carry cinnamon leaf essential oil. You can also find it online.

13. Neem oil

Neem oil is a naturally occurring insecticide extracted from the neem tree, native to India.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, neem oil helps:

reduce insect feeding
repel insects
prevents reproduction

It’s best to use neem oil around plants, especially where you see aphids or ants. Ants farm aphids (small sap-sucking insects), so poisoning the aphids with neem oil can take care of both types of pests.

Diluted neem and products containing neem extract have been reported not to work nearly as well as full-strength neem oil.

You can find neem oil at many health food stores or online.

14. Coffee grounds

Brewed coffee grounds have been found to repel household ants.

Try sprinkling the freshly brewed coffee grounds on disposable surfaces (such as index cards) and leaving them in areas where ants congregate, such as pet bowls.

You can also place the grounds on windowsills. Once they’re dry, the grounds may lose their potency, so make sure to change them often.

15. Boric acid

Boric acid is a type of poison that can kill certain types of worker ants, according to a 2023 animal study.

To use boric acid, follow the steps below:

Put on safety gloves.
Make a solution of 1/2 tsp boric acid, 8 tsp sugar, and 1 cup warm water.
Stir until the sugar and boric acid are dissolved.
Saturate cotton balls and place them around your home in areas where you usually see ants.
After use, wash containers thoroughly.

You can also use boric acid as an ingredient in do-it-yourself (DIY) ant traps. Mix the powder with something sweet that will attract ants, such as maple syrup or corn syrup. Spread on a flat, disposable surface like cardboard and place in areas where you see ants.

It’s vital to keep boric acid away from pets and children as it can be hazardous.

Find boric acid at your local hardware and gardening store or online.

16. Lemons

You can spray or wipe lemon juice to deter ants. It removes pheromone trails and masks the scent of food.

In addition, putting lemon rinds in your cupboard may also deter ants from taking up residence in your kitchen.

17. Check your houseplants

Check your houseplants for swarms of ants, which might indicate nests underneath the soil. Discard any plants that appear to be infested.

To stop ants from making homes in your plants, surround the soil with citrus rinds from lemons or oranges.

18. Keep the outdoors outside

Keep your yard clean of debris. Cut off any vines or vegetation that touches or leans against the exterior walls of your house and windows, as this can make it easier for ants to enter your home.

19. Cut off sources of food

Ants are attracted to sweet and starchy foods like sugar, honey, and cornmeal. Therefore, one of the best ways to deter ants is to ensure that no food sources are readily available for them to eat.

Keep food tightly sealed in containers or plastic bags. Wash all plates and cooking utensils immediately after eating.

Clean up crumbs from your home every day using a broom or vacuum. Places that may accumulate crumbs include:

under and around standing appliances in your kitchen
in couch cushions
in garbage pails
areas of the home where your family eats or prepares food

Pet food can also attract ants. Remove pet bowls as soon as your pet has finished eating, and clean the bowls immediately to eliminate the scent of the food.

20. Eliminate ant entrances

Figuring out how ants are entering your home can help you eliminate an ant infestation and prevent a future one.

Check your home for cracks in the walls and holes near floorboards and radiators. You can seal cracks or treat them with ant repellent. Also, check for rips in window screens that require mending.

Tips for how to stop kitchen ants

The kitchen offers proximity to an ample supply of food. This makes it the place that most often attracts ants and other pests. To discourage ants from being in the kitchen:

clean kitchen surfaces and floors every day
wash dishes immediately after using them
rinse pet food bowls after your dog or cat eats
use natural repellents to deter ants and remove the pheromone scent
store food properly in sealed containers or bags that lock

Pesticides and commercial products that eliminate or repell ants

If natural options aren’t enough, you can use pesticides and commercially prepared products to eradicate ants.

Commercial repellents

Nontoxic commercial repellent sprays may help repel and kill ants.

For example, Raid is a chemical spray that can be very effective on ants. It’s long-lasting, but it contains imiprothrin and cypermethrin, two chemical compounds that shouldn’t be inhaled or ingested.

Bait traps

Bait traps that contain pesticides in an enclosed form may be preferable for some people over sprays. Bait traps work by attracting ants to them. The ants eat the bait and bring some of it back to their nests, killing off other ants.

Some bait traps contain boric acid or borax, while others contain hydramethylnon. This compound is dangerous for children, pets, and food-growing plants like tomato plants.

Ant traps are available at many hardware and gardening stores and online. To avoid toxins, check the ingredients before you buy.

When to hire an exterminator

If all else fails, hiring an exterminator can help. Look for one who’s committed to using the least toxic products possible. Let them know if you have children, pets, or other concerns, such as a respiratory health condition.

Some professional exterminators use green, organic, or eco-friendly words in their titles. If you’re concerned about chemicals, ask the exterminator what substances they typically use in ant treatments before you hire them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of ants permanently?

Some natural ways to permanently get rid of ants include using water-based mixtures that contain borax and Diatomaceous earth, or pouring boiling water into ant holes. If natural remedies don’t help, speak with an exterminator. They’ll be able to offer you advice.

How do I get rid of ants in my house fast?

It’s important to seal any cracks in your house where ants may be entering. You can use natural remedies like cornstarch to quickly eradicate large amounts of ants, or try cleaning ant pheromone trails with liquid detergent. If these fail, try using bait traps or commercial repellants.

What smell do ants hate?

Ants may not like the smell of:

black and red pepper
coffee grounds
white vinegar
some essential oils, like peppermint, tea tree, and lemon eucalyptus

Takeaway

Ants are common invaders of homes across the United States and are mostly harmless. They can be hard to get rid of, but it’s possible to repel and eradicate ants over time using the natural methods described above. Commercial products are also available to help kill or deter these pests.

Keeping your home clean and removing possible places for ants to enter and hide can prevent future infestations.

If all else fails, professional exterminators can remove ants from your home.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH — Written by Amialya Elder Durairaj and Corey Whelan — Updated on January 10, 2024

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