The ingredients in your average pest control product, specifically
ant control, reads more like a mad scientist experiment than something you would willingly spray in your home. When used according to manufacturers' directions, these products can be both effective and safe. If you have small children or pets, you can rest assured knowing that harmless ingredients, maybe even items found in your kitchen, are what make up most natural pest control products.
Remedies from the Kitchen
Your first attempt at organic ant control might be to sift through some old do-it-yourself pest control remedies. Everyday household items can become ant killers when used in the right mixture. Here are some examples of what you can do to help keep ants at bay.
- Vinegar and Water: Vinegar and water, although not a highly effective way to exterminate ants, is a deterrent. Use the solution to wipe down countertops and other surfaces where ants like to congregate. Spraying pure vinegar around windows and cracks is a green pest control method that not only keeps ants away but kills a few off as well.
- Mint Tea: Place a fragrant bag of mint tea in areas where ants are most active. If you don't have mint tea, crushed mint leaves or even cloves can help ward off the pests.
- Rubbing Alcohol: Combining two parts alcohol with two parts water and one part dish soap is a general-purpose ant control remedy, able to eliminate many different varieties of ants. In most cases the ants perish the instant they come into contact with the solution. This mixture also helps to mask the chemical trail ants leave behind so no other pests will follow that path into your home.
- Plants: One way to keep the ants outside in the first place is to surround the base of your home with organic pest control plants like spearmint. Catnip, pennyroyal, peppermint, sage, and tansy are all effective at warding off different species of ants.
Don't Try this at Home
Some organic ant control recipes are potentially more hazardous than the store-bought chemicals you are trying to avoid. These following ingredients can be effective natural pest control solutions, but the risks outweigh the benefits:
- Boric Acid: Found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store, boric acid is deadly to ants when ingested. People often mix the boric acid with something sweet, like corn syrup, peanut butter or confectioner’s sugar, to lure the ants into taking the bait and bringing it back to the nest. Unfortunately, boric acid can be highly toxic to infants and the amount considered dangerous to pets varies. This solution will likely taste and smell as good to your dog or cat as it does to the ants so our advice is to skip this altogether.
- Kerosene: Ants don't like the smell of kerosene, and really, who does? An old, natural pest control remedy is to wipe kerosene over some areas, like near your pets food dish, where the ants are finding an easy food source. Not only does this do-it-yourself pest control remedy smell bad, but it can also cause headaches and nausea if too much kerosene is used. Many people give this home remedy a big thumbs-down.
Green Grocer
With more people embracing a green lifestyle, you will also find more organic ant control solutions on the shelves of your local lawn and garden store. While some of the products may simply be mixtures similar to some of the aforementioned home remedies, they are convenient and ready to use the moment a problem arises. Here are a few organic ant control products that use unique ingredients to get the job done.
- Orange Guard is a series of organic ant control products that uses d-Limonene (orange peel extract) to destroy the wax coating of the insect's respiratory system. It is safe for plants and animals, and according to the manufacturer, you can even spray it directly on your countertops.
- St. Gabriel's is an all-natural pest control product said to stop ants dead in their tracks. Made with food-grade diatomaceous earth, this ant removal product is safe to use around children and pets and will biodegrade naturally. It is even certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute OMRI.
- Green Light Fire Ant Control is another OMRI rated product. Fire ants are in a league all their own with a nasty sting and lawn damaging tunnels. This 100% organic pest control product uses an ingredient called Spinosad as an effective bait. Each application lasts for up to 2 months.
You Decide
As you can see, there are plenty of green pest control options to choose from if you are interested in organic ant control. As with any pest control plan, understanding what critter, in this case the exact specie of ant, you are dealing with is the first start. Then it is simply a matter of trial-and-error to find the method that works best for you and your lifestyle.