Blogs

13 natural remedies for the ant invasion

Ants are making their way into homes this time of year. Thankfully there are natural pest control methods to help you cope with and eliminate the problem. Plus, many of the solutions use what you already have in your cupboard!

Photo: Lindspetrol/Flickr
Little tiny ants have been spotted in our new home, and many people are suffering the same fate across the country. As much as I love spring, I don't like bugs — especially bugs that can infest a house. Last week I asked for some advice in how to deal with ants naturally as I hadn't time to research it myself since I moved this last weekend. I got such good advice, I had to share it with the readers here at MNN as well.

Some of these measures are deterrents. That is, they deter the ants from coming in your house. This seems to work well for those with a mild problem. Others found that they needed to use a method that kills the whole colony of ants. I've compiled the comments and suggestions by category, allowing you to compare the different methods a little more easily.

1. Lemon juice
Teresa: We just spray around the openings with pure lemon juice … and it always works for us … something about the acid messes up their sense of tracking…

2. Cinnamon
Shayla:We use ground cinnamon around where there are coming it. It works really well.
Peggy: We spray cinnamon essential oil all around the doors, windowsills, floors, etc. keeps them from coming in. I put the sugar water and borax OUTSIDE!

Letia: Another vote for ground cinnamon. Easy to clean up afterwards and worked great for us!!!
Jean: Cinnamon and cloves. Makes your house smell nice and the ants just hate it sprinkled right in their path.
Patricia: We also use cinnamon oil. We draw borders around everything with a Q-tip dipped in it. They won’t cross it.

3. Peppermint
Heather: My mother-in-law has success with peppermint essential oil around windows and doors (any entries). Plus her house then smells awesome.

Julie: Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap in the mint aroma. Mix 1 to 1 with water in a spray bottle. Spray on the ant invasion and watch them suffer.

4. Borax, water and sugar
Kristi: We use borax, sugar, water and a touch of peanut butter. It takes a couple of weeks but really works. We used it last year in our old house and are implementing it again this spring in our new house. Pesky ants! Here is the site where I found the recipe:http://naturalantkiller.blogspot.com/

Christy: I second Diana’s comment about borax and sugar. I’ve made a thin paste before with water, sugar and borax, then spread it on little pieces of thin cardboard or stiff cardstock and placed them near where it seems they are coming into the house. They’ll eat it and take it back to their colony (just like the Terro liquid you can buy). The paste will dry up in a couple days, so you’ll have to make more. But I think I only had to do it twice before they were gone.

Chookie: What worked for us was a mixture of borax and sugar in water. Several years ago, we lived in a house where there was an ants nest in the walls. Removing it would have meant virtually demolishing the entire front wall of the house (not practical!), so instead, after a year or two of having flying ants swarm into our bedroom every year we decided to go on an ant killing spree. Conventional ant killers didn’t work. Borax and powdered sugar didn’t work. But adding water to the borax and sugar mix to make a thick sugary borax-y syrup DID work…. the worker ants took it back into the nest and it positioned the queen – result = no more flying ants. OK, so borax does need to be kept away from pets and small children, but it is relatively safe beyond that as it is only toxic if you eat it. my solution was to put it somewhere where the kids and the cats would not reach it but the ants could.

BeverlyC: We live in China and had a HORRIBLE ant problem in our house. Tried cinnamon, black pepper, vinegar, etc. etc. We were concerned about the borax because we have guests in and out regularly and the little children are often, well, naughty and undisciplined. When someone suggested Terro liquid ant bait and we found it was just Borax and sugar, we asked someone to bring us some. We could pick the traps up and put them away when company came and put them back out after they left. They worked wonders!!

5. Boiling water and dish soap
Jennie: We make sure all of our food is sealed up. The honey jar is usually the biggest ant magnet, so it gets a thorough washing and then is placed on a small water-filled saucer in the cupboard. We use a spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of liquid dish soap (I use Seventh Generation) to kill any visible ants. I also look around outside to try to find their hill; pouring a kettle of boiling water on it solves the problem.

Christy: I’ve done what Jennie mentioned too – boiling water will destroy an ant colony, or weeds popping up between sidewalk cracks or in mulch. It’s an easy, purely natural way to kill things that we don’t often think about.

6. Diatomaceous earth
Karen: Yes … diatomaceous earth (DE) works well … use food-grade not swimming pool DE. It should be sprinkled around the perimeter of your new home and you can also safely sprinkle it inside where you see them.

Do not wet the DE or it will not work. DE isn’t an instant kill but should resolve the problem within a week or so.

Jami: I have a pretty serious any invasion at my house too. When I moved in last April they had already made themselves at home. I did the cinnamon thing last year and worked ok, but they just kept finding new ways in. My ants weren’t attracted to sugary things, but protein, especially the dog food. This year I made some borax cookies and put them in the old fireplace where I noticed the ants returning a week ago. I also sprinkled DE around the perimeter of my kitchen and that seems to have worked better than anything so far for immediate results.

7. Chalk
Natalie: Oh! And they will not cross a line drawn in chalk. I drew a line around my window where they were coming in and it kept them at bay.

Anali: My grandparents has really good results with the line of chalk, they used powder that you can get at home improvement stores. It comes in a squeezey bottle so it’s easy to lay down a line with.

8. Baking soda and powdered sugar
Jennifer: Ants carry an acidic substance with them always for protection. I do a mix of baking soda and powdered sugar in a plastic lid set in strategic places. I think a little volcanic science experiment happens inside their bodies. Over the course of several days it has made a huge difference.

9. Coffee grounds
Lea: I have had success with used coffee grounds, I did know where their entry was, after putting it in the cracks they never returned. I also do know it doesn’t kill them, it just makes them move homes, (we have put them on beds outside and we just see them pop up a small distance away.

10. Cornmeal
Jill: One more thing to add to this. I saw somewhere to use corn meal. Well, it worked out since some moths got into my cornmeal, and I felt bad wasting it. That’s when I saw the idea and tried it. I sprinkled a little bit just off the back porch. Every day I would check and every day the same trail of ants was still there. Then I forgot about it. My daughter found another ant nest further out in the yard, and it made me remember to check the last trail. It was gone, completely gone. So, I sprinkled it on the new nest, and less than a week later, it is gone. If you google it there are a ton of places where it mentions it. Here’s just one link, and if you scroll to the Tip there is still another idea using molasses. Although if cornmeal will work I think it’s cheaper, and safer around kids and pets. http://www.ehow.com/how_6395566_kill-ants-corn-meal.html

11. Cream of Wheat
Rebecca: Cream of wheat! They eat it & it expands & they explode! Ha! I used it in my garden for ant problems. Kind of makes you wonder what it does to our insides when we eat it too

12. Vinegar
Kristie: Vinegar! Since we switched to using a vinegar/water solution for mopping the floors and cleaning the counters, our ant problem has vanished.

Mysty: Vinegar is the one sure solution, but you need to pour it where the ants have their nest, not just to where they walk around. If you find their nest just pour about 0.5-1 L of white (cheap) vinegar. I never had ant problems but my grandparents sometimes has as they has a big farm and there is always an ant problem is some corner of the farm

Cath: We used a mixture of vinegar, washing up liquid (ecover) and peppermint oil last year. Tracked them back to their nest and syringed it into the cracks. They never came back.

13. Equal
Tea Leaf: We killed our ants by mixing Equal packets with apple juice. It is a neurotoxin to the ants. Scary that people put these in their coffee.

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/13-natural-remedies-for-the-ant-invasion

5 home remedies that really work

Health claims backed by science
© PAUL CHARBIT fotolia.com

The newspapers are full of stories about the miraculous curative powers of some herb or natural extract.

We've looked at the claims made by dozens of herbs and plants, and come up with 5 whose health claims are backed by hard science.

Here they are.

Ginger treats nausea

You may know it as biscuit ingredient or the flavouring of your non-alcoholic beer, but ginger also has well known medicinal properties.

Indeed, research suggests that ginger can safely relieve pregnancy related nausea and vomiting.

Scientists are also looking at whether it is effective for nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, or surgery.

It is generally safe when taken in small doses.

Garlic lowers blood pressure

You may avoid it on your plate because of its pungent smell and its effect on your breath, but garlic has been used as a medicine for thousands of years.

There is some evidence that it may slightly lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

Some studies have shown that eating garlic for 1 to 3 months can slightly lower blood cholesterol levels, though this requires further investigation.

Research suggests that garlic consumption may slow the development of arteriosclerosis - the hardening of your arteries, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Soy lowers bad cholesterol

Soy is a staple of the Asian diet and has been increasingly popular in the west. Soybeans are high in proteins and contain isoflavones, which are compounds similar to the female hormone oestrogen.

Eating soy on a daily basis has been found to lower slightly the levels of LDD - the bad cholesterol.

Scientists are also looking into whether it is effective in reducing hot flashes in women after menopause.

Peppermint oil helps irritable bowel syndrome

The peppermint herb is widely grown in Europe and is used to flavour foods, as well as to make tea.

It is also made into peppermint oil, which is taken in small doses to treat various conditions.

Several scientific studies have found that it can be effective in improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Other studies have found that when peppermint oil is combined with caraway oil, it may help relieve indigestion - but this evidence is preliminary.

Cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections

More than just a cocktail mixer, cranberries have been used throughout the ages to treat problems as varied as wounds, diarrhoea, urinary problems, and stomach and liver ailments.

Scientists have in recent years found evidence that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections caused by bacteria such as E. coli.

There is also preliminary evidence that cranberries may reduce the ability of a bacteria called H. pylori to live in the stomach, where it can cause ulcers.

Some studies also suggest that cranberries may be able to reduce dental plaque, which is a cause of gum disease.

Natural remedies for common conditions

Toothache
Vanilla extract rubbed on the gums can help.

Cure a headache
Try watermelon juice. Fresh juice is best. Aim for 2 glasses a day.

Calm bites and stings
Infuse cider vinegar with sprigs of rosemary or thyme and apply to the spot.

Relieve coughing
Sprinkle 1 tsp of turmeric into a bowl of boiling water and stir. Breathe in the steam for several minutes

Reduce stress
Sunflower seeds and alfalfa can help.

Sore neck
Fill a sock with a cup of uncooked rice and tie a knot in the end. Heat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds on a medium heat. Apply for 5-10 mins.

Restful sleep
Add 1 tsp honey to a late-night herbal tea (try valerian, available in health shops) or in warm milk to ensure that you wake rested.

Puffy eyes
Spritz eyes with water. Put thick slices of raw potato on eyelids. Leave for 10 mins.

Herbal mouthwash
Mix 1 tsp each of dried rosemary, dried mint and fennel seeds with 2-3 cups of boiling water. Steep for 15-20 mins, cool, cover and store in the fridge for 3-5 days

Get off to sleep
Have half a turkey and lettuce sandwich made with wholemeal bread before bed. High levels of the chemical trytophan, which is found in turkey, is thought to increase feel-good serotonin levels and aid sleep.

Lower a temperature
Add 1 tsp dried sage to a cup, pour over boiling water and steep for 5 mins. Drink several times a day.

Reduce a fever
Crush 10g raisins with 10g freshly sliced ginger and mix with 200ml water. Stand for an hour, then boil to reduce by 3 quarters. Drink once or twice a day until fever reduces.

Burned your tounge?
Immediately sprinkle granulated sugar on it - the sugar absorbs the heat.

Indigestion
Finish meals with 125ml of fresh pineapple juice to combat indigestion.

Natural anti-inflamatory and analgesic
Mash papaya and apply directly to the wound

For sprains and bruises
Mould a bag of frozen peas around the body part. Wrap the bags in a tea towel to prevent ice burn.

Ease cystitis
Okra (lady's fingers) and spinach can both be useful against cystitis. Eat lightly cooked and pulped.

Wrist and ankle sprains
Smear olive oil around the sprain and apply whisked egg yolk. Wrap in cotton wool and bandage at once.

For a cold
Make chicken soup, including onions, sage and garlic. Have a bowl or cup twice a day while you have a cold.

Sore gums
Cut a ripe fig in half and hold it between your cheek and sore gum for 10 mins.

Easy breathing
Place some fresh thyme in a bowl and add boiling water. Then cover your head with a towel and breathe in the fumes.

Sore throats
Add 1/2 peeled onion to a jar of honey, close tightly and leave for at least three days. Take a teaspoon every few hours next time you have a sore throat.

Reduce arthritis
Mix carrot and lemon juice in equal amounts and take a tbsp every day.

Suppress the appetite
Drink 150ml celery juice before every meal.

Menopause
Drink 100ml beetroot juice twice a day to relieve symptoms

Stop bleeding
Hold a piece of fresh bread (wholemeal or white) over a cut, apply mild pressure and wait for the bleeding to stop.

Stomach bug
Spend 2 days on the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, apples (lightly cooked) and toast.

Fight the blues
Put a handful of basil leaves in a teapot and pour boiling water over. Steep for 10mins. Drink a cup 2-3 times a day to ease depression.

Anti-wrinkle mask
Mix together 2 tbsp plain yogurt, 1/2 tbsp honey and 1/2 tbsp lemon juice. Add the liquid from 3 vitamin-capsules. Apply to the face, leave for 10 mins and rinse off.

Reduce swelling of most insect bites and stings
Aloe vera is simple to grow on a window sill for easy access. Simply apply the leaves' cooling gel directly to the area. Alternatively, buy aloe vera gel from a health shop.

Immune-booster
Process carrot, beetroot, gooseberries, a pinch of rock salt and some fresh garlic in a juicer or liquidiser. It doesn't taste as strange as it sounds!

Cold sores
Wrap ice in a tea towel and apply to the area for 10 mins.

Revive cold feet
Soak feet in a basin of warm water with 1/2 cup of salt, dissolved in it for 15 mins. Afterwards, massage it with damp salt.

Lower cholesterol
Extract the juice of 2 cloves of garlic by crushing in a pestle and mortar. Drink a spoonful every day.

Improve your mood
Have a few cashew nuts, raw or slightly warmed, each day.

Combat jet lag
The day before you fly, eat high-protein meals (meat/fish/pulses) for breakfast and lunch, and a carbohydrate meal (pasta/rice) for dinner. The protein in these meals stimulates the body to produce catecholamines, which mirror the body's naturally 'awake' daytime state.

Relieve acid build-up
Chew thoroughly on a celery stick.

Soothe bites and stings
Smooth on tomato juice.

Minimise swelling
Add 1 tsp cayenne pepper to a cup of apple cider vinegar and simmer for 15 mins. Cool to hand-hot. Soak a cloth in the vinegar, wring out the excess and hold the compress on the affected area.

Lessen snoring
A couple of sips of olive oil before bed coats the inside of the mouth.