How To Get Rid Of Ants In South Africa
What are Ants?
Ants are common insects, but they have some unique capabilities. More than 10,000 known ant species occur around the world. They are especially prevalent in tropical forests, where they may be up to half of all the insects living in some locations.
Ants look much like termites, and the two are often confused—especially by nervous homeowners. However, ants have a narrow “waist” between the abdomen and thorax, which termites do not. Ants also have large heads, elbowed antennae, and powerful jaws. These insects belong to the order Hymenoptera, which includes wasps and bees.
How To Get Rid Of Ants In South Africa
How to Get Rid of Ants Fast Naturally
House-invading ants can get into your food, damage property or cause stinging bites. These tiny creatures can also cause damage to your plants.
Dealing with ants can be very frustrating. Pesticides for ants contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment, but there are some natural, non-toxic ways to control ants. These may take some time and patience, but will provide good results.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an effective household ant repellent. Its smell discourages ants from entering your house and scrounging in your kitchen.
According to a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, cinnamon essential oil yields positive results in both repellency and insecticidal activity.
Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil in a cup of water. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and wipe down the areas where ants may enter and dwell. Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.
You can also put ground cinnamon and whole cloves near entry points.
Note: Use the cinnamon oil spray strategically in places of ant infestation; do not put it all over the place.
2. White Vinegar
White vinegar will also send an eviction notice to ants on your premises. They cannot bear its strong smell. In addition, the smell masks their scent trails, making them lose their direction.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Add a few drops of any essential oil and shake the bottle thoroughly.
Spray this solution around baseboards and other entry points.
After an hour, wipe up the ants using a damp paper towel and discard them.
Repeat once daily until the ants are completely gone.
You can also use this vinegar solution to clean floors, windowsills and countertops to prevent ants from crawling over these surfaces.
3. Borax
Borax is toxic to ants and helps rid them from your house and garden. Ants are attracted to it and, when ingested, it ultimately kills them.
Mix equal amounts of borax and food jelly. Put it on a flat plate in the areas where you have ants.
Alternatively, mix borax with granulated sugar in a 1:3 ratio. Add enough water to get a syrup-like consistency. Put this paste in the areas where you see ants.
Another option is to make a paste with equal amounts of borax, cornmeal and a few drops of water. Spread the paste in areas where you tend to see ants.
Note: As borax is toxic, keep it away from pets and small children.
4. Lemon
To make your kitchen and other areas of your house ant-proof, try lemon. The smell deters ants and its acidic property masks their scent trails.
Rub some lemon juice on door thresholds, windowsills and other possible areas where ants are getting in.
Another option is to put a few drops of lemon essential oil on cotton balls and leave them in cabinets and other areas as needed.
Scatter small slices of lemon peel around outdoor entrances.
Use these remedies every few days until the ants are completely gone.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint is a natural insect repellent that can effectively keep ants away. Ants hate its strong smell, which also disrupts their smelling capabilities so they cannot detect food sources.
Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1 cup of water. Spray the solution on all areas where ants are present. Repeat twice daily, until the ants are gone completely.
Sprinkle some dried peppermint around your doors, entryways and garbage areas to repel ants.
You can even grow peppermint plants in your kitchen garden.
6. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) also works well as an ant repellent. This powder is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton.
The microscopic razor sharp edges of DE can cut through the ants’ exoskeletons, gradually causing their body to dry out.
Gently sprinkle a thin layer of DE on windowsills, beneath the fridge, under cabinets, in and around garbage cans and any other places where you see ants.
Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.
Note: Do not wet the DE or it will not work.
7. Cucumber Peel
cucumber peel
Another age-old trick to get rid of ants is cucumber peel. Ants have a natural aversion to cucumber, as they cannot stand its taste. Bitter cucumbers work best, but you can use normal cucumbers, too.
Peel a cucumber.
Place pieces of the peel in all areas where you have seen ant activity.
Replace them with fresh peels daily.
Repeat as needed until the ants are gone.
8. Cayenne Pepper
cayenne pepper powder
Cayenne pepper also works as an effective ant repellent. The strong nature of cayenne pepper destroys the chemical signals that ants rely on to navigate toward food, their nest and other places. Without a proper signal, ants will not able to survive and will thus look for new places to go.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper powder in areas where you notice ants.
You can also mix equal amounts of cayenne pepper and turmeric powder and sprinkle it across the access points to make an unpleasant barrier for ants.
9. Liquid Dish Soap
liquid dish wash
Dish soap also works as an effective ant repellent. It can help suffocate the ants, causing them to die. You can try this tip on cockroaches, too.
Mix 1 teaspoon each of liquid dish soap and baking soda in a cup of water. Spread this solution along areas where ants are coming in.
Fill a spray bottle with one part dish soap and two parts water, then shake it thoroughly. Spray the mixture over the areas where ants are present. After a few hours, wipe up the dead ants with a wet cloth.
10. Keep Your House Clean
To deter ants from entering your house, you must take extra care to keep it clean.
Get Rid of Ants in Your Home
Although many homeowners employ DIY ant control remedies, the results are often less than satisfactory. Small problems can develop into large ones and this is when many people seek out the services of a pest control professional.
Once they’ve identified the species of ant invading your home, they can use a range of powerful insecticides to get rid of ants efficiently. This gives you the reassurance that the problem has been dealt with fully.
Treatments are targeted to the specific ant species in order to solve the problem quickly, whilst ensuring the safety of your family and pets.
Once the ants have been dealt with, you can take precautions to stop them from coming back. One particularly important precaution is covering any food in storage areas; you don’t know where ants have been walking before they march across your food (and in most cases, they have come into contact with unsanitary areas before they decide to feast on your meal!).
Steps to Take to Effectively Get Rid of Ants
Our professional Pest Control Technicians understand the habits of different types of ants and can offer discreet and targeted ant control. It goes without saying that all our ant control treatments are safe for your staff and customers. Give us a call and we’ll set the following plan in motion to get rid of ants:
- Our pest control consultant will arrange a convenient time with you for a free inspection inside and outside your premises.
- The consultant will recommend a treatment plan based on your ant infestation and on your particular business sector, and give you a cost to put the plan into action.
- Once you’ve approved the price, the consultant will arrange times for a technician to visit. You may need several visits depending on the ant control treatment we use.
- On the first visit, the Technician will run through the treatment process before the work begins.
- We can also set up regular ant control inspections for you so the problem doesn’t come back.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get rid of ants permanently?
Natural items like boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda to get rid of these ants and Diatomaceous Earth are effective in dealing with fire ants. Diatomaceous Earth is one of the most effective ant-killers out there, and placing them in the ant entryways can solve the problem of “how to get rid of ants permanently”
What is the fastest way to get rid of ants in the house?
White vinegar, available at all grocery stores, is a cheap and effective way to kill and repel ants. It is also a natural cleaning agent. Try using a 1-to-1 vinegar/water mixture to clean hard surfaces, including floors and countertops, wherever ants are likely to travel.
How do I get rid of black ants in South Africa?
All you need to is mix half a spray bottle of vinegar with the same amount of water and spray on the ants. They will die before you notice it. It is also advisable to spray the vinegar solution on the areas that these creatures crawl over. White vinegar gives better results.
What is the best homemade ant killer?
White vinegar and water: Take a spray bottle and fill it with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray the solution on the ants and their entry points. A mixture of dish soap and water: Make a mixture of dish soap or dishwashing liquid, put in a spray bottle and shake it well. Spray it on the ants.
Does vinegar keep ants away?
Do Ants like Vinegar or repels them? Ants hate Vinegar. The smell of Vinegar will cause them to stay away from it or permanently leave the house. Ants crawl in a straight line, marching towards the food sources.
What do ants hate the most?
Ants generally don’t like vinegar, citrus smells, or spices, and are also turned off by pepper and baby powder. Even the delicious smell of a morning brew will send ants running in the other direction.
What smells do ants hate?
Sprinkle cinnamon, mint, chili pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic in the area where you’ve seen the ants. Then, treat your home’s foundation in the same manner. Placing bay leaves in cabinets, drawers, and containers can also help to deter ants.
Can you use Karbadust for ants?
I came home with a few bottles of Karbadust powder. You sprinkle it under rugs or mattresses, along skirting boards. Where ever you have the ant problem. It kills them and discourages them and they go away!
What does pest control use for ants?
Boric acid is one of the most common chemicals in the extermination world. Usually, it’s spread around the house as a powder. Not only is it effective at killing ants, but it’s also used for cockroaches and termites. Boric acid attracts the ants with its sweetness, then poisons their stomachs once digested.
How does baking soda get rid of ants in the kitchen?
How to Kill Ants With Baking Soda
- Mix equal parts baking soda and confectioner’s sugar.
- Put the mixture in a shallow container or sprinkle it directly onto your counter, floor or windowsill.
- The ants will be attracted to the sugar and will carry it back to their nest, killing the ants that eat it.
How do you get rid of ants in your kitchen?
A mixture of water and a few drops of dish soap is quite effective for getting rid of ants on kitchen countertops, since the soap will break the surface tension of the water and trap the ants, making them easy to wipe away.
Why do ants suddenly appear?
Whenever there’s a sudden ant infestation, the most likely cause of it is that there’s food somewhere in your house for them. Most ants are opportunistic feeders; they’ll eat just about anything. But they usually prefer sweets.
What kills ants outside naturally?
Try some of these methods to get rid of ants outdoors.
- Boiling water. Rake open the nest and pour in boiling water (add liquid soap for extra killing power).
- Vinegar. Mix equal parts vinegar and water.
- Water. Soak the nest for 15 to 30 minutes with water from a hose, saturating soil.
- Boric acid.
- Chemical ant killers.
Do ants hate salt?
Salt does not kill ants, but it does help to repel them and keep them out of your home. Ants are attracted to the salt in their environment when it comes to food, but if there’s too much salt and they will be repelled by it.
How do you get rid of ants when you don’t know where they’re coming from?
If you see ants in your home, mix up a solution of 50-50 vinegar and water and wipe the ants up with it. This kills existing ants and repels future ants by leaving a lingering scent of vinegar that works as a natural ant repellant.
Does baby powder help get rid of ants?
‘ Rachel Strike, Researcher at Pest Advisors (opens in new tab), confirms that no, baby powder does not kill ants, ‘but it can be used to break the scent trail.