Grab These Two Fan-Favorite Spices To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally

No one wants to see a parade of ants entering the home and marching through the kitchen. These insects can contaminate any food you have that isn't completely secure, but they also can cause damage to portions of your home, like the wiring and drywall, should they decide to create a nest inside the house. You probably want to eliminate these pests as quickly as possible, but you also may be leery of spraying poison around your home and kitchen. Before purchasing ant-killing spray or before calling an exterminator, you can try using some natural substances to drive the ants away. Turmeric and cayenne pepper are two spices that you may already have in your kitchen that potentially can repel these insects.

If you choose to use turmeric to try to solve your ant problem, the good news is that it does not pose a threat to pets or children, should they encounter it. Cayenne pepper can be an eye irritant to dogs and cats as well as children, but it should not be harmful if ingested. 

When you want to use natural ways to get rid of ants without relying on poison, turmeric is a great choice. Place the turmeric powder in areas where you believe the ants are gathering or where you are commonly seeing them. These insects do not like to have powder on their legs, so they may refuse to cross it. They also do not like the smell of turmeric. It's important to note that turmeric is not a fully guaranteed solution to control these insects. 

If you see any ant mounds in your yard, you can also sprinkle the turmeric powder on them to try to repel them. Should you choose to use turmeric in your garden around any nests or mounds you see to try to keep these pests out of the house, you can be confident that it's safe to use around your plants. Not only can it work as a pesticide for insects other than ants, but it's also a natural fungicide, and it can heal wounds on plants as well.

Cayenne pepper can be one of the best ways to get rid of ants because of the way these insects react to the odor of this spice. They do whatever they can to avoid it. It also may mask the pheromone trails that they use to figure out the paths toward a food source in your home.

Liberally apply the cayenne powder into areas where you believe the ants are moving and congregating. Don't forget to look behind the appliances in your kitchen, as these insects may move through dark areas like this in search of any crumbs or scraps of food. You also should place the powder in front of doors and windows if you believe the pests are entering your home this way. Because ants can have an attraction to moisture inside your house, you may want to apply the spicy powder underneath sinks and in areas of the basement with leaking or sweating pipes.

Should you want to attack the insects outdoors at their nests, you can sprinkle the cayenne pepper around the mounds. It won't kill them, but it may encourage them to move to a new location farther away from your house.