Use This Essential Oil Hack To Easily Get Rid Of Ants In The House

A house crawling with ants doesn't feel like a very welcoming one. Luckily, you can banish those ants with a simple cedarwood essential oil hack. While there are plenty of chemical sprays on the market claiming to put a stop to ant infestations, essential oils offer a great green alternative. They can be just as effective, and they won't coat your furnishings and surfaces with toxic or harsh chemicals.

Cedarwood essential oil, in particular, is one of the best ways to get rid of ants because of its strong smell. With its potency, the oil throws ants' pheromones off-kilter, disorienting them so they can't find their way back to a marked trail. It could also cause them to sense danger is nearby, which should have them moving in the other direction. Ants use pheromones for both communication and navigation and by disrupting their smell, you can easily get them to look elsewhere for new food and shelter.

To pull off this hack against ants, all you need is cedarwood essential oil and a cotton ball. However, not all essential oils are created equally. In order for this hack to work optimally, you need to choose a brand that sells pure essential oil rather than just essential oils or fragrances. Pure essential oils don't have any fillers or dilutants in them; instead, they come directly from the plant. So if the label doesn't say "pure," or if you see a list of ingredients on the side of the bottle, you know you're not getting the real stuff.

Once you have your bottle, add between five to 10 drops of cedarwood oil to a cotton ball. Prepare at least 10 balls and place them both where you see ant activity and in areas where they might be entering your house. This includes near doorways, window frames, wall or floorboard cracks, or patio doors. You'll have to replenish the cotton balls with fresh oil every few days, but it's a great way to naturally get rid of ants without poisons.