Does Flour Really Deter Ants From Your Kitchen?

Ants might seem relatively harmless by themselves, but we often learn the hard way that where there is one, there are many. If you don't take immediate action, you can soon have a line of ants marching to your pet bowls or milling about crumbs on your countertops. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can also contaminate your food and dirty your cutlery, as per AIMS Microbiology. However, not everyone wants to use harsh chemicals or sprays in their kitchens to get rid of them. Instead, many look for natural ways to get rid of ants without poisons, which is why some experts tout using flour to repel them. But that pantry staple might actually be attracting them instead because of its carbohydrate content.

The idea behind the hack is that you can use flour to create a line near doors and cabinets, which acts as a barrier they can't cross. But it actually has the opposite effect — they might march towards the flour in order to eat it. That's because, in late summer, these pests focus on finding carb-rich foods to maintain their energy. It's why you will see ants swarm bread or chip crumbs at a picnic or why they race to melted ice cream puddles or a dropped lollipop on the floor. For the latter, they're not necessarily after the sugar, but the carbs. That's why using flour to deter ants might not be the wisest hack in your repertoire to use. Instead, if you want to keep ants out of your kitchen, make it a less inviting environment by keeping it clear of the food they need to survive. One way to do that is by keeping your flour properly stored in your pantry or cupboard. Here's how.

To keep ants from invading your pantry and contaminating your food, your best course of action is to store your flour in airtight containers. Avoid leaving it in the paper bag it usually comes in from the grocery store, because ants can easily make their way inside. Even if you clip or tape it closed, all they need is the smallest hole to gain access inside. Instead, you want to store it in a glass or plastic container with an airtight-sealing lid. This will make it impossible for the pests to breach.

You can take an extra step in ant deterrence by also placing a small bowl of cinnamon or concentrated cinnamon essential oil next to your flour containers. Cinnamon can help keep ants out of your house due to cinnamaldehyde, a compound known to repel these pests in particular. This will keep them from coming too close to the container, keeping your flour safe.