How to Get Rid of Ants in Kitchen – 20 Best Remedies

If you notice one ant at a site, thousands more are nearby. Now the biggest question arises of how to get rid of ants in kitchen.

Though this may not be top of mind when you’re enjoying a picnic in the great outdoors, it’s important to know in case of an ant infestation in your home.

1. Are Ants Dangerous to Human Beings?

Over 12,000 distinct species of ants have been discovered, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Almost all of these ants pose little danger to human health.

Ants are known to harbor germs, making them a possible vector for illness and infection.

You open the cupboard in your kitchen to get a box of pasta or a can of beans, and there they are in plain sight. A wonderfully orderly line of ants climbing the pantry wall or making their way across the cupboard shelf. Gasp!

You put out your best effort to eliminate the ones you can see, but you are well aware that there are many more where they originated. Although it may seem impossible, several things can be done to thwart the progress of ants in the kitchen.

The vast majority of problems may be solved without consulting with experts. If you have ants in your kitchen, keep reading to find out how to get rid of ants in kitchen and stop them from returning.

2. 20 Natural Methods Used to Get Rid of Ants

Some situations may call for professional exterminators’ assistance; however, natural remedies may eliminate the ant nest issue without introducing harmful chemicals or poisons to the surrounding environment.

The following are some of the best natural ways and how to get rid of ants in kitchen and repel them using things available around the home or in local shops.

2.1. Diatomite (Silicon Dioxide)

Diatomaceous earth gets its silica mostly from the fossilized remains of ancient aquatic organisms (a type of plankton).

To do this, it extracts the fatty oils that are a source of attraction for ants and other ants from the insects’ skeletons, drying them out and eventually killing them.

This strategy is effective against insects like ants. However, due to its irritant properties, diatomaceous earth should not enter the respiratory system or come into contact with the skin.

Human-grade diatomaceous earth is available from online vendors. Either follow the directions on the label or just sprinkle the powder anywhere you notice ants, and they will be gone.

2.2. Glass Cleaner and Liquid Detergent

While gathering food, ants leave a trail of pheromones behind them that other ants may detect. 

This method might eradicate the stench and keep the ants from revisiting your home. Here is the correct order of operations:

• You may produce a cleaning solution by combining liquid detergent (dish soap) and glass cleaning spray in a new spray container.
• Apply the mixture with a spray bottle to nearby surfaces where ants seem to be entering or congregating.
  After spraying the area, you should wipe it off but leave a little residue. The aforementioned steps must be repeated as often as necessary.
• The scent of ant pheromones may be removed from the glass with soapy water if you don’t have any other glass cleaner (for example, hand soap or dish detergent).

2.3. Ground Pepper in Either Black or Red

Black or red (cayenne) pepper may be used as a natural insecticide to suppress ant populations since the stench is offensive to some ant species. To make this tactic work, pepper has to be scattered throughout the floor and beneath the appliances.

2.4. Peppermint

Ants and other insects, including mosquitoes, can be repelled by peppermint, a natural insect repellent. Peppermint may also be beneficial in this regard. Using peppermint essential oil as an ant repellent entails the following steps:

• Put 10-20 drops of peppermint oil and 2 cups of water into a clean plastic spray container.
• Spray the mixture around your home’s window frames and baseboards.
• When the mixture has dried, you may continue.
• Peppermint oil, like any other essential oil, should be kept out of reach of pets, especially cats. In particular, peppermint oil may be quite toxic to cats.
• You can probably get peppermint essential oil at any local grocery store or health food store.

2.5.  Tea Tree Oil

Like peppermint oil, tea tree oil may work well as an ant repellant. Follow these instructions to get the most out of this strategy:

• Add 5 and 10 drops of tea tree oil and two cups of water to a plastic spray container and shake well.
• The application involves spraying the mixture at trouble spots throughout the house. To further spread the fragrance throughout your home, you may also soak cotton balls in the solution and then disperse them outside.
• Those who find the scent overpowering are advised to dilute it with water, tea tree oil, or peppermint oil if necessary. It is important to keep tea tree oil and other essential oils out of your dogs’ reach, as with most other essential oils.
• You may get tea tree oil from various sources, including your local supermarket, health food store, and the internet.

2.6. Eucalyptus Oil

Another natural substance that may be used to ward off insects is the oil extracted from the eucalyptus tree.

Citronella, often used to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects and may be found in candles, is integrated into this item. The ants in your kitchen may be eliminated in this manner. To make use of it, go through the following procedures:

• Cotton balls should be drenched in pure lemon eucalyptus essential oil before being applied.
• Put the cotton balls in the spots around the house where you often come across ants.
• Every week, you should replace the cotton balls with new cotton balls that have been newly moistened.
• Ingestion of lemon eucalyptus oil is not recommended. It should be kept out of the reach of both children and animals.
• There is a good chance that the health food shop in your area has lemon eucalyptus oil. It is also accessible over the Internet.

2.7. Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil (OLE)

Even though they share a name, the oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and the essential oil of lemon eucalyptus are not the same.

The gum eucalyptus tree, indigenous to Australia, is where OLE originates. It is an efficient insect repellent because it includes a molecule known as p- Menthane-3,8-diol, or PMD for short.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that PMD is a biopesticide and that its usage is not harmful to humans or the environment. You may get OLE at your neighborhood hardware and gardening shop, on the internet, or both.

2.8. White Vinegar

An effective and inexpensive approach for eliminating ants and driving them away, white vinegar may be purchased at any supermarket or convenience store. In addition, it is also a natural agent that may be used for cleaning.

When cleaning hard surfaces like floors and countertops, as well as other areas where ants are likely to congregate, you may want to try using a mixture of vinegar and water that is composed of equal parts vinegar and water.

If you come across any ants, you may spray the mixture on them or use a paper towel to get rid of them. It’s possible that ants will be able to smell the vinegar even after it’s dried, but most people won’t notice it for very long.

2.9. Boiling Water

If you find any holes close to your house, fill them with water that has been brought to a boil. Utilizing this method will result in swiftly and effectively eliminating a sizeable portion of the ants found within.

Anthills may not seem very large, but the ant colonies that live in them can be rather widespread. It is improbable that the water brought to a boil can successfully destroy the whole colony.

As a result of this, you should make it a priority to treat each ant hole that you discover in the region surrounding your house.

2.10. Cornstarch

Cornstarch, which is a product that can be purchased in food stores, is a substance that is capable of efficiently suffocating a big number of ants all at once.

There are two separate ways that corn flour may be used to eradicate ants, and they are as follows:

• The first method consists of applying a substantial coating of maize flour over the whole ant colony and following it up with an application of water. The result will be many dead ants that have been encased in corn flour and need to be cleaned up.
• The second strategy calls for covering the ants with maize flour and removing them from the area using a vacuum while ensuring that the bag is discarded outdoors as quickly as possible.

2.11. Essential Oil Extracted from Cinnamon Leaves

One research conducted in 2005 discovered that some chemicals present in the essential oil of cinnamon leaf, notably trans-cinnamaldehyde, had the potential to kill and repel ants, especially biting red ants.

Before using cinnamon leaf essential oil, cotton balls should be saturated in pure cinnamon leaf essential oil. Place the cotton balls in the areas around the home where you see ants most often, such as the kitchen and the bathroom.

It is helpful that you change the cotton balls once a week with brand-new cotton balls that have been freshly soaked in liquid. Essential oil from cinnamon leaves may often be found at health food shops. You may also look for it on the Internet.

2.12. Neem Oil

The neem tree, native to India, is the Source of a naturally occurring pesticide that may be extracted as neem oil. Using neem oil around plants, especially in regions where there are ants or aphids.

If you use neem oil to poison the aphids, you may be able to get rid of the ants as well, which are both unwanted pests. Aphids are very few insects that subsist only on sap.

It has been said that diluted neem and products that include neem extract do not perform nearly as well as full-strength neem oil in its intended purpose. You may get neem oil from various health food shops and on the internet.

2.13. Grinds for Coffee

You may try sprinkling the grounds from your freshly brewed coffee onto some disposable surfaces (such as index cards) and then leaving those surfaces in areas where ants prefer to congregate, such as pet bowls, to see if that helps.

In extreme circumstances, the grounds could be put on the windowsills. After they have been exposed to air for some time, the grounds may lose some of their potency; hence, it is essential to change them on a regular basis.

2.14. Boric Acid

According to research conducted on animals in 2003, boric acid is a form of toxin that may kill some species of worker ants and their queen after being exposed to it for three weeks. This is accomplished by destroying the ant’s exoskeleton and stomach.

Because of its potential dangers, boric acid must be kept out of the reach of children and animals. To make use of boric acid, please follow these steps:

• Put on your protective gloves now.
• Solve by combining 1/2 milliliter of boric acid, 1 cup of warm water, and eight tablespoons of sugar.
• Stir the mixture well until the sugar and boric acid are completely dissolved.
• Cotton balls should be soaked in water and placed throughout the house in the spots where ants are most likely to be found.
• After each usage, the containers should be carefully cleaned or thrown away.

Boric acid is sometimes used as a component in homemade traps and other “do-it-yourself” projects (also known as “DIY”). Mix the powder with a sweet liquid that ants are attracted to, such as maple or corn syrup. Ants will be attracted to this combination.

This combination will entice ants to investigate more. Put it down on a flat surface that can be disposed of easily, such as cardboard, and then spread it out in areas where you have observed ants. You may pick up some boric acid at the local hardware and gardening store or purchase it on the internet.

2.15. Borax (Sodium Tetraborate)

Borax and boric acid are not the same chemical compound, despite having names that are fairly similar to one another and being in the same family.

Any of these approaches may be as effective in eliminating ants from home. Because borax may be harmful, it is imperative that it be kept out of reach of both children and animals.

Also, borax is available for purchase at most hardware and gardening supply stores and on the Internet. The following procedures need to be carried out to make use of borax:

• Now is the time to put on your protective gloves.
• To formulate a remedy, combine one-third of a teaspoon of borax, eight tablespoons of sugar, and one cup of warm water in a mixing bowl.
• Keep stirring the mixture until the sugar and borax are fully dissolved, which should take a few minutes.
• You may get rid of ants in your home by soaking cotton balls in water and then placing the wet cotton balls in the cracks and crevices where ants are most likely to be located.
• After each time the containers have been used, they must either be thoroughly cleaned or discarded.

2.16. Lemons

Lemon juice may be sprayed on surfaces or wiped down to erase ant pheromone trails and mask the scent of food, which will induce ants to flee the area.

This can be accomplished by spraying the surface with lemon juice or wiping it off. In addition, putting lemon rinds in your cupboard may be a deterrent for ants, preventing them from making your kitchen their home. Ants don’t like the smell of lemon rinds.

2.17. Give Your Houseplants a Checkup

Be on the lookout for swarms of ants in your houseplants; this might signify that nests are buried under the soil. Throw away any plants that have the appearance of being contaminated.

To prevent ants from establishing colonies in your plants, you should line the soil with the rinds of citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges.

2.18. Do Not Bring the Outside Plants Inside

Reduce as much rubbish as possible in your outside space. Eliminate any vines or other forms of vegetation touching or leaning against the outside walls of your house or windows, as this will make it much more difficult for ants to enter your property. Ants are attracted to the moisture and warmth these sorts of plants provide.

2.19. Eliminate all Potential Sources of Food

Sugar, honey, and cornmeal are just a few examples of sweet and starchy foods that ants are drawn to. So, how to get rid of ants in kitchen? Therefore, one of the most effective methods for warding off ants is to remove any potential food sources that they may use as a source of nourishment.

Food should be stored in airtight containers or plastic bags to prevent spoilage or contamination. After you have finished eating, you should immediately begin washing all of the dishes and cooking equipment.

Make it a routine to sweep or vacuum your home daily to remove any crumbs that may have gathered there. The following are some of the probable sites where crumbs might start to accumulate:

• It is important to check for rats in areas where you and your family eat or prepare food, including below and around free-standing appliances, couch cushions, and garbage cans.
• Ants may also be drawn to food that has been put out for animals to eat. As soon as your pet has finished eating, remove their bowls from their reach. As soon as everyone has completed their meal, wash the dishes to eliminate any smell that may be left behind.

2.20. Eliminate ant Entrances

Discovering how ants are getting into your house is the first step in getting rid of an existing infestation and preventing new ones from occurring in the future.

Check the walls and flooring of your house for cracks and look for holes around radiators and floorboards. You may treat the cracks with an ant repellant or caulk them up. Also, inspect the window screens to see if any tears need to be repaired.

3. How to Prevent Ants in Kitchen

Ants and other pests are most likely to congregate in the kitchen because of its proximity to a plentiful food supply, making it a prime target for their attention. To prevent ants from entering the kitchen, try the following:

• Every day, clean the surfaces and floors in the kitchen.
• Immediately after using the dishes, you should wash them.
• After your dog or cat has finished eating, the food dishes should be washed with water.
• Applying natural repellents (some examples may be found up top) effectively wards off ants and eliminate their pheromone trail.
• To properly store food, use bags or containers that can be locked and sealed.
• If nothing else works, you might use insecticides and items made in a factory if natural methods aren’t effective enough to get rid of ants.

Bait traps Instead of sprays, some individuals may find that using bait traps that hold the pesticides in an enclosed form is more convenient. Ants need to be drawn to bait traps to be effective. The ants consume the bait and then take part of it back to their nests, where it causes the death of further ants.

Some of the bait traps include borax or boric acid in them. Some of these include hydramethylnon, a chemical molecule harmful to children, animals, and plants used for food production, such as tomato plants.

Ant traps are sold at hardware and gardening supply shops and on the internet. This is how to get rid of ants in the kitchen. Before making a purchase, verifying the list of components is important, especially if you are trying to avoid harmful pollutants.

3.1. Commercial Repellents

Other repellent sprays are available for purchase and are non-toxic, with the possibility that they are useful against ants.

Ants are no match for the chemical spray known as “Raid,” which is very effective against these pests. 

It has a long shelf life and is composed of two chemical components known as imiprothrin and cypermethrin, neither of which should be breathed in by humans nor ingested by them.

3.2. Exterminators

If nothing else is successful, one alternative is to get in touch with an experienced pest control specialist. How to get rid of ants in the kitchen again is a big question.

Ants may be eliminated from your kitchen by following these steps. Find a firm committed to using products with the lowest possible toxicity and give them your business.

Inform them if you have any children, pets, or other difficulties, such as a respiratory health condition that may impact you, and ask them to keep an eye out for you.

Also, let them know if you have any other concerns, such as a health condition that may impair your breathing. The words“green,” organic,” and“eco-friendly” may be found in the titles of several businesses that focus on pest management.

If you are concerned about using chemicals and want to know what substances are often used in ant treatments, you should inquire about this before hiring an exterminator.

Suggested Reading- How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes: 13 Useful Methods

4. Conclusion

Ants are a widespread household nuisance that may be found all over the globe and are not usually regarded to pose any health risks.

The question of how to get rid of ants in kitchen may be difficult to answer, but the natural methods that have been covered so far can keep them at bay and even get rid of them over time. Further treatments may be bought and utilized to eliminate or deter these pests. These treatments can be found at stores.

If you keep your home clean and get rid of any cracks or crevices that may serve as entryways or hiding places for the insects, you may be able to prevent subsequent ant infestations. If you have tried everything else but cannot get rid of the ants in your home, you may always consider hiring a professional exterminator.

Read more from us here.