article_detail

They are hardly seen throughout the year but suddenly, one particular summer day arrives, and along with it, swarms of ants that are only too eager to migrate from your garden into your home. They are a nuisance, and will fill rubbish bins and flock to kitchen counters to grab a morsel of food.

 

Ants are fascinating little creatures, but likely ones you don’t particularly want in your butter dish, and supermarkets and garden centres are packed with hundreds of sprays and powders that promise to get rid of the blighters for good. But long experience has taught us that these products rarely work, and if they do then not for very long.

 

It might be surprising then that two of the most effective – and natural – defences against ant infestations can probably already be found in your kitchen cupboard and as well as being readily available, they produce none of the ghastly fumes or residue that can often be harmful to both humans and pets.

 

Most of us keep lemons at home during the summers in Spain, be it for a refreshing gin and tonic or to squeeze over fish. It’s a great disinfectant, multipurpose cleaner and deodoriser. But this miracle fruit is also extremely effective against ants, as its citrus acid makes it impossible for ants to track. A few drops of lemon juice mixed in a spray bottle with water will soon have the unwanted visitors scurrying for cover.

 

The lemon juice should be liberally sprayed in all affected areas, paying special attention to doors, windows and any cracks in the walls or floors.

 

Coffee doesn’t act as a deterrent like lemon juice, but actually attracts ants. In order to fight fire with fire, however, a secret ingredient must be added to the ground coffee – baking soda. While the critters will happily munch on the coffee, they’ll also ingest the baking soda, which will quickly kill them.

 

Sugar can also be used instead of coffee, but the baking soda is the vital element. A little dish of this concoction left in the path of your army of ants will soon solve the problem.

 

Images: Pixabay