After months of rain, it seems summertime is finally with Brits set to enjoy the hottest days of the year so far over the Bank Holiday weekend. 

But on top of restless nights, sunburn and that uncomfortable sticky feeling, the arrival of bugs is also to be expected as we enter the summer months.

Let’s face it, having ants wandering around your home can be a big nuisance, not to mention unhygienic.

The best way to keep ants away is to make sure your house is completely clean but the team at Hilarys have some other nifty tricks to keep your home ant-free this summer. It’s all about smells and disrupting the ant’s ability to pick up on scent trails left behind by other ants.

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Five household items that will keep ants out of your home. 

Chalk

This must be the easiest way to keep ants out of your home. Chalk contains calcium carbonate and this confuses the scent that the ants are following.

Drawing lines of chalk around an entrance should keep the ants from coming inside. It isn’t totally clear why they simply won’t cross the line, but it does work. Be sure to avoid insecticide chalks though as these will kill the ants.

Lemons and Oranges

We all know what lemons and oranges smell like. While ants don’t recognise it, the strong citrus scent is enough to deter them from entering the house.

There are many ways to use these fruits to keep the ants away, for example you could place the peels where ants would normally enter or perhaps when mopping the floor, you could add some lemon juice or even make a paste using water and grounded peels.

Ants absolutely love sugar though, so make sure to keep anything sweet away from this sticky citrus blend. 

Salt and Pepper

Spreading salt near any corners where ants would enter and crawl back into will keep them from making an appearance in your home.

Alternatively, cayenne pepper and black pepper are loathed by ants. You can either sprinkle pepper by the entrance or make a solution of pepper and water and spray it near the problem areas.

It won’t kill the ants, just simply deter them from coming near your home.

Cinnamon

Not only does cinnamon keep ants away, it will leave your home smelling lovely and fresh. Put cinnamon near the entrance of your home and it will act like a natural repellent because of its strong smell.

You could also add some essential oils to the cinnamon to boost its smell.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is another smell that ants detest. Much like the other tips, it is best to make a solution of equal amounts of water and vinegar, with a touch of essential oils.

Remember to shake well, then spray it around your windowsills, doorways and other places where you usually see ants coming into your home.