A very effective solution to get rid of ants. Learn how to do it without
hiring an expensive exterminator:
As mentioned earlier, it is important that you seal all the possible
entries in which ants can pass through to get inside your house. While
it is expensive to hire an exterminator, there are actually a lot of
easier ways in which you can do yourself to keep your home ant-free.
When sealing your windows, doors and other cracks, use caulk. Caulk not
only helps in keeping the pests out but as well as provide better
temperature control, thus lowering electricity bills. It is also a safe
way to get rid of ants especially in a home where kids and pet animals
are around.
- Diatomaceous earth is a kind of powder that is effective in
killing ants. It works by extracting all moisture from the ants’
bodies. It is very absorbent, but it works best only in dry places.
Sniffing the powder is also toxic.
- Salt is a good alternative for diatomaceous earth. You can
scatter it under the doorways, near the windows and walls.
THE USE OF TALC AND CORNMEAL – Two very effective materials in
exterminating ants are talc and cornmeal. See how they work:
Talc is a powder that is used as an ant deterrent, but its exact
functions are still a mystery. Products that contain talc are tailor’s
chalk and baby powder, so these can be used to ward off ants. Talc
however is a potential factor for cancer, so better use it with care.
Given this, homeowners opt to use baby powder in protecting their homes
against ants as the product is readily available and is as well a
regular household item.
Other ant extermination experts recommend the use of normal blackboard
chalk, however, this kind of chalk is made of gypsum and not talc, thus
the effects of normal chalk are still in question. Ant chalk meanwhile
was once popular because of its positive effects, but it was also proven
to give side effects on its users. Ant chalk is now banned in the United
States, but is still illegally available in Chinatowns.
Another material used in getting rid of ants is cornmeal. It is a safer
alternative to talc because it is not poisonous to humans and animals.
Ants are also fond of cornmeal because of its flavor. However, once
digested with water, the cornmeal expands and swells inside their
organs, which causes them to die.
ANT-DETERRENT SCENTS – Fooling the ants out of your home: Learn
which scents these ants detest.
There are also scents which ants hate, thus you can use them to ward the
annoying ants off your home. These are: peppermint oil, vinegar, black
pepper, cinnamon, whole cloves, cayenne pepper, and bay leaves. Just use
these with caution, as they are spices which might tickle the interest
of pets and children, and since they have strong flavors they may cause
certain irritations on the kids or animals who will try to taste them. |
