Everywhere I go at the moment, people are complaining about ants. Please don’t rush off to get some poison – here are some natural remedies you can use instead:
Mix 2 tbsp borax (available on my websiteor from a chemist) with 1 cup icing sugar. Borax can be harmful to children and pets, so put the mixture in a container with a lid and poke holes in the side to let the ants in
Wipe down affected shelves and surfaces with neat vinegar. You can also put it in a spray bottle and spray the ants directly
Eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender or tea tree essential oils also repel ants. Add a few drops to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle
Talcum powder is very effective. Apparently, ants breathe through their skin and talcum powder clogs their breathing function. In their haste to escape, they return to their nest, thereby infecting the others and the nest. We had a bad infestation on our lawn so I observed their movements and discovered the nest. There were thousands of the little blighters! One shake of talcum powder over the entrance (and on areas leading to and from) and within 48 hours there wasn’t a single ant in sight. Time taken: 5 minutes. Cost: about 30 cents. Risk factor: zero.
Take a look at how to clean blinds here.
Image: bauersyndication.com.au
