8 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants Indoors

Every spring, the same scene plays out in kitchens everywhere.

The season brings a fresh influx of tiny foragers. You can tackle them without resorting to harsh sprays. Combine regular cleaning with a few straightforward, focused measures that disrupt trails, close off access, and deprive the colony of food.

Why ants come indoors

Ants follow a reward. When one scout discovers a crumb or spill, it leaves a scented route for the others to follow. Dry conditions can send them indoors in search of water, while rain may do the same by flooding their nests. Kitchens and pet bowls are especially inviting.

Win in four steps: remove food and water, seal entry points, erase scent trails, then bait where they walk.

Eight methods that work now

1. Tidy up as you go, every day

Crumbs, sticky marks and wet sinks create a tiny food economy. Clean worktops after eating. Rinse out the sink. Sweep or vacuum areas where children eat. Mop beneath the table once or twice weekly. Take the rubbish out before it begins to smell.

Keep sugar, flour, cereal, biscuits and pet food in airtight containers. Cover ripe fruit and rinse jars before putting them in the recycling. These modest routines remove the reward that brings ants back to the same trails.

2. Locate and seal entry points

Trace the ant line back towards where it begins. Inspect window frames, door thresholds, skirting boards, cable openings and gaps around pipework. Fill fine cracks with caulk. Fit weatherstripping or a door brush where you can see daylight. This prevents access while interrupting their chemical “roads.”

Whenever you spot ants, clean their route using soapy water or an equal 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar. Dry it afterwards. This removes the navigation markers that would otherwise guide them back.

3. Use lemon juice or white vinegar to disrupt their GPS

Both citrus and vinegar interfere with scent trails. Combine equal amounts of water and lemon juice, or water and white vinegar. Spray it on skirting boards, splashbacks and routes behind appliances. Apply again after cleaning, or after rain reaches a balcony.

Do not ever combine vinegar and bleach. Test a small hidden patch on delicate finishes first. Lemon provides a fresh scent, while vinegar also works as an everyday cleaner.

4. Try plant-based repellents: citrus peel, cucumber, mint and lavender

Fresh plant scents can discourage scouts. Put orange or lemon peel, cucumber peel, or sprigs of mint or lavender beside ant routes and small gaps. Renew them once they dry out, as their effectiveness fades quickly.

Diluted peppermint or lavender essential oils may also be used. Mix several drops into water, or first add them to a little rubbing alcohol before topping up with water. Lightly wipe selected areas. Keep oils away from children and pets. Cats can react badly to several oils, so keep them stored up high and use only small amounts.

5. Make a simple baking soda and sugar bait

Combine equal quantities of baking soda and granulated sugar. The sugar attracts worker ants, while baking soda disrupts digestion. Put small portions in shallow lids close to trails, well beyond the reach of children and animals. Replace the mixture if it becomes clumped.

Effectiveness differs according to the species and size of the colony. This is a gradual approach, rather than an overnight fix. Continue keeping food areas clean while the baits work in the background.

6. Use cornmeal to redirect activity

Cornmeal can serve as a dry decoy. Sprinkle small pinches along travel routes away from the pantry. The intention is to disrupt rather than create drama. It redirects foragers and slows their pattern while your other methods take effect.

Watch to see what is carried away, and clear up anything left untouched. For better results, combine this with sealing gaps and cleaning.

7. Create a temporary dry barrier with chalk or talc

A fine chalk line or an extremely thin strip of talc across a threshold can deter many ants. It interferes with their grip and chemical signals. Dampness, passing feet or vacuuming will remove it, so use this only as a short-term measure.

Focus on key areas such as a fruit bowl, a pet-bowl stand or a balcony door. Avoid inhaling powder, and use the thinnest line that remains effective.

8. Use boric acid baits carefully

When correctly used in a bait, boric acid can reach the colony. Blend a very small amount with sugar or honey, then place it in small bait stations with pinholes. Position the stations beside trails and entry points, never on surfaces used for food.

Safety first: keep boric acid locked away from children and pets, wear gloves to prepare baits, and label containers clearly.

Use no more than necessary. Once activity has stopped, remove the stations and dispose of them in line with local guidance.

What to do this week

• Day 1: Thoroughly clean worktops, skirting boards and floors; empty the rubbish; and transfer pantry goods into sealed containers.
• Day 2: Follow trails to their entry points; caulk gaps; and fit a door brush if required.
• Day 3: Apply a lemon or vinegar mixture along routes, then allow the surfaces to dry completely.
• Day 4: Set out baking-soda-and-sugar baits where ants travel, out of reach of children and pets.
• Day 5: Replace repellents such as peel, mint and cucumber at problem areas.
• Day 6: Put chalk or talc at one important threshold; if ants target the pet bowl, raise it on a tray with a water moat.
• Day 7: Review the situation. Shift baits to active routes and reseal any cracks you overlooked.

At-a-glance cheat sheet

Method	Best place	Refresh rate	Notes
Lemon or vinegar spray	Trails, skirting boards, behind appliances	Every 1–3 days	Removes scent; do not mix with bleach
Plant cues (peels, mint, lavender)	Entry points, windowsills	When dry	Short-lived; keep oils away from pets
Baking soda + sugar	Along trails	Weekly or when damp	Slow reduction; safe placement matters
Cornmeal decoy	Travel lanes away from pantry	Every few days	Redirects attention; monitor carry-off
Chalk or talc line	Door thresholds, fruit station	After cleaning or rain	Short-term barrier only
Boric acid bait	Near entries and trails	Until activity falls	Use stations; keep away from children and pets

When to call in a professional

If heavy traffic continues after two to three weeks of sealing, cleaning and baiting, you may be dealing with an established nest or a species requiring a more targeted solution. Large winged ants indoors, sawdust-like material near skirting boards, or activity around damp wood at night may indicate carpenter ants. A licensed professional can identify the species, find the nest and use a low-risk approach suited to your home.

Extra notes you’ll find useful

Ants are drawn to moisture just as much as food. Repair dripping traps and pipes that sweat. Use a dehumidifier in damp basements, and ventilate bathrooms. Outside, cut back branches touching the house, remove leaf piles and keep firewood off the ground and away from cladding. Reducing pressure around the outside of the property means fewer scouts indoors.

Pet areas require particular attention. Place the food bowl on a tray with a shallow water moat and one drop of washing-up liquid to break the surface tension. Feed pets at regular times and wipe the area afterwards. When using any bait, block it off with a crate or position it beneath an appliance plinth where paws cannot reach it.

Timing across the seasons also counts. Warm spells bring scouts out early, so begin prevention before the first trail appears. In late winter, wipe skirting boards with vinegar water. Check seals after the first heavy rain. Small routines are more effective than major rescue efforts.

For a more precise method, carry out a quick “trail test.” Put a dab of honey on a card near a recent sighting. Watch the trail form, then place a bait station two to three feet along the return route. This reaches workers where they travel and can speed up uptake. Keep food areas clean so the bait becomes the clear target.