Shalom:
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A few years ago, we asked folks around Jerusalem to suggest a NATURAL (not chemical) ANT REPELLENT. We also received several requests to forward the information. As a public service, we are posting a compilation of some well-timed advice, including comments in quotation marks by those who wrote us back.?
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We have NOT tried most of the following suggestions and therefore do not advocate any one in particular. (Although we have tried olive oil, talc, and crushed black pepper ¡ at different times with great success.)?
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Wishing you clean counter spaces and a critter-free home,
Family Haas
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NATURAL ANT REPELLENTS
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In Alphabetical Order:?
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Bay leaves
"They are ok for pets but be sure to keep bay leaves off floor from children. Add to corners in cupboards etc. very safe and effective."
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Black Pepper
"My wife says first to clean all surfaces well and then spread black pepper."
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Baking Soda + Powdered Sugar: Mix together ratio ? + ??
¡°Cheaper and cleaner, and works GREAT!¡±
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Chalk
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Chili powder
"I heard it works like a charm. Just put it by the their hole."
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Cinnamon
1st Reply: "Try sprinkling cinnamon where you see the ants. I did it on my countertops and the result was amazing! I was told that the ants will not cross the line where the cinnamon is. So I sprinkled a thin line all along the countertops and the ants didn't show up."
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2nd Reply: "What I do is look for where they're coming from. Usually it's some sort of crack in the wall or floor, and tape over it. You can also sprinkle cinnamon powder along where they walk and at the opening to the crack if it's on the floor level. They don't like it."
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Cloves
"I found ground to be best."
¡°I used whole cloves and it worked well. You can put it on corners, once the surface is cleaned.¡±
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Olive Oil
"Clean all surfaces well and then spread a thin layer using a paper towel. You'll likely have to repeat this process in a few days after Olive Oil evaporates."?
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Peppermint Oil?
¡°I have tried peppermint oil with great success.¡±
Add one drop of peppermint essential oil onto a cotton wool ball and place where ants enter. Or simply add one drop of peppermint oil to the ants¡¯ entry source Ants do not like spearmint, tansy, pennyroyal or peppermint plants. Grow these plants in pots and place around your doors.
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Powdered Sugar + Boric Acid "Cocktail"
"Mix a 1:1 combination of powdered sugar with (bait) with powdered boric acid (a bit tough to find, and expensive, but a little goes a very long way) but we found it at the NOT Superpharm regular drugstore in Maaleh Adumim; you would do best to inquire by phone at pharmacies or chemical suppliers before hitting the stores in person. It gets taken back to the nest by the ants, and it (sorry) eats their guts out. Does not raise issues of increased tolerance. Is not toxic in the amounts which are needed (we have kids and pets), and though it has not made them disappear completely, they are at least 80% less than they were at this time last year, and we believe that it has affected the nests as well."
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Red (cayenne) pepper
"Find where the ants are entering from, and then sprinkle the cayenne powder there. The ants won't pass it, it burns them."
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Rosemary
"Add rosemary to window sills and behind doors etc."
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Salt
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Soap
"Try to locate the holes that the ants come from and squirt some dishwashing soap into the holes. If you can seal the holes it's even better."
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Tabasco
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Talc
"Sprinkling talc at the doorway kept an army of huge ants from coming in."
"Be careful about inhaling it."
¡°Sprinkle it on your clean, dry, chametz-free kitchen counter BEFORE you lay down your Pesadik counter cover. Ants will likely avoid your counter during Pesach.¡±
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Vinegar
"Either white or apple cider vinegar can wipe out ant trails."
I have something cheaper and cleaner: Half baking soda half powdered sugar. Works GREAT!
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