I first observed ants marching in a line across my kitchen counter several years back. At first, I thought this was a small problem. Unfortunately, it escalated as more and more ants entered the home.
The various commercial sprays I purchased failed to provide a sustainable solution to my ant problem and weren’t eco-friendly either. Research and testing led me to a basic yet practical approach to eliminate the problem without chemicals. Here’s what worked for me.
The tiny problem
Ants love the warm indoors
In my home state of Pennsylvania, I often have an ant problem in the warmer months. They seem to suddenly appear on the counter of my kitchen and sometimes on my bathroom floors. This makes sense given that I no longer use pesticides outside my home to protect it from creatures like insects.
As I discovered on The Conversation, there are several reasons ants like coming into homes, especially when it’s warm outside. Usually, it’s to feast on food that’s left on the kitchen counter, such as bananas and apples. They are also drawn to water, especially if it’s dry outside. Beyond this, ants are more active in the summer months and use this time to explore more places. Without the barriers brought on by pesticides, they can have free rein in our homes.
What can be done
You’ll perk up when you read this solution
The best way to eliminate your ant problem is by using coffee grounds. These tiny particles of perkiness are eco-friendly, affordable, and provide an aromatic alternative to chemical repellents.
Coffee grounds feature nitrogen and caffeine, which are substances that ant colonies find annoying. The ants use pheromone trails to communicate about food discoveries, leading colony members to new food sources. The strong, persistent coffee aroma disrupts pheromone signaling, causing ants to lose their bearings and stop moving. The natural repellent properties of the coffee grounds remain effective as long as they stay fresh and aromatic.
It’s also important to note that the coffee grounds won’t kill the ants, which is appealing to me.
What to do
How to use the grounds
You can use coffee grounds to eliminate your ant problem inside or out. The key is to spread a thin layer of fresh coffee grounds around known entry areas such as windows and doors, sink edges, or countertops.
Rather than placing the grounds directly on the surface, you should use a disposable surface for easier cleanup. For example, put the grounds on a small dish, a Post-It note, or an index card. You should replace the grounds a few times a month, as prolonged exposure to air will reduce the coffee’s caffeine and acidity. Continued sunlight also removes moisture from the ground, eliminating its scent.
Another suggestion is to sprinkle your used coffee grounds around your home. It’s an eco-friendly way to eliminate waste, as it’s biodegradable and beneficial for the soil.
Other ways to remove ants
Stick with the natural
If you’re not a coffee drinker, there are other natural ways to help eliminate ants from the inside of your home. The most obvious is by using one of my favorite household items: vinegar. A 50/50 combination of water and vinegar sprayed onto surfaces like countertops acts as a safe disinfectant. The vinegar-water combination also works well for cleaning some types of floors. Although you shouldn’t use vinegar everywhere in your home.
Lemon juice mixed with water is another option. Use this combination around windows and door frames to deter ants from entering your home. The lemon juice has other nifty home uses, too. I also recommend using a combination of baking soda and sugar. The latter attracts the ants, while the former can interfere with their digestion. You should avoid using this mix in locations around your home where your pets roam. It could make them sick if ingested.
Others advocate using essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus to eliminate an ant problem. I haven’t tried this, but it’s certainly something worth considering. Just make sure you dilute the oils with water.
Say bye to your ant problem
The warm months of the year attract ants to homes because they seek food and water, while people avoid using outdoor pesticides. Summer in Pennsylvania brings ants into homes through the kitchen and bathroom areas.
Coffee grounds are an environmentally safe way to repel ants. The combination of nitrogen and caffeine in coffee grounds disrupts pheromone pathways, leading ants to become lost and preventing them from returning to their colonies while remaining alive. Fresh coffee grounds should be placed on dishes or index cards near entry points to repel ants, and they should be replaced every few weeks for optimal results. Adding used coffee grounds to outdoor soil provides additional environmental benefits.