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You can use cinnamon powder, cinnamon oil, or cinnamon sticks to drive ants away. However, cinnamon doesn’t kill the ants; it simply repels them, often forcing them to find an alternative path. Like other natural ant repellents, this method encourages ants to avoid certain areas. You might need to experiment with different approaches to find the one that works best for you.
Steps
Repelling Ants with Cinnamon
Sprinkle cinnamon where ants are present. The easiest method is to sprinkle some cinnamon powder in places where you see ants entering your home. The strong scent of cinnamon disrupts the ants' trail, causing them to abandon that route and look for another path.
Create a Barrier. Instead of sprinkling cinnamon powder evenly, you can use it to draw lines that ants cannot cross. If you notice ants entering through a specific spot, take a cotton swab dipped in cinnamon powder and draw a long line to prevent them from entering that area.
Use Cinnamon Essential Oil. For a stronger solution, try using cinnamon essential oil instead of cinnamon powder. The essential oil has a much stronger effect. You can dip a cotton swab into the oil and apply it to areas where ants are present.
- Some essential oils may even kill ants. The simplest method is to mix the essential oil with water and spray it around the house where ants are seen.
- For this, mix ¼ cup (60ml) of water with ¼ cup (60ml) of vodka. The vodka helps dissolve the essential oil better. If you don’t have vodka, you can substitute it with the same amount of water (¼ cup) and shake well before use.
- Then add about 20-25 drops of cinnamon essential oil and shake the mixture.
- Try using other essential oils. For example, use 15 drops of tea tree oil, 15 drops of peppermint oil, and 7 drops of citrus oils (such as orange, lemon, or lime). Alternatively, replace the citrus oils with 3 drops of clove oil. Shake well.
- If you are using this solution near food, consider substituting the tea tree oil with more peppermint oil.
Scatter Cinnamon Sticks. A tidier option is to use cinnamon sticks instead of the powder. Simply place the sticks along the ants' path. In fact, you can place the sticks anywhere ants are seen. You can find cinnamon sticks in the spice aisle of your local grocery store.
Use Other Natural Ingredients
Try White Vinegar. Ants tend to avoid the strong smell of vinegar. Pour some vinegar into a spray bottle and use it around the kitchen. Vinegar is very safe to use. Clean the countertop, then spray a small amount of vinegar on it and let it dry. The vinegar smell will dissipate quickly.
- If sprayed directly on ants, vinegar may kill them.
- Reapply if you notice ants returning.
Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous earth has been used as a natural ant repellent for many years. It is non-toxic, making it safe for children and pets. However, be sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth, not the type meant for pool filtration. Simply sprinkle it around areas where ants are present.
Pour Boiling Water into the Ant Nest. Boiling water is another method to reduce the ant population. It won't wipe out the entire colony, but it will kill about ⅔ of the ants in the nest. You can use approximately 11L of water for a large nest.
- Be cautious when using this method to avoid burns from the hot water or steam.
Scatter Bay Leaves. Using bay leaves is an old trick for repelling ants. You can purchase bay leaves at spice shops, usually in whole leaf form (powdered versions are also available). Scatter the leaves in areas with ants; they typically won't return to those places.
