Ants can be the bane of our existence. They come into our gardens and protect nasty plant-killing bugs, and they find any possible crack to get into our homes and raid our kitchens. Once the ants have invaded, it can be difficult to get rid of them, and can take weeks to finally chase them from your home. Buying ant spray, traps and bait can become costly in a short time. One of the best ways to avoid struggling with ant invasions and paying the price is to buy one of these three common items to get rid of ants. Here’s 3 common items for getting rid of ants!

Boric Acid/ Borax

This is one of the best ways to get rid of ants. You can use this powder as is to defend against ants. Use your favorite turkey baster to blow the powder into the little cracks the ants are using, helping the powder to coat the hard to reach area. If you need to set up your own little trap, mix equal parts of borax and sugar into a little plate, and add just enough water to make a paste. Place this near the entry point of the ants, or near their anthill, and let their hunger do the work. They’ll take the sweet concoction home as leftovers, and the acid will kill them and their entire colony.

Chalk

Surprisingly enough, chalk has some calcium carbonate in it, which is something else the ants don’t like. Buy powdered chalk to sprinkle in your garden or yard, and it’ll repel the ants. Know where the ants are coming into your home? Draw a chalk circle all around it, and they’ll be stopped right at their front door. For some reason they won’t be able to cross it, and will be stuck staring at your home and dreaming of what could have been. If you’re simply aiming to keep them away from you without killing them, chalk is one of the better and more fun ways.

Lemons

Finally, one of the best repellents. While chalk works well, very little works as well as lemon juice. Mix pure lemon or lime juice in water, and you’ve got your repellant spray for a fraction of the price. The citric acid will chase away the ants, and it will make your home smell fantastic. Be sure you’re using pure lemon juice, and not the store-bought concentrate. Most of the times, they’ll add in sugar to the store items, which will leave an icky residue on your things and bring the ants back.

Ants are suckers for sugar, and will even brave the stink of lemon juice to try and get to it. Plus, you probably don’t want sticky counters! Stick to fresh lemon juice, diluted with water, or the actual lemon rinds around the entry points. Soon enough, the ants will get the hint, and will go somewhere else to find their food. You might want to warn your neighbors!

Source: Gracious Gardening