Last Updated on June 10, 2021 by
There are Several natural and non-toxic methods that can be used to eliminate ants from your bedroom. They include wiping the surfaces and floors with a solution of 50-volumes vinegar & 50-volumes water, applying diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide), or using pepper among others. Using ant baits and keeping the bedroom clean are other effective methods to help get rid of the ant problem.
Having ants in your bedroom can be both frustrating and a nuisance too. They can damage your property, and some of them can bite, which is quite painful. Ants are also unhygienic since some of them carry bacteria that they can transfer to your food.
Natural Home Remedies For Eliminating Ants
Some natural home remedies are safe and effective in getting rid of ants. They include;
White Vinegar
Ants dislike the smell of vinegar, and you can therefore use it to eliminate the ants. To prepare the solution, mix 50% white vinegar and 50% water and add a little essential oil to the mixture then shake well. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it daily at the entry points for the ants.
While white vinegar may not kill ants, it will help to deter them from entering your house. Be sure to spray the solution around the doorways, on your windowsills, and other areas where ants may enter through.
Silicon Dioxide (Diatomaceous Earth)
Silicon dioxide (also known as diatomaceous earth) is a kind of silica that consists of fossilized remains of diatoms which are aquatic organisms. This product is not a poison, but it destroys ants and other pests by absorbing oils in their bodies hence drying them out. You should, however, avoid inhaling silicon dioxide since it is an irritant.
Sprinkle the powder at the entry points of ants or any other place where ants are visible. Be sure to follow the instructions and directions on the package for better results.
Ordinary Salt
Salt is also an effective home remedy that helps keep the ants away. You can spread the salt near corners and nooks from where ants enter your bedroom to keep them away. Use the ordinary table salt instead of the health-boosting rock salt since it is more suitable.
You can boil some water for a better outcome and add a large amount of salt to it. Stir until all the salt dissolves, then pour the solution into a spray bottle. Apply the solution in corners, crevices, and every other place where ants may enter your home from. You can repeat this procedure each day until you are sure that the menace is over.
Pepper
Ants hate pepper, and you can take advantage of this hatred to get rid of them. For example, you can sprinkle cayenne or black pepper at the ants’ entry points to deter them from entering your house and also the bedroom. You may also add some pepper to water and spray the entry points using a spray bottle.
While pepper may also not kill the ants, spraying it at the entry points is a sure way of deterring them altogether. Be sure to clean the area that you intend to spray with pepper thoroughly for a better outcome.
Lemons
Lemon is among the safest and most effective remedies to rid your bedroom of ants. You need to place its peels or squeeze some juice at the entry points for ants to prevent them from getting in. You may also add the lemon juice to water and clean the house, including your infested bedroom.
Since ants don’t like the smell of lemon juice, they will avoid the sprayed areas. Ensure that there is no sugar or sweet substances that can attract the creatures into your bedroom or other places.
Cinnamon And Cloves
Besides keeping your house smelling clean and fresh all the time, cloves and cinnamon can also act as a deterrent to the ants. The organisms cannot stand the strong smell of cinnamon and it, therefore, acts as a natural repellent. You may mix cinnamon with some essential oil to enhance the smell making it more effective.
Apply in all areas where ants enter your bedroom and any other place that you see them.
Oranges
Oranges are also as effective as lemons when it comes to eliminating ants. You can mix orange peels with warm water to make a paste and spread on the affected areas.
Peppermint
Since peppermint is an insect repellent, you can also use it to expel ants from your place. Ants will avoid places with a strong smell of peppermint since they cannot tolerate it. You can mix a cup of water and about ten drops of peppermint oil, place it in a spray bottle then apply it in the infested areas. For effectiveness, you can repeat the procedure twice a day, and you can also use dried peppermint leaves instead of the liquid.
A Summary Of Natural Remedies And How They Work
| Product | How to use | How it works |
| White vinegar | Mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1 and spray at the entry points | Deters the ants with its strong smell |
| Diatomaceous earth | Sprinkle the powder in all areas where ants are seen | Kills ants by drying out oils from their skeleton |
| Peppermint oil | Mix with water and spray the affected areas twice a day | Repels the ants with the strong scent |
| Cloves and cinnamon | Mix cloves, cinnamon, and essential oils to enhance the smell. Sprinkle the affected area | It acts as a natural repellent due to its strong smell |
| Lemon | Squeeze some lemon juice or place peels at the ants’ entry points. Then, add the lemon juice to water and wipe your floor and surfaces with it. | Repels the ants with their strong scents |
| Ordinary table salt | Sprinkle a good amount in all the affected areas. You can also dissolve a significant amount in boiling water then spray all crevices and other entry points daily. | It kills ants by drying them out since it is a desiccant. |
What Can You Use Instead Of Natural Remedies For Eliminating Ants?
Sometimes, natural home remedies may not work as effectively as you like since most of them do not kill but keep ants at bay. In this case, you go for the techniques that help to eliminate them. The following methods will help;
Keep Your House Very Clean.
Like with all other pests, sanitation is vital in the prevention and control of ants. Ants will enter your bedroom looking for food, water, and shelter. If they lack anything to munch on or water to keep them alive, these creatures will tend to avoid your house. Ensure that your floor and other surfaces are always clean, as doing this will deter the ants.
Use Of Ant Baits
Since you may not see all the ants moving around in your bedroom, you can apply baits along the trails. When some eat and step on this bait, they will carry it back to their nest. Baits such as boric acid are usually toxic to ants but non-toxic to humans and pets. But, make sure that you place the baits out of reach of your kids and pets.
Ensure that your surfaces are clean for the bait to be the only sweet thing attracting the ants. Since there may be several ants in their colony, it may take longer to get rid of them. You may need to replace the bait once exhausted to eliminate all of them.
Spraying With Pesticides
Sometimes you may notice the ants trail that leads to a nest outside. When this is the case, you can try using a good dose of liquid pesticide. Make sure that you drench the nest to reach the queen in the colony. Read the label carefully for instruction and follow them for an effective outcome. Ensure also that the colony you are dealing with is the one causing the indoor infestation issue since some ants are helpful in your garden.
Why Do You Find Ants In Your Bedroom?
You may find ants in your bedroom for various reasons, which include;
Search For A Hiding Place
Ants will move into your bedroom in search of a suitable hiding place. When you see ants in your bedroom, it could indicate a bigger problem than you think. Ants like invading the kitchen, bathrooms, and pantries, and they may move to your bathroom in search of a more conducive environment.
Ants will also enter your bedroom to shield themselves from bad weather, as well as hide from their natural enemies. So if your bedroom has the right conditions, these creatures will make it their home.
Search For Food
Ants may also move to your bedroom to look for what to eat. If there are crumbs or food particles in your bedroom, be sure to have these unwelcome guests. It is necessary to ensure that these organisms will not get anything to eat in your bedroom floor, your closets, and even drawers.
How To Prevent Ants From Getting Into Your Bedroom
While there are various methods that you can use to get rid of ants from your bedroom, it may not be very easy to wipe them out completely. For this reason, it is easier to prevent an infestation than to get rid of it. Here are some of the techniques to prevent ants from invading your bedroom
Sealing All Cracks And Openings
Since ants are tiny, they can get into your home through tiny crevices and cracks. Therefore, it is essential to seal any cracks and holes on your windows and doors, walls, pipes, cables, and other entry points.
Keeping Your Place Clean
Ants come into the house searching for food and shelter, and any crumbs or food particles on the floor will attract them. Clearing your floors and surfaces of crumbs and keeping food in airtight containers will deny these creatures a reason to hang around your place.
Place Baits In Active Areas
Placing ant baits in areas where ants are common is also an excellent way to keep them at bay. As the scouting ants eat the bait, they will carry it back to their colony and eventually help to wipe the creatures out.
Conclusion
Ants get into the bedroom in search of food and a hiding place from uncomfortable conditions. There are several ways of removing them, but prevention is the best.
