Do DIY ant solutions work?
What happens when you release a colony of ants into a kitchen and test the most popular DIY pest control methods?
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) worked with a group of experts to see exactly how these tiny nuisance pests would react. Now, we’re showing you how effective each method really is.
Bay Leaves
A bay leaf a day will keep the ants away. Or not.
Some claim ants dislike the fragrance of bay leaves, but that might just be a problem for us. Just because it smells strong to humans doesn’t mean it always works for pest control.
Black and Cayenne Pepper
It’s often believed that the smell of black pepper and cayenne irritates ants, but ants are smart! They navigate using chemical scent trails. When their pathway is blocked, they simply find another route.
White Vinegar
While white vinegar can disrupt ants’ scent trails temporarily, it doesn’t stop them from coming back.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice mixed with water is a popular house cleaning method, but it shouldn’t be a go-to for pest control. This mixture may affect some of the worker ants that you see on the countertops. However, the colony is still intact whether visible or not.