Are you struggling to limit the surprisingly humorous number of ants in your garden?
Does the situation not allow you to use commercial insecticidal products, or do you simply want a simple but environmentally friendly product?
You don’t expect it too much, but lemon juice can fulfill all your insecticidal requirements! So, does lemon juice kill ants effectively?
To learn more about the detailed uses and methods of killing insects with this solution, please do not pass on any useful information in our article!
Does Lemon Juice Kill Ants?
Yes. Lemon juice is also very useful in limiting harmful insects, especially ants.
The chemical components in this natural ant repellent can effectively counter the swarming behavior of this small insect.
So, do ants like lemons? The answer surely is a big “no”!
Ants always follow each other in tracking invisible scents in the air to a food source.
Thanks to their keen sense of strong smell and impressive ability to convey information, they share images of the route more quickly than other animals.
Unfortunately, this ability is rendered useless as the smell and acidity of grated lemon can mask other scents. When unable to navigate, ants will lose their temper and disperse within minutes.
How To Kill Ants By Using Lemon Juice?
Lemon juice for ants is easy to squeeze, but no one wants to waste too much of this cooking ingredient on pest control.
Therefore, the economical method proposed is to make a DIY solution from cloves and lemon peel.
First, put the lemon zest/ slice in a small pot, then add enough white vinegar to cover the zest.
Heat the mixture until it is slightly hot but not boiling; turn off the heat and let the liquid cool for a few hours. Leaving it overnight is the most time-saving method.
Use a filter to remove all the unneeded ingredients and leave only the ants lemon juice. Put it into a spray bottle and proceed to spray wherever ants pass.
Determine the beginning and the end of the route the ants usually take, then seal the gaps along that route with glue.
The smell of lemon juice will block the ant’s pheromone trails, while the acidity will kill the weaker ants.
After a few minutes, clean up the lemon juice and ants on the floor with a clean cloth and warm water. If the leftover lemon juice is still a lot, store it in the refrigerator for later cleanings.
Some Other Natural Methods To Kill Ants
Finding some tiny ants running back and forth in your kitchen is such a nightmare. Fortunately, you can completely control this mess with some natural, safe, and non-toxic methods.
If ready for the cleanup, please scroll down to the steps below.
Cinnamon
Similar to lemon juice, the smell of cinnamon can deter ants from rummaging through your kitchen drawers for good.
Since whole-grain and ground cinnamon can make a mess in your kitchen, use a mixture of soapy water and half a teaspoon of cinnamon oil.
Spray this solution on all ant infestations and rinse with clean water.
Dish Soap And Hot Water
The combination of dish soap and hot water can completely kill small insects, especially ants, which come into direct contact with it.
You can boil a pot of hot water for large ant colonies outside the house and pour it over the colonies. In the case of fire ants, use protection because the ants may attack you.
Vinegar
Nearly all kitchens have at least one bottle of vinegar for cooking and cleaning. In addition, it can mask the scent and effectively clean up the scene left by ants.
Mix the water and vinegar in equal proportions, and the spray around the refrigerator and kitchen entrances. If you want to increase the effect, add a few drops of essential oil to the spray bottle.
Coffee Grounds
Whatever form it comes in, coffee gives off a strong scent that overwhelms other smells. Try sprinkling coffee grounds around areas where ants are frequent; it will bring more effectiveness than you think.
Diatomaceous Earth
Fossilized remains of small sea creatures created this powdery substance – food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (abbreviated DE). It looks like a fluffy and fine powder but is rather sharp and prickly.
DE can cause small cuts in the ant’s exoskeleton, causing them to lose moisture and die. Therefore, sprinkle it in every area around your home to limit the visit of these “uninvited guests.”
Citrus Peel Spray
If you don’t have lemons in the fridge, use the citrus peel instead with the same preparation method. Pour water over citrus peels in a pot, add vinegar, and heat it until it evaporates.
After leaving it overnight, you must put this natural repellent in a spray bottle and use it on ant’s scent trails. However, please be careful, as citrus and vinegar can react with some types of pot.
Cayenne Pepper
Have you ever choked on the scent of cayenne pepper powder? If you want ants to feel the same way, sprinkle this pepper powder in crowded areas.
However, this method is never intended for homes with children and pets.
Essential Oils
Dilute the water with an essential oil like orange, clove, tea tree, and peppermint oil.
Then, you should dip a clean cloth in these natural remedies and clean it thoroughly in every corner of the cupboard, refrigerator, and dining table.
Oil-soaked cotton balls placed around ants’ frequent paths can also significantly reduce the number of these pests.
Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar
If the ants appeared suddenly and disappeared without a trace, it would be the most effective solution for tracking and examining.
Miss the powdered sugar and baking soda in equal proportions in a bag, then shake well to combine. Pour the mixture onto plates and place them around the kitchen.
The sugar can attract concentrated ants, while baking soda will kill this insect.
FAQs
Do Ants Like Lemon Juice?
No, of course! The acidity in lemons can mask the odors left behind on the trail of ants, leading to them becoming disoriented.
You can use an all-purpose sprayer with lemon juice and three parts water to eliminate these insects.
Is Lemon Toxic To Ants?
Sure! Lemon is a great natural choice for killing and repelling ants. The acidic essential oils in lemons can be toxic and disrupt ants’ passage.
Does Lemon Juice Repel Ants?
The answer is a big yes! Thanks to the acidity of the lemon, the ants will be disoriented and dispersed within minutes of smelling the scent of lemon juice.
It would help to combine lemon juice with vinegar and warm water for the best effect.
Our Final Thought
Lemon juice is an easy-to-find, eco-friendly natural product that does not harm humans who contact it directly.
If your garden faces a small colony of ants, this homemade solution will help much more than any commercial product.So, does lemon juice kill ants effectively?
Although it does not completely kill insects, this natural solution is worthy of your daily use to prevent any signs of insects. And now, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and deal with the ant mess right now!
