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Summer is notorious for all the the creepy crawlies that come out to play as the weather warms up. It can be difficult to know how to tackle an invasion of ants, let alone in a way that doesn’t harm the environment or the people in your home. We have collated a few natural repellants that will work in your home and garden to deter any annoying ants this summer. Take a look at our guide below and get cracking!

When an ant discovers food, it marks the path from the food to the nest using a pheromone trail. Other ants then follow the trail by smelling it with their antennae. Certain botanical scents interfere with these scent trails - and leave your home smelling lovely.

Peppermint oil works really well and smells great, it is also meant to help support alertness and mental clarity, so not a bad oil to have around your home! Simply place a few drops of the oil on a cotton wool ball and wipe it over baseboards and other entry points. You can also leave a couple of peppermint-infused cotton balls in your cupboards to deter any unwelcome visitors! Tea-tree oil also works in a very similar way, and is also a great antiseptic to have around the home.

Clove oil is a good way to get rid of ant nests in the garden. It contains eugenol which will kill ants and other insects on impact, but the effectiveness fades quickly. Clove oil is extremely strong, so mix a few drops in with a glass of water and tip it over the offending ant nest. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times to get all the ants, but it should wipe out the nest without damaging your surrounding turf.

Citrus oils, such as lemon and orange, contain d-limonene which is toxic to ants. It also masks their scent trails. This is a great oil to use on any entry points you may have into your home for unruly ants. Wipe the oil on your baseboards using a cotton ball, you can also pour it directly onto ant nests in your garden, as it is toxic to ants and other insects.