Discard The Insecticides: Here's A Fragrant Essential Oil To Keep Ants Away

There's a laundry list of natural insect repellents, from citronella and cinnamon to various essential oils. Not all do-it-yourself remedies are effective against ants, though. Furthermore, many people prefer not to use potentially toxic insecticides if they can avoid them. If you're dealing with an ant problem in your home, don't reach for chemical sprays just yet — citrus oil is a cheap and science-backed way to repel bugs naturally, and one that may let you avoid spraying chemical pesticides inside your home.

Citrus essential oil that's extracted from the peels of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits contains D-limonene, a compound that disrupts ant behavior. A 2021 research paper presented at the Recent Advances in Basic and Applied Sciences conference found that this compound showed "significant effects to reduce the ant species richness and activity." Best of all, citrus oil is a cheap, non-toxic, and environmentally-friendly alternative to standard chemical insecticides. Its pleasant aroma is certainly a bonus, too.

D-limonene accounts for up to 97% of the contents of citrus essential oils, making this extract a potent insect repellent for bugs you don't want in your home, including ants. When applied to surfaces such as floors or kitchen counters, D-limonene masks the scent trails left by these pests. Ant colonies use these pheromone trails to communicate and lead their workers to food sources, so by disrupting this process, citrus essential oil can greatly reduce the ants' ability to set up shop inside your home.

In addition to being a bug repellent, citrus oil is also a natural insecticide. Although not a traditional chemical insecticide, the D-limonene in citrus peel extract is a natural solvent that can kill ants through direct contact. It does this by breaking down the protective lipid layer on the outside of their exoskeletons. Once this waxy layer is dissolved, the ants quickly dry out and die.

Your best bet for getting rid of ants isn't necessarily to spray a citrus oil solution directly onto them. An easier way to repel ants is to place citrus oil wherever you've seen the critters coming and going since this is where they're laying their scent trails. You can do this by mixing a few drops of citrus essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Shake thoroughly before use to disperse the oil throughout the mixture, then spray the areas where you've seen ants crawling around, as well as wherever you think they could be entering your home.

Additionally, you can soak cotton balls in the citrus oil and place them in these same locations, as well as in cupboards and cabinets. If you don't have this essential oil handy, you can use fresh citrus peels instead of essential oil. Ants particularly can't stand grapefruit peels. Just know that grapefruit rind can be toxic to animals such as cats and dogs, as can citrus essential oil, so this isn't the best option if you have pets.

As with any natural alternative to chemical insecticides, citrus oil isn't a perfect way to deal with little uninvited guests — it's only a short-term solution. Over time, the scent of the oil will fade, requiring reapplication if the infestation continues. Consider combining citrus essential oil with other ways to get rid of ants for a multi-pronged approach. Finally, if you have a particularly large or persistent ant problem that home remedies can't seem to solve, it may be time to seek assistance from a pest control professional.