You\u2019re renting an <\/span>apartment in Austin<\/span><\/a> enjoying the warm breeze through your windows when you notice a line of ants marching in like they own the place. Whether you\u2019re in a <\/span>rental in Dallas<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>townhome in Houston<\/span><\/a>, or anywhere else, dealing with pests is never fun. You could call your landlord and wait for an exterminator, but maybe you\u2019re hesitant about harsh chemicals, especially if you have pets around. Luckily, there are natural ways to send these ants packing\u2014no toxic sprays required.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From simple tricks like drawing chalk lines to DIY deterrents and homemade all natural ant killers, this ApartmentGuide article will walk you through the best all-natural solutions from experts to <\/span>get rid of ants in your apartment<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for an effective natural ant killer, this simple homemade solution might be just what you need. Here\u2019s a tried-and-true mixture that attracts and eliminates ants quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA natural ant killer I use is a mixture of 3\/4 cup of warm water, 1 TBSP of Borax, and a 1\/3 cup of sugar. You can pour this in a milk cap or water\/soda bottle cap and they run to it. \u201d \u2013 Libby <\/span>Evans of <\/span>Maid2Clean Services, LLC<\/span><\/a>, a cleaning service in <\/span>Palmyra, MO<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>At Best Portland House Cleaners, we always recommend Diatomaceous Earth as a natural and effective ant killer. It works by dehydrating insects upon contact, making it a great non-toxic option for homes with pets and children. Just be sure to wear a mask when applying, as the fine powder can be irritating when inhaled.\u201d \u2013 Jacob Bellinger, owner of <\/span>Best Portland House Cleaners<\/span><\/a>, a home cleaning company in <\/span>Portland, OR<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUsing common pesticides to rid your home of those little buggers can not only be harmful to our ecosystem, they\u2019re also toxic to people and pets. We recommends using coffee grounds instead. After brewing your morning coffee, allow the used grounds to dry for about a day. You can also use fresh grounds, but that\u2019s a waste of a good cup of joe. Once the grounds are dry, sprinkle them along doorways, window sills, and other places that ants will often enter your home. The strong smell of coffee overpowers the ants\u2019 scent trail, so those pesky buggers won\u2019t come marching through your door.\u201d \u2013 Robert Schumacher of <\/span>Cleen Green Enviro-Friendly Housekeepers<\/span><\/a>, a commercial and residential housekeeping company in <\/span>Washoe County, NV.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe best natural deterrent for ants, in my experience, is a 50\/50 mix of vinegar and water. It does wear off after only a day or 2, but if used to wipe down your kitchen counters and cabinets on a regular basis, along with other good cleaning habits, it will prevent most ant problems. You can clean just about anything with vinegar, and it will deter almost every insect. I use this at my own home regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n The exception is carpenter ants, termites, and other insects that are attacking the wood of your home. Spraying the exterior of your home regularly with vinegar isn\u2019t very feasible. So try to keep dirt and plants at least 12 inches away from your siding. Don\u2019t stack firewood or anything else up against your home and maintain a good coat of paint to protect against the critters trying to eat your house.\u201d \u2013 Rob Stehle of <\/span>AARD Pest Control<\/span><\/a>, a pest control business in the <\/span>Seattle<\/span><\/a> region.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany everyday household items can double as effective ant repellents. For instance, vinegar is a versatile cleaning agent that can also disrupt the scent trails used by ants to navigate. Mixing equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and applying it to entry points and trails can deter ants from entering your home. Additionally, lemon juice, with its acidic properties, can act as a natural deterrent when sprayed in areas prone to ant activity.\u201d \u2013 Ted of <\/span>Chicago Plumbing Experts<\/span><\/a>, a plumbing company based in <\/span>Chicago, IL<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA simple and effective natural ant deterrent combines white vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) sprayed along entry points and common ant trails. The strong scent disrupts their pheromone trails, keeping them from returning. For an additional barrier, sprinkle cinnamon or diatomaceous earth near doorways and windows\u2014both are safe, natural, and effective at repelling ants.\u201d Edward Steele, Founder and CEO of <\/span>Cleaning Buddha<\/span><\/a>, an organic eco-friendly cleaning company in <\/span>Portland, OR<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne of the best ways to keep ants out naturally is by disrupting their scent trails. Spraying a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water along baseboards, countertops, and entry points erases the paths they use to navigate. Another effective method is sprinkling food-grade diatomaceous earth in problem areas\u2014it\u2019s safe for people and pets but dehydrates ants on contact. For a gentler approach, essential oils like peppermint or tea tree mixed with water can create a barrier ants avoid. These simple, eco-friendly tricks help keep homes clean and ant-free without harsh chemicals!\u201d \u2013 <\/span>Sparkling Clean Maid Service<\/span><\/a>, a cleaning company servicing all over Missouri.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/b>Grow mint and lavender herbs near your home\u2019s foundation. Their strong scents naturally repel ants and add a fresh aroma to your garden\u201d \u2013 Nicole Eckel of <\/span>Sherwood Cleaning Services<\/span><\/a>, a house cleaning service in Sherwood Park.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor most indoor ants, prevention is the best deterrent for infestation. Fixing leaky pipes and cleaning up food crumbs and spills is the first step. Wiping down surfaces also disrupts the natural pheromone trail ants use to follow one another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A natural remedy for treating existing ant infestations is spinosad spray, a natural substance made by a soil bacterium that can be toxic to insects. Other natural treatments include peppermint and rosemary oils as they release a scent that is a deterrent for ants. Finally, diatomaceous earth or DE is great for both indoor and outdoor applications. DE is a powder made up from crushed fossils that stick to insects and dries them out by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect\u2019s exoskeleton.\u201d \u2013 the team at <\/span>Pest Patrol<\/span><\/a>, a pest control company servicing <\/span>San Diego County<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/b>A mix of lemon juice and water along baseboards and entry points can help disrupt ant scent trails. Diatomaceous earth can also be used which is a natural powder that is safe for people and pets but dehydrates ants on contact, making it a great deterrent. A few drops of peppermint essential oil diluted in water can also be sprayed near entry points to help keep ants away.\u201d \u2013 Kate Oldfield of <\/span>Pure Gorge Cleaning<\/span><\/a>, a residential and janitorial cleaning service based in <\/span>Hood River, OR<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUsing a natural cleaner like our Simply Magic All Purpose helps deter ants and rodents. This is due to two key ingredients:<\/span><\/p>\n![\"ants](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/shutterstock_696991528-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1. Mix warm water, borax, and sugar<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"borax](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/shutterstock_1666238674-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Experiment with diatomaceous earth<\/span><\/h2>\n
3. Reuse coffee grounds<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"ant](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/shutterstock_737216386-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Create a mixture of vinegar and water<\/span><\/h2>\n
5. Add lemon juice to your mixture<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"all](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/shutterstock_2373127923-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Sprinkle cinnamon or diatomaceous earth<\/span><\/h2>\n
7. Experiment with essential oils<\/span><\/h2>\n
8. Plant mint or lavender<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"ant](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/shutterstock_2505001519-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Prevent infestation or use spinosad spray if infestation has already occurred<\/span><\/h2>\n
10. Use lemon juice and peppermint oil<\/span><\/h2>\n
11. Apply a natural cleaner with peppermint and eucalyptus<\/span><\/h2>\n