Overview

Ant invasion is a very common issue that is usually faced in households. Ants easily get into our houses and it becomes difficult to get rid of them instantly.

So, one of the natural ways to get rid of ants is by using essential oils. Using essential oils help in keeping ants at bay so that they do not return back to your house. People try to find natural ways instead of chemicals to deter ants from entering their houses. Experts recommend using an essential oil to repel ants naturally.

Essential oils are extracted from different parts of plants and have properties that help repel ants. Essential oils are used in many ant repellents. Pure essential oils are free from chemicals and are non toxic, and thus are being widely used for different purposes.

Read below to find out some of the best essential oils that can be used to get rid of ants and repel them.

Essential Oil Ants Repellent

Essential oils have gained popularity as natural alternatives for various purposes, including pest control. When it comes to ants, essential oils can serve as effective ant repellent, keeping these six-legged uninvited guests at bay without resorting to harmful chemicals.

Certain essential oils, such as peppermint essential oil, lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon oil for ants and tea tree oil, are known for their strong scents that ants may find displeasing. These oils can throw an ant off of its game by disturbing its communication and rummaging patterns, thus stopping them from entering your living spaces.

To create an ant repellent with essential oil, dilute a few drops of your chosen oil (orange oil for ants or cinnamon oil for ants) with water and spray it in areas where ants are commonly found, like kitchen areas, bathroom corners and windowsills.

Not only are these essential oil-based ant repellents natural and safe for humans and (some) pets, but they also offer a pleasant aroma that can uplift your environment. (Some of these aromas may cause discomfort in dogs and cats.) However, it's important to note that while essential oils can help repel ants, they might not be an answer for severe infestations.

Other things need to be taken care of including proper sanitation, sealing entry points of insects, and fallen food items that attract the ants. These infestation management methods should be combined with essential oils for best results.

Making use of essential oils to drive out or keep out ants is a natural and aromatic way to keep ants from pestering you, thus allowing you to maintain a pest-free surrounding while avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

Best Essential Oils To Repel Ants

1. Peppermint Essential Oil for Ants

Peppermint oil is one of the best essential oils for ants (1). Peppermint oil has a strong scent which is unpleasant to insects and thus repels ants. The use of peppermint oil will disrupt the scent of food that ants are trying to locate and thus will make them return to get rid of the unpleasant scent that they are not able to bear. Try peppermint oil for ants and see for yourself how ants leave your house. 

Peppermint essential oil belongs to the mint family of plants, which are known to repel ants and sometimes even kill them. Ant repellent peppermint essential oil can be soaked in a cotton ball and placed in corners of a room to drive away ants. These cotton balls will also give out an aroma that will freshen up an enclosed space.

2. Cinnamon Essential Oil for Ants

Cinnamon oil is on the sweetest side for humans, its scent is not pleasant for ants and can repel them. Its fragrance acts as a natural ant repellent. Inhalation of cinnamon oil can also kill ants by instantly choking them. Cinnamon essential oil can help kill ants (2).

Cinnamon oil may have an intoxicating aroma, but it has compounds that may drive away ants. Cinnamon oil for ants can be soaked in a cotton ball and placed in corners of a room, home or office, to drive away ants. Blends with other ant repellent oils can also be used in spray bottles.

3. Citronella Essential Oil for Ants

Citronella oil is another essential oil that can kill ants. Ants coming in contact with this oil can die immediately. Citronella oil is used as a repellent against many insects like ants, wasps, ticks, fleas, etc. The scent of this oil helps repel ants and keeps them away (3).

4. Clove Essential Oil for Ants

Clove oil has a strong scent and is one of the powerful essential oils that is hot. The smell of this oil conceals the scent of the food trail that the ant follows. Clove oil is also used as a natural ant repellent. Clove oil can also be used to kill ants because it is a warm oil. Clove oil can also be used to repel and kill other insects as well (4).

5. Orange Essential Oil for Ants

Orange oil is one of the most effective essential oils that can kill ants. Orange essential oil belongs to the citrus oils category. Orange essential oil can be used to get rid of both indoor and outdoor ants (5).

Orange oil for ants can be mixed with water and stored in a spritzer. The spritzer should be shaken before every use. Check out the recipes for orange oil for ants to know about the ratio of the ingredients.

6. Eucalyptus Essential Oil for Ants

Eucalyptus oil has a rich and powerful aroma that can easily conceal the smell of food trails and can repel ants. This oil is used as ant repellent in some products, It is non toxic in nature and thus can be easily used to get rid of ants.

7. Tea Tree Essential Oil for Ants

Tea tree oil has a strong fragrance and ants do not like strong fragrances, thus this is one of the most effective essential oils to repel ants. Tea tree oil has an overpowering scent that is unpleasant to ants due to which they flee away. Tea tree oil can be used as ant repellents.

8. Lavender Essential Oil for Ants

Lavender oil is one of the most friendly insecticides. Lavender oil has a strong scent that helps repel ants and other pests from the home, keeping our house's insects free. This is one of the best oils to be used as ant repellents.

9. Cedarwood Essential Oil for Ants

Cedarwood oil has natural insect repellent properties that can be used to keep ants away (6).Cedarwood essential oil has a strong scent that can confuse ants and repel them from entering houses. This oil is also effective on fire ants. It can be used to make your own ant repellents.

10. Lemon Essential Oil for Ants

Lemon oil has a strong scent that can help get rid of ants from houses (7). The scent of this oil can conceal the scent of food trail and can confuse the ants. Also, as it has a strong scent the ants want to get rid of the scent and thus goes away.

11. Lemongrass Essential Oil for Ants

Lemongrass essential oil contains a citral constituent that is commonly used as insect repellent (8). Lemongrass oil has strong scent that is very unpleasant to ants and thus repels them.

12. Thyme Essential Oil for Ants

Thyme oil contains a component called thymol which is used as insect repellent (9). The potency of thyme oil is highly effective and can help get rid of ants and other insects at our houses. This essential oil is effective at repelling ants.

13. Patchouli Essential Oil for Ants

Patchouli oil is used in some of the commercial insecticides (10). It has properties that can be used to repel ants and other insects. Patchouli oil can also be used to kill ants.

How To Use Essential Oils To Repel Ants Or Get Rid Of Ants?

There are different ways in which you can use essential oils to get rid of ants

Ant Repellent Sprays

This is one of the most convenient ways to get rid of ants by using essential oils. You can use essential oils ant repellent sprays at your doorways, near window frames, or where you witness ant infestation.

Directly Targeting Specific Areas

If you notice that there is a specific place at your house where continuous movement of ants are witnessed. Then you can add a few drops of strong scented essential oil on a cotton ball and keep it near that area. This unpleasant scent will repel the ants and will make them leave your house.

Washing Away Scent Trails

Ants leave a scent trail and to make sure that the ants do not come back to your houses its recommended to use essential oils to wash away their trails. Essential oils have components like eugenol, d-limonene, etc. that helps to repel ants and also erases trails of ants swarming the scene.

Ant Killing Spray

There are certain essential oils that can kill ants and if you are facing issues because of the large number of ants and are not able to get rid of ants, you can use essential oil ant killing spray. Some of the essential oils that can kill ants include cinnamon oil, clove oil, citronella oil, orange oil and patchouli oil. By using these oils you can make an ant killing spray.

DIY Essential Oil Recipes To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally

You can create your own essential oil blends to attack ants.

Recipe #1

DIY Essential Oil Ant Repellent Spray

Ingredients

• 10 drops clove oil
• 10 drops citronella oil
• 10 drops cedarwood oil
• 10 drops lemon oil
• Spray bottle
• Distilled water - 60 ml
• 25-30 drops of alcohol

You can use this essential oil spray to keep ants away naturally from your home. Just spray this blend where ants are present or the most common areas from where ants can get into your house.

Recipe #2

DIY Essential Oil Blend To Wash Away Ant Scent Trails

Ingredients

• 10 drops of lemongrass oil
• 10 drops of cedarwood oil
• 15 drops of peppermint oil
• 1/2 cup of vinegar
• 1 cup of distilled water
• Air tight bottle

This essential oil ant spray can also be used to kill and repel ants along with washing away ant trails.

Recipe #3

DIY Essential Oil Spray To Get Rid Of Ants Overnight

Ingredients

• 5 drops of orange oil
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of clove oil
• 5 drops of eucalyptus oil
• 10 ml Glass spray bottle
• Water

If suddenly you see a line of ants in your house and you don't have time to get your hands on insect repellents or want to use a natural way to get rid of them overnight. You can use this blend to repel ants from your home. This blend works well on different ant species including fire ants, carpenter ants, etc.

Different Ways to Get Rid of Ants Apart from Essential Oils

While essential oils are a popular and natural way to deter ants, there are several other effective methods to manage and eliminate ant infestations. Here are some alternative approaches:

Seal Entry Points

One of the most effective ways to prevent ants from entering your home is by sealing off their entry points. Use caulk or weatherstripping to close gaps around windows, doors, and any other openings where ants can gain access. Regularly inspect your home for new entry points and seal them promptly.

Keep Your Home Clean

Maintaining a clean environment is crucial in preventing ant infestations. Ants are attracted to food and water sources, so make sure to:

• Wipe down countertops and sweep floors regularly to remove crumbs and spills.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Clean up pet food and water dishes after use.
• Take out the trash regularly and keep garbage bins sealed.

Use Ant Bait

Ant bait is an effective method for eliminating ants, especially those that are difficult to reach. Place ant bait stations near entry points and along ant trails. The ants will carry the bait back to their colony, effectively spreading the poison and eliminating the entire nest over time.

Set Up Physical Barriers

Creating physical barriers can help keep ants out of specific areas. For example, you can use:

• Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle a thin layer of diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home or in areas where ants are commonly seen. This natural powder dehydrates and kills ants on contact.
• Vaseline or petroleum jelly: Apply a thin layer around the base of containers or on surfaces to prevent ants from climbing.

Utilize Natural Repellents

In addition to essential oils, there are other natural substances that can repel ants, such as:

• Vinegar: Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it to ant trails and entry points. The strong scent of vinegar disrupts the ants' scent trails, making it difficult for them to navigate.
• Lemon juice: Similar to vinegar, lemon juice can be sprayed in areas where ants are present to disrupt their scent trails and deter them from returning.
• Cinnamon: Sprinkle ground cinnamon or place cinnamon sticks near entry points to repel ants. The strong scent is unpleasant to ants and can help keep them away.

Use Chemical Ant Killers

For severe infestations, chemical ant killers may be necessary. These products come in various forms, such as sprays, granules, and liquid baits. Follow the instructions on the product label carefully to ensure safe and effective use.

Maintain Outdoor Areas

Keeping your yard and outdoor areas clean and well-maintained can also help prevent ants from entering your home. Consider the following tips:

• Trim trees and shrubs away from your home to eliminate bridges for ants to enter.
• Remove any piles of wood, leaves, or other debris where ants may nest.
• Keep outdoor garbage bins tightly sealed.

Professional Pest Control

If you have a persistent ant problem that you cannot control with DIY methods, it may be time to call in professional pest control services. Pest control experts have the knowledge and tools to identify the type of ants and effectively eliminate the infestation.

By combining these methods with the use of essential oils, you can create a comprehensive approach to managing and preventing ant infestations in your home.

Conclusion

Naturally using essential oils is one of the most effective ways to restrict pesky ants from entering your home. Essential oils are good options to keep at home as it can come handy for many different purposes. Few drops of essential oils can do wonders when it comes to getting ants out of your home.

Essential oils being plant extracts are safe to use for humans. You can use a single essential oil or can mix with your favorite essential oils to make an essential oil spray to keep ants and fire ants away from your indoors and outdoors.