EWWW Ants!

As a reptile keeper not much scares me but ants are one of them. They are creepy but it's not the looks that scares me. It's because they will go after my sweet little fruit eating geckos! Many years ago I had a friend whose home was invaded but a HORDE of ants when the old gas station a half a block away from her home was being demolished. The damned ants killed almost 10 of her geckos while she was at work. That was a very bad day.

I hate pesticides but what do I do? This took a while (read as years) to find something that works. I've tested everything. Borax, Damascus earth, so called 'clean' pesticides and herbs. Some worked some didn't. The ones that have done well are listed here for anyone else to try.

Ant Repellent

With a damp sponge or cloth add 8-10 drops of peppermint essential oil or citronella essential oil and wipe on windowsills, door jams, cabinets, and any areas you think they may come in.

***The same trick will work with earwigs, centipedes, and silverfish. For them you can use peppermint essential oil, citronella e. oil, wintergreen e. oil, and eucalyptus e oil.

*** You can also add some of the above essential oils into mop water, floor cleaners, carpet dust, and counter top wipes.

*** add a satchel of basil with a few drops of the essential oils from above in cabinets or shelves to keep ants and other bugs away.

Safe Ant-be-gone

You will need

¼ flax seed oil

8 cloves garlic (pressed with skins still on)

2 cups warm water

1tsp liquid Castile soap

Spray bottle

In a jar or bowl place garlic and oil. Let sit for at least 12 hours covered. Shake or stir occasionally.

Remove/strain garlic from oil. Poor oil into spray bottle. Add water and castile soap. Shake and spray areas and ant trail.

Bye-Bye Ant Carpet Sprinkle

You will need

1 cup baking soda

¼ cinnamon

20 drops cinnamon bark essential oil

Jar with a lid (holes poked in lid helps)

Mix ALL ingredients well and place in the jar, cap jar. Sprinkle on carpet and let sit for 1-2 hours. Your house will smell like Christmas but its worth it. Vacuum it all up.

Hope this helps keep the creepy crawly ants away! If you have a safe recipe for keeping ants away please share in the comments. :)