Stop ant invasions: All the DIY remedies you can try

The more the warm season advances, the easier it is to find ants trying to enter the home, or perhaps they are already circulating in the kitchen. They are attracted by our food supplies but also by leftovers, so we will most likely see them marching around near the pantry and the organic waste basket in the kitchen - we will see a line of these industrious insects leading to a few holes near the doors and windows that give them access to the outside.

They are harmless to humans, but finding a colony of ants in / at our home is never pleasant. Before resorting to using aggressive killing methods using chemical insecticides (which are often dangerous for children and pets), you can try some other, more environmentally friendly, solutions.

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• Diatomaceous earth (sometimes called diatomaceous dirt, diatomaceous soil or diatomite): it is a chalky powder that is obtained from sedimentary rocks and works as a natural insecticide against many types of insects, including ants. Spread some around the perimeter of the balcony, especially near windows, doors or other potential entry ways.
• Glass cleaner and dishwashing detergent: This mix is used to remove the pheromone odor that ants need to follow a single path, so they won't be able to find their way into the house. Mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle and spray it where you see the most ant activity. Even better, if you can spray it along the route and at the access points to the house. Then remove any oversplash with a cloth. Even a fairly diluted liquid soap can work.
• Black pepper: this product seems to act as a natural deterrent, as ants do not like its smell. Sprinkle some black at the access points to the home.
• Peppermint: take advantage of this product as the odor is unpleasant to ants. Peppermint can be sourced in the form of an essential oil. Fill a spray bottle with water and add 10-20 drops of essential peppermint oil, spraying as with glass soap method described above. You can also soak cotton balls with essential peppermint oil and place / dab them at the access points. You can also use tea tree essential oil in this way.
• White vinegar: mix the vinegar in equal parts with water and flush the surfaces the ants pass over (if they can be treated with vinegar without causing damage). Do not rinse off. You can add a few drops of essential oil (peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, eucalyptus citrate) to intensify the efficacy.

Have you ever tried these remedies?