The rain has driven ants into my kitchen. I put out poison as a matter of habit and realized that sucks, but I don't know what to do instead.
The rain has driven ants into my kitchen. I put out poison as a matter of habit and realized that sucks, but I don't know what to do instead.
Essential oils like citrus oil, spearmint oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil can help as a deterrent. The strong smell messes with their ability to follow their scent trails. Requires frequent reapplications.
It won't chase them away just redirect them. And if they touch the oil while its wet, the ants will probably die.
Might be able to run a bar of soap with those essential oils ( check in to Dr. Bronners for an example, I use peppermint/spearmint to chase mice away from places sometimes) over window sills, counter tops, etc. Should keep the ant offending smells around for a bit longer than just a direct application of essential oils. I don't think walking over the film of soap bar that you've just smeared around will kill them like the essential oils seems to do.