How To Make Ant Repellent Spray

When it’s cold and wet outside, be on the lookout: That’s the time when ants are on the march towards your kitchen, looking for warmer, sugar-stocked climes to hide out in for the winter. The solution? Make a bottle of this potent natural spray to use on your window and door frames, baseboards, and anywhere else the little critters tend to sneak into your home.

There are plenty of ways to prevent ants from taking over indoors. Natural options include leaving out capfuls of Borax and sugar to trap the little guys, or putting a few drops of tea tree oil on cotton balls, then stashing them in the corners of your pantry.

I’ve found this super-mentholated spray to be the most effective remedy, though, since it wards off ants before they’ve gotten a chance to invade. You can find Castile soap and essential oils at any health food store, or order them online. While it can be a little pricey to stock up on these supplies, I do use them in many other natural beauty and cleaning products, and a little goes a long, long way.

• Aura Cacia Eucalyptus Oil, $4.49 for 0.5 ounces on Amazon.com
• Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil, $24.99 for 4 ounces on Amazon.com
• Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap, $18.48 for 32 ounces at Amazon
• Soft ‘n Style Clear Spray Bottle, $4.49 at Amazon

To really amp up the efficacy on rainy days, I spray a fine mist onto door and window frames both inside and outside. Read on for the simple instructions on how to make this minty spray for keeping ants away!

Makes 12 ounces

Supplies
1 cup warm water
4 ounces liquid Castile soap (peppermint or unscented)
10 drops tea tree oil
5 drops eucalyptus oil

Equipment
1 spray bottle (pint-sized or larger)
Sharpie marker
Stick-on label or masking tape

1. Pour the warm water into the spray bottle: Pour the warm water into the spray bottle, then add the Castile soap, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus oil.
2. Cap the bottle tightly: Cap the bottle tightly, then shake to combine.
3. Create label: Write “Ant Repellent Spray” on a stick-on label or piece of masking tape, then place it on the bottle. It feels a little silly to include this step, but trust me, you’ll want to be able to differentiate between different products below the kitchen sink!
4. Apply the spray: Apply the spray to baseboards, window and doorframes (indoors and out), and anywhere else ants tend to sneak into your home.

Want more smart tutorials for getting things done around the home?
See more How To posts
We’re looking for great examples of your own household intelligence too!
Submit your own tutorials or ideas here!