Ways to get rid of ants

These annoying tiny creatures crawl into our homes and we find it difficult to get rid of them. Here are basic home remedies (using items like chalk and flour) to send these critters marching back to where they came from.

1.Adhesive tape
Is an army of ants marching toward the cookie jar on your countertop or some sweet prize in your pantry? Create a 'moat' around the object by surrounding it with adhesive tape placed sticky side up.

2.Chalk
Keep ants at bay by drawing a line around home entry points. The ants will be repelled by the calcium carbonate in the chalk, which is actually made up of ground-up and compressed shells of marine animals. Scatter powdered chalk around garden plants to repel ants and slugs.

3.Flour
Sprinkle a line of flour along the backs of pantry shelves and wherever you see ants entering the house. Repelled by the flour, ants won't cross over the line.

4.Lemons
First squirt some lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Then squeeze lemon juice into any holes or cracks where the ants are getting in. Finally, scatter small slices of lemon peel around the outdoor entrance.

The ants will get the message that they aren't welcome. Lemons are also effective against roaches and fleas: Simply mix the juice of 4 lemons (along with the rinds) with 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water and wash your floors with it; then watch the fleas and roaches flee. They hate the smell.

5.Orange
In a blender, make a smooth puree of a few orange peels in 1 cup warm water. Slowly pour the solution over and into anthills to send the little pests packing.

6.Pepper
Ants are looking for sugar. Give them some pepper instead. Cayenne pepper (powdered red pepper) sprinkled in spots where the ants are looking, such as along the backs of your countertops or on your baseboards, will tell them that no sugar is ahead.

7.Salt
If ants are beating a path to your home, intercept them by sprinkling salt across the door frame or directly on their paths. Ants will be discouraged from crossing this barrier.

8.Talcum powder
For an effective organic ant repellent, scatter talcum powder liberally around house foundations and known points of entry, such as doors and windows.

9. Vinegar
Serve the ants on your premises with an eviction notice. Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into a spray bottle. Then spray it on anthills and around areas where you see the insects. Ants hate the smell of vinegar. It won't take long for them to move on to better-smelling quarters.

Also keep the spray bottle handy for outdoor trips or to keep ants away from picnic or children's play areas. If you have lots of anthills around your property, try pouring full-strength vinegar over them to hasten the bugs' departure.