Ants can be pretty disturbing insects. Especially when they damage things in your house. A lot of commercial and repellent might be available. But most of them are toxic and contain harsh chemicals.
That’s why people search for a natural ingredient to deter ants. On the other hand, the essential oil is known as an insect repellent.
So, you might be confused about whether essential oil repels ants or not. Moreover, you must know about the advantages and disadvantages of using essential oil to repel ants.
Besides, learning about the safety of using essential oils for deterring ants is also necessary. So, let’s see details about it.
Essential oil to repel ants
An essential oil can repel ants. Generally, essential oils like peppermint, citrus, lemongrass, clove oil, etc., are the most effective essential oil to repel ants. Moreover, these oils contain d-limonene and other ingredients that are harmful to ants. These natural oils are effective repellents.
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However, essential oils can be of many types. Many essential oils are used for different purposes for their different characteristics.
So, you have to know which one has the more repelling power. Let’s see whether these essential oils are effective in repelling ants or not.
Peppermint essential oil:
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most effective essential oils. This oil is commonly used for keeping ants and other insects away.
Only a few drops of peppermint oil are enough for repelling ants. Moreover, ants will not cross the area if you apply this oil to a surface. So, peppermint oil is pretty efficient in deterring ants.
Lavender essential oil:
Lavender essential oil is another effective ant repellent. Generally, ants dislike the smell of lavender oil.
So, if you can spread a couple of drops of lavender essential oil, ants will keep away from that place. Moreover, if you mix lavender oil with peppermint oil, the mixture can be more effective.
Lemon essential oil:
The lemon essential oil can also keep ants away. Generally, the lemon essential oil has some ingredients that have repelling properties. So, you can use lemon essential oil to repel ants. This oil can also keep other insects away.
Cedarwood essential oil:
Cedarwood essential oil is considered one of the strong oils to repel ants. Generally, this oil is so strong that this can repel the most powerful ant species.
If you can spread cedarwood essential oil around a food source, the ants will not come forward to the food.
Tea tree essential oil:
Tea tree essential oil can repel ants. You have to mix 5 to 10 drops of tea tree essential oil in one cup of water. Then you can spread the mixture with a spray bottle. Ants will not come close to the surface.
Eucalyptus essential oil:
Eucalyptus essential oil is also an effective element to repel ants. Moreover, if you mix peppermint essential oil with eucalyptus essential oil, the mixture will be more effective. So, you can use Eucalyptus essential oil to repel ants.
Cinnamon essential oil:
Cinnamon essential oil is considered an excellent natural repellent. Cinnamon essential oil is a positive insecticide. However, you can use cinnamon essential oil to repel ants also.
Lemongrass essential oil:
Lemongrass essential oil is also a good ant repellent. Lemongrass essential oil has a smell that ants dislike. So, if you apply this oil to a surface, ants will not come forward to that surface.
Orange essential oil:
The orange essential oil has ingredients that keep ants away. So, you can use orange essential oil to repel ants.
Mint essential oil:
Ants dislike the smell of mint. So, the mint essential oil is also considered natural ant repellent. You can use mint essential oil to deter ants.
Do essential oils terminate ants?
Yes, essential oils can terminate ants. Generally, for terminating ants, you have to use the essential oil directly on the ants. But if you can spray the essential oil on a surface, ants will keep away from that surface.
However, essential oils have strong scents. Ants dislike the smell of essential oils. Moreover, some essential oils have a d-limonene component. This component can deter ants effectively. So, you can use essential oils to terminate ants.
Some essential oils like peppermint, lavender, orange, lemon, etc., essential oils have ingredients that can keep ants away. To terminate ants, you have to apply essential oils to the ants.
You can add essential oil a few drops with one cup of water. Then you can spray the mixture on ants. This will terminate ants quickly. But all essential oils are not strong to remove ants. So, some essential oils are strong enough to terminate ants.
How effective are essential oils in repelling carpenter ants?
Essential oils are pretty effective in repelling carpenter ants. But all essential oils are not strong enough to repel ants.
Generally, some of the essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, clove, cedarwood, orange, lemon, and tea tree essential oils are the most effective ant repellents.
Moreover, you can mix multiple essential oils to make a strong repellent to repel carpenter ants. Generally, carpenter ants are considered strong ant species. But they also have the same sensing ability.
So, if you spread these essential oils around a surface, carpenter ants will smell the oils. Generally, carpenter ants also dislike the smell of essential oil. So, they will keep away from the surface where you use essential oil.
Some strong ant repellents might be available. But these are not chemical-free. But if you can use essential oils, these oils are natural ingredients. You can use these oils to deter carpenter ants naturally.
What essential oil will repel ants?
Most essential oils are effective in repelling ants. But some of them are strong enough to deter ants quickly. So, let’s see what essential oils will repel ants.
Peppermint essential oil:
Peppermint oil will keep ants away. This oil is considered one of the strong-smelling essential oil. So, ants dislike the smell of peppermint oil. This will repel ants quickly. Moreover, if you mix this oil with other essential oils, the mixture will be stronger.
If you apply peppermint essential oil on ants directly, the ants will be terminated. But if you spread the oil on a surface, the ants will keep away from that surface.
Cedarwood essential oil:
Cedarwood essential oil will also repel ants quickly. Because this essential oil is one of the strongest essential oils. This oil has such a strong smell that it can repel strong ant species like the fire ant, carpenter ants, etc.
Lemongrass essential oil:
Lemongrass essential oil can also deter ants effectively. This oil has some repelling ingredients. Moreover, ants dislike the smell of lemongrass. So, lemongrass essential oil will repel ants.
Lemon essential oil:
Lemon essential oil is another effective ant repellent. Generally, the lemon essential oil has a strong scent that keeps ants away. Moreover, the ingredients in lemon essential oil are toxic for ants. This oil will repel ants.
Orange essential oil:
The orange essential oil has d-limonene. This ingredient is toxic for ants. So, ants will keep away from orange essential oil. That’s why orange essential oil is effective in repelling ants.
Clove essential oil:
Clove essential oil also has a strong scent. This scent keeps ants away. Moreover, if you directly apply this essential oil to ants, the ants will be terminated. So, clove essential oil will repel ants.
How to repel ants with essential oils?
Now that you know you can repel ants with essential oils, you might want to know the process. So, let’s see how you can repel ants with essential oils.
Making repelling solution:
First, you have to make a solution with essential oil. For making this, you can choose more than one essential oil. For example, you can mix lavender and peppermint essential oil.
Then add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil with one cup of water. Mix them well in a spray bottle.
Direct use:
You can spray the solution onto the ants directly. This will terminate some of the ants. The other one will also leave the place.
Prevention:
You can spread the essential oil mixture on the surfaces to prevent the ants from coming again. This will keep the ants away from the surface. Moreover, you can clean the surfaces well when the ants go away.
Cleaning will prevent the ants from returning. Besides, you can spread some drops of essential oil for extra protection.
Final Thoughts
Essential oils are one the effective natural ant repellents. These oils are natural and non-toxic. But ants dislike the smell and ingredients of essential oil. So, you can apply different essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, lavender, cedarwood, clove, etc., to repel ants.