12 best ant repellents - rating for 2021

Close proximity to ants brings many problems to humans. House (red) ants spread pathogenic bacteria, spoil food, store food in hard-to-reach places, which leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor, mold and fungi. Their garden counterparts not only eat ripe berries and fruits and destroy seedlings, but also cause irreparable harm to plants, as they spread aphids.

It can be difficult to remove ants; they easily adapt to any conditions and reproduce very quickly. In most cases, folk recipes are not enough in this situation. There is a need to use special chemicals to kill insects, so-called insecticides.

The most common forms of release of such drugs are:

• Powders.
• Granules.
• Aerosols.
• Gels.
• Solutions.
• Traps.

We present the rating of ant repellents 2022. The best 12 drugs that were selected by our experts based on user reviews and ratings.

Plants

The simplest, environmentally friendly and safest way to control insects is to use plants. Ants are sensitive to odors. This is what you can play with when using various herbs and flowers.

Lavender

It is a perennial herbaceous plant and a popular essential oil crop. The aromatic herb contains camphor and linalool (a colorless liquid with a bergamot aroma). The lavender smell is good for people, but insects don't like it at all.

To scare away ants, lavender branches are laid out near anthills, and indoors - in places where they appear. After some time, the insects, under the influence of an intolerable odor, leave their habitats.

Mint

Mint is a perennial herbaceous plant with an amazing aroma. There are several types of mint that differ in appearance and aroma - peppermint, lemon mint, home mint. Any of them can scare away ants.

The main source of the extraordinary mint smell is menthol. This odorous substance effectively repels arthropod insects. To do this, mint shoots are laid out near ant nests.

Melissa

The plant looks modest, but has an extremely pleasant smell - freshness and lemon. For ants, the aroma of “lemon balm” is extremely unpleasant.

Melissa essential oil has a negative effect on the condition of insects; they run away from it like from fire. To drive out ants, leaves and branches of lemon balm are laid out near their habitats.

Nasturtium

This is one of the most positive garden plants. It has bright orange large flowers. Nasturtium is used not only for beauty, but also to repel insects.

The flower contains mustard glucoisodes, tannins and alkaloids. Thanks to them, the flowers emit a sharp and tart smell that frightens ants. Having sensed it, the insects quickly leave their homes.

Valerian

Valerian is one of the most popular medicinal herbs used in pharmaceuticals. The essential oils contained in its rhizomes have a calming effect on humans, but on the contrary, they excite and irritate ants.

The main repellents of valerian are borneol oil esters, tannins and resins. The odors emitted by valerian drive away a variety of insects; even ants cannot resist them. The method of application is usual - the grass is laid out near insect habitats.

Rosemary

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub known as a herb used in haute cuisine. This fragrant spice has powerful medicinal properties, and its name is translated into Russian as “freshness of the sea.”

Rosemary has an unusual aroma - bittersweet, with lemon notes and the smell of pine. Such an aromatic “bouquet” is intolerable to ants. The main deterrent is camphor. Rosemary can be planted in pots and placed in areas where insects are present.

Dill

Dill is deservedly considered almost the most popular spice. Thanks to its fragrant properties, it is added to a variety of dishes and preparations. Ants cannot tolerate the dill aroma.

Dill contains essential oils that are repugnant to insects. To scare them away, dry or fresh dill (preferably large umbrellas) are laid out in insect habitats.

Potato

The popularity of potatoes is difficult to overestimate - this root vegetable is found in almost every garden. Ants are not afraid of potatoes; moreover, they easily penetrate the tubers. But the infusion of tops is unpleasant for them.

To prepare the infusion, pour 10 liters of boiling water into 1 kg of chopped tops. After 2 days, add 40 g of soap. Strain and spray plants in ant habitats. This infusion also helps get rid of cutworms, aphids and spider mites.

Mustard

Mustard is an annual plant from the cruciferous family, best known for its seeds. They are widely used in cooking as a seasoning. Mustard diluted in water to the consistency of kefir helps to expel hordes of ants from the garden and home. The solution is poured directly into the anthills.

Mustard powder can also repel insects - it is sprinkled along ant paths and around nests. Planting mustard along the beds also helps to get rid of ants from the area.

Parsley

It is a leafy vegetable renowned for its aromatic, flavor and medicinal properties. If parsley grows in the garden, it can be used to repel insects.

Parsley leaves contain the aromatic substance myristicin, which repels insects. To drive them away, picked parsley is placed in the habitats of the ants.

Cilantro

A popular herb whose seeds are known as coriander. The spice is widely used in cooking, soap making, and the perfume industry.

Many people hate the smell of cilantro, and ants don't like it either. The leaves of the plant smell like crushed bugs. To ensure that the ants leave the anthill forever, freshly picked leaves are laid out around it.

Anise

Another fragrant plant and spicy spice, widely used by culinary specialists. It is added to strong drinks and desserts. The umbrella plant repels insects with the pungent smell of anise.

Anise seeds are used to prepare a decoction. They are poured with boiling water - about 1 tbsp. l. for 250 ml. The finished broth is sprinkled around the room or poured into an anthill.

Fennel

This herbaceous plant from the Celery family is often confused with dill. Fennel smells and tastes like anise, but its taste is sweeter and more pleasant.

Fennel contains a lot of essential oils that are unpleasant to insects. It is used in the same way as other herbs - placed around habitats.

Essential oils

Essential oils have a powerful, concentrated aroma. Even for people it is too strong - not everyone can withstand it. What can we say about insects? Their sensitive sense of smell does not allow them to coexist near such odors.

Lavender

It is not fresh or dry lavender that is much more effective in fighting ants, but lavender oil extracted from it. It is especially often used to expel insects from premises.

How to prepare ant repellent:

1. Pour 250 ml of alcohol into a bowl.
2. Add 10 drops of lavender oil and twice as much mint.
3. Dilute the mixture in 200 ml of water.
4. Pour the resulting mixture into a liquid sprayer and spray the ants’ habitats.

The treatment can be repeated several times. This is one of the safest and most effective repellent compounds.

Kedrovoe

Typically, cedar oil is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Ants are unlikely to appreciate this natural product. The pine smell is unpleasant to them and forces them to change their place of residence.

The use of essential cedar oil is simple - dilute a few drops in water, pour it into a sprinkler and treat the habitats of ants.

Coniferous

To prepare a repellent composition, in addition to pine oil, you will need alcohol and water. For humans, the smell of pine needles is pleasant, but the ants will hurry to leave.

How to prepare a pine repellent:

1. Dilute 20 drops of essential oil in 100 ml of alcohol.
2. Add water and pour into a spray bottle.
3. Spray all areas where ants appear.

Juniper

The peculiarity of juniper oil is its burning taste. The vapors from this oil are toxic to ants. Insects, inhaling them, begin to suffocate and strive to leave the room or anthill treated with dissolved oil.

How to prepare the solution:

1. Pour 30 g of alcohol into 250 ml of water.
2. Add 10 drops of juniper oil and stir.

Spray the resulting solution into places where insects gather/reside. It is recommended to carry out the treatment periodically, but preferably every day until the ants leave completely.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon oil shows itself excellently in the fight against ant hordes. A special anti-ant spray is prepared from it.

The composition is prepared from water, dishwashing detergent and 10-15 drops of cinnamon essential oil. Mix 3 parts water, 1 part detergent and cinnamon oil in a bottle. The finished composition is sprayed over insect habitats.

You can additionally add a few drops of another essential oil, such as tea tree, cedar or citronella, to the mixture for better effect.

Anise

Anise oil has a pungent odor that repels insects. It is used like the previous oils - a solution is prepared, and then the places where insects appear are sprayed.

How to prepare anise solution:

1. Dilute 10 drops in 20 ml of alcohol.
2. Add 200 ml water and 1 tbsp. l. detergent.
3. Spray evenly in areas where insects are located. If there are ants in the area, pour the solution directly into the anthills.

Prevention measures

List of preventive measures to prevent annoying insects from appearing in the apartment after the treatment:

1. Cleanliness and order in the apartment must always be maintained. There should be no leftover food on the floor or tables in the kitchen. Animal feeding bowls should be washed regularly.
2. The trash can must be emptied and garbage must not be stored for a long time.
3. Store food in tightly closed cabinets, and it is not recommended to leave it open.
4. Inspect baseboards, walls and doors. If cracks are found, they should be sealed immediately.
5. Outline the ventilation hole with a pencil to prevent insect infestation.

Attention! Maintaining basic order will help prevent re-invasion of pests.

Outwardly, ants seem harmless and do not cause any harm, but this opinion is wrong. Insects can become carriers of infectious diseases, so you should be wary and observe the rules of basic hygiene, and when unexpected guests appear, you must take all measures to scare them away from your home.

Food

Ants are very sensitive to strong odors. To repel them, you can use products with piercing aromas. They are completely safe for humans and are always at hand, so fighting ants costs pennies.

Garlic and onion

Vegetable crops are known for their odors, which cannot be confused with anything else. Both onions and garlic exude phytoncides into the space, which are harmful not only to microorganisms, but also to insects.

How to make garlic insect repellent:

1. Peel two large heads of garlic and mash in a mortar.
2. Pour 1 liter of water over the crushed slices.
3. Strain the garlic solution, pour into a bottle and place in a dark room. Treat insect habitats with the resulting product.

Second “garlic” recipe:

1. Peel 5 garlic heads.
2. Add 10 ml sunflower oil.
3. Infuse the composition for 2 days in a cool and dark room.

An anti-ant agent can also be prepared from garlic arrows using the same recipes. Instead of heads, take an equal number of arrows by weight.

Onions are also suitable for controlling ants. You can prepare an infusion from onions or onion peels. Crushed heads (3-4 pieces) or husks (200 g) are poured with water (1 l) and left in the dark. Strained compounds are sprayed on the places where insects appear.

Vinegar and essence

If you have table vinegar and vinegar essence in your kitchen, you can quickly prepare an anti-ant “cocktail.”

Preparation procedure:

1. Mix vinegar and water (1:1).
2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and treat the insect habitats.

If an essence is used, it is diluted to 9% composition to protect yourself from possible burns.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is used for more than just baking. Its original smell is unpleasant to ants. The fight with cinnamon is extremely simple - the powder is simply scattered along the ant paths. Whole cinnamon sticks can be placed in cracks and crevices.

Coffee

You don't need to waste coffee to repel ants. It is enough to use the spin cycle after brewing. Insects are adversely affected by the caffeine contained in coffee, including drunk coffee.

How to repel insects with the smell of coffee:

1. Place the remaining brewed coffee near the ant nests.
2. Sprinkle the squeeze on the paths along which the ants crawl. Insects die from the intoxicating aroma of coffee.

To achieve the effect, the coffee press is placed in the places where the insects are located every day.

Ground red pepper

Another effective remedy is ground red pepper, which is usually used to coat lard.

How to drive out ants using red pepper:

1. Pour 50 g of pepper powder into 1 liter of water.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Drain the broth into a large container.
4. Add 1 tbsp. l. liquid or grated soap.
5. Infuse the composition for 3 days.

Millet

Gardeners often use millet to prepare poisons for insects. It is also useful for killing ants. Instead of millet, you can also use semolina.

How to prepare poisonous bait from millet:

1. Mix half a kilo of cereal with 100 g of powdered sugar.
2. Scatter millet in insect habitats. The eaten grains swell in the stomachs and kill the ants.

The grain that the ants begin to drag into the anthill, swelling with moisture, blocks the passages. This leads to the death of the queen queen - the worker ants cannot bring her food due to blocked paths.

Lemon

Another effective remedy for ant infestation is citrus fruits. True, this product is more suitable for indoor use. It is irrational to spend citrus fruits on fighting insects in the garden.

Along with lemons, oranges and limes have a deterrent effect. Insects don't like their sour smell. Ant trails are rubbed with lemon juice or citrus slices are placed on them.

Yeast

The essence of the effect of yeast comes down to the ability of yeast fungi to ferment and expand.

The procedure for preparing the yeast composition:

1. 1 tbsp. l. baker's yeast pour cold water. There should be enough of it to form a substance with a consistency similar to sour cream.
2. Stir and add 1 tsp. honey/jam.
3. Place the “yummy” food on pieces of cardboard and place it in places where insects gather.

Chemical substances

Along with special anti-insect preparations, it is possible to use various chemicals that are not directly intended to combat ants. They are effective, but require increased caution when using.

Gasoline or kerosene

Petroleum product - gasoline or kerosene, mixed with water. For 1 liter of water take only 1 tbsp. l. fuel. Habitats are treated with liquid. It is prohibited to pour gasoline and kerosene under plants - they will die.

Another option for using flammable substances is to lay out rags soaked in gasoline or kerosene around the garden. Place them in places where ants are present.

When using gasoline and kerosene, be aware of the high hazards of these flammable substances and take increased precautions.

Ammonia

Insects find the ammonia smell unpleasant. You will need a regular ammonia solution, which is sold in pharmacies. Usually this drug is in every home medicine cabinet.

How to prepare the solution:

1. Dilute ammonia in 1 liter of water.
2. Treat all areas where insects appear with the solution.

This method of control is more suitable for indoors and for cases where there are very few ants.

Detergents

To kill ants, you can use household chemicals and detergents - powders, shampoos, soaps, etc. All of them irritate ants, so they can be used to create repellent solutions.

Example of using detergents:

1. Dilute 500 ml of cheap shampoo in 10 liters of water. Pour in 500 ml of sunflower oil.
2. Add a bottle of vinegar (500 ml) and pour the solution into the anthill.

Instead of shampoo, you can use laundry soap or dishwashing detergent.

Insecticides

The most effective insect repellents are chemicals called insecticides. There are plenty of them on the market today, there are plenty to choose from. These include powders, gels, and liquid preparations.

Popular anti-ant agents:

• Absolute. The result is given in two weeks. After 2 months, re-apply to consolidate the result. The gel is brown with a sweet and pleasant smell. The active ingredient is chlorpyrifos.
• Clean house. Gel filled into a syringe. User contact with the substance is excluded. The result comes in 3 days.
• Muratox. A universal remedy that acts not only on ants, but also on mosquitoes and fleas. Release form: powder. The product is diluted with water. The drug is not phytotoxic - does not harm plants.
• Battalion commander An American remedy that affects the gastrointestinal tract of insects and causes their death. It is the most popular anti-ant insecticide in the CIS.
• Delicia. A German drug, expensive and effective. Release form: powder. The active ingredient is chlorpyrifos. It destroys protein in the body and causes death.
• Karbofos. Cheap and effective domestic product. A powerful insecticide that kills pests in 3-4 hours.
• A great warrior. A domestic product produced in the form of gels and traps. Designed to protect the area from a wide variety of insects. The active ingredients are diazinon and chlorpyrifos. It affects the central nervous system, causing paralysis and death within 3-4 hours.
• Dr. Klaus. Russian insecticide that affects the central nervous system of insects. In the shortest possible time, the drug causes paralysis and death. The substance does not act immediately; the insect manages to get into the nest and infect its fellows there.
• Fas-Double. A powerful remedy. It has pronounced toxicity. It affects the respiratory organs of insects, causing their death within 24 hours. Work with this product wearing safety glasses and gloves.

Chemicals

Not all cases can be successfully controlled with ants. But if you want to get rid of them forever, it is better to use chemicals. For example, Anteater. He is highly praised on gardening forums.

It copes not only with ants, but also with bedbugs, aphids and other insect pests. Causes paralysis of insects within 2 days after treatment.

Other drugs are also popular: Fitoverm, Aktara, Kombat, Intavir. Do not forget to read the instructions carefully and use the product in recommended dosages.

They need to treat not only the affected crops, but also neighboring ones. Even if there are no significant signs of insects.

If you are against the use of chemicals in your summer cottage, read on to the article, there are still reliable methods that will help destroy insects.

Folk remedies

Gardeners have accumulated many recipes for pest control. They are simple, affordable, effective and safe. Below are the most popular folk remedies for ants.

Ash

Wood ash is not only an excellent fertilizer, but also a good remedy for ants. It is used in liquid and dry form. Ash also helps to expel aphids from plants, whose colonies are “grazed” by ants.

Ash solution recipe No. 1:

1. Dilute 3 kg of ash in 10 liters of boiling water.
2. Infuse the mixture for 2 days in a dark room.
3. Strain the infusion.
4. Add 40 g of soap and mix thoroughly.
5. Spray the area where ants and aphids reside with the prepared solution.

Ash solution recipe No. 2:

1. Dilute 300 g of ash in 1 liter of boiling water.
2. Keep the solution on low heat for 30 minutes.
3. Increase the volume to 10 liters.
4. Add 40 g of soap, mix and use for spraying.

It is recommended to dig small ditches along the perimeter of the garden into which ash is poured. The top is sprinkled with soil. You can also simply scatter the ash around the area.

Shading

Ants love warmth, so they build anthills so that they spend the maximum amount of time in the sun. And the main entrance is located on the sunny side. This feature can be used to drive away insects.

An area 1 m wide - the one where the anthill is located - is shaded using covering material. Insects, dissatisfied with the changed conditions of existence, will be forced to leave. True, it’s not a fact that it’s far.

Syrup

This method of killing insects is considered one of the most humane. All places where arthropods appear are treated with a sweet composition. Ants love sweet foods, but concentrated sugar can kill them.

How to make syrup:

1. Add sugar 1:2 to water. The syrup should be thick.
2. Pour the sweet liquid into shallow containers and place them near the anthills. Or pour it directly into the entrances.

The disadvantage of the “sweet” method is low efficiency. Insects die gradually, and not all of them.

Methods of protection

Ants play a large role in the natural ecosystem; their destruction will not benefit either humans or plants. Therefore, various methods of protection should be used that will create unbearable conditions for insects so that they leave on their own.

There are the following methods to protect the plants on your site and your home:

• the use of plants whose smell ants cannot stand;
• repelling them with essential oils;
• food use.

What else are ants afraid of?

Those who do not want to bother with spraying, laying out and scattering anti-ant agents use more global means. They do not require regular use, and at the same time radically solve the problem of the presence of insects.

Cold

The option is suitable for indoors. Ants, like all insects, cannot tolerate low temperatures; they quickly die at low temperatures.

In winter, the heating in the house is turned off if possible. They open windows and doors and literally freeze the ants out.

This method has disadvantages:

• If the heating is not turned off and the nest with the queen ant is located near the radiators, the cold may not reach her.
• If you turn off the heating, you have to drain the water, otherwise the pipes will burst due to frozen water in it. Another thing is antifreeze. If it is poured into the system, the heating can be safely turned off.
• If we are talking about an apartment building, the frozen ants will quickly be replaced by new ones - from neighboring apartments.

When freezing insects at the dacha, it is recommended to first wash it and remove the food. Then, along with ants, you will be able to get rid of moths, bedbugs and cockroaches.

Ultrasound

Some gardeners prefer to use technological advances to combat insects. Many of them, including ants, react negatively to ultrasound.

Devices that propagate ultrasonic waves can expel insects permanently. Ultrasound has a destructive effect on the central nervous system, causing discomfort in insects.

There are different types of devices offered on the market:

• powered by electricity and operating within a radius of 100 m;
• battery-powered, which are convenient to use at home and in the country;
• combined models - they operate on battery or mains power.

Traps

The action of these devices is based on luring insects with attractive smells and tastes. The simplest and most effective type of traps are containers filled with a strong-smelling poisonous powder or liquid.

Having smeared themselves in the poison, the insects carry it to the nest. The traps are attached to horizontal or vertical planes using Velcro.

There are branded traps on the market, imported and domestically produced:

• Bayer Garden;
• Combat Superattack;
• Dohlox;
• Deadex.

Lack of food and water

In order not to fight ant hordes, it is easier to prevent their appearance. To do this, create conditions so that insects do not try to settle on the site or in the house.

Ants primarily look for food, water and shelter. To prevent them from becoming interested in a particular object, make food or water inaccessible to them.

How to deprive insects of their sources of livelihood:

• Do not leave food residues or crumbs in the house, maintain perfect cleanliness.
• Regularly inspect water and sewer pipes for leaks and condensation. If cold water pipes are covered with small drops, increase ventilation.
• Remove plant debris from the area in a timely manner and do not throw food waste around.

Physical intervention

Ants do not like interference in their lives. If you dig up the places where their homes are located, they will leave on their own, and you won’t have to destroy them.

The most humane option for getting rid of ants is to dig up an anthill, put it in a bag and take it away from the site. Somewhere in the forest or field. This is a labor-intensive task, but there are gardeners who prefer to tinker instead of destroying insects, which are an important part of the biosphere.

If no measures are taken, ants can infest the entire area, and fighting them will be much more difficult than at the initial stage. Considering that there are a huge number of different methods and means against these insects, solving the problem is not difficult.

Repelling ants with ultrasound

Not long ago, devices appeared on the market that use ultrasonic waves to repel pests. However, consumers are not very familiar with them, so this method of control is not yet widespread enough.

• The repeller is a small device that runs on mains or batteries. It produces ultrasonic waves that are indistinguishable to the human ear, but which insects can hear very well. The waves literally destroy their nervous system.
• Repellers should not be turned on in rooms where there are sleeping people. They can also affect pets, so you need to carefully monitor their behavior.