99p natural ‘deterrent’ banishes ants from homes without ‘harming’ them

There’s nothing worse than opening a cupboard or lifting up a kitchen bin to find masses of ants.

While ants are not harmful, they can contaminate food with their droppings when they walk across food items.

Finding the odd ant crawling around the kitchen may not seem like a problem but the pests can secrete a pheromone when they move around which can cause other ants to follow them.

This can result in an invasion so it’s best to banish the ants quickly to avoid that happening.

With this in mind, fans of cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch, whose full name is Sophie Hinchliffe, have shared their simple solution for deterring ants.

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The cleaning and lifestyle influencer has more than 4.6 million followers on Instagram and often shares her garden and home tips online.

Fans of hers have taken to social media in recent years to share their own hacks for solving common household and garden problems.

On one such Facebook group, a social media user asked: “Hi I have come back from holiday and have ants in the bin and found them in a cupboard with the dried pet food.

“I have used vinegar to try and stop their trail and have no idea where they are coming from. Any advice, please.

“I do not want advice on how to harm them, just advice on how to try and stop them coming in.”

The post was inundated with responses but the most suggested solution was to use peppermint oil.

Sandra Hercher Howells said: “Cinnamon or peppermint – they hate the smell.”

Linda Cockayne commented: “I used peppermint essential oil in a cotton wool ball and put them where I thought they were coming in.

“It did work. I didn’t see them again. You just have to be careful with essential oils if you have pets.”

Mary Barr suggested: “Peppermint oil seems to be a deterrent for many creatures.

“You can buy peppermint oil and put it on cotton wool buds/pieces it might deter the ants.”

Peppermint oil can be found online or from some health and beauty stores.

Peppermint Essential Oil costs 99p from eBay, Peppermint Essential Oil Pure and Natural costs £2.23 from Amazon and Holland & Barrett Oil of Peppermint Liquid costs £5.99.

Other suggestions from Mrs Hinch fans included using cinnamon, talcum powder, flour and lemon peel.

Katrice Sullivan posted: “Sprinkle cinnamon along the ant trail. I’ve used this method and it works.”

Tessa Jackson said: “I read they don’t like cinnamon powder.”

Sharon Kirtley replied: “I had them for weeks in mine. [I] used white vinegar, peppermint oil and lemon and they didn’t do a thing. Got told to put baby talc all over and they now they have gone.”

Beverley Walker suggested: “Talcum powder or washing powder. Apparently, ants don’t like walking in it as they don’t like it on their feet. Good luck.”

Rosemary Stevenson commented: “Flour does the trick too.”