• The first thing to do is to discover how the ants are getting in. Trace the orderly line of ants back to their entry point. Block the entrance by sealing the crack with caulking or plaster and seal up any other similar openings in the immediate area.

• To further discourage future invasions, make sure that food and food wastes are kept in tightly sealed containers.

• Place pennyroyal, rue, dried paprika, crushed whole cloves, or green sage on cupboard shelves to keep ants away

• Boric acid bait can be used a last resort. This bait can destroy an entire ant colony. Boric acid is a colorless odorless white powder that is soluble in water. It has been used in pest control for the past century. It has a low toxicity to humans and other mammals and is known not to be a carcinogen.

• Mix 3 cups water, 1 cup of sugar, 4 teaspoons of boric acid and heat mixture nearly to a boil. After it has cooled, pour into a shallow container or dish (or soak a cotton ball with this mixture) and place it near ant trails; the ants will eat it, return to their nest and die there. The bait is carried back to the colony by the workers, so it is usually about a week before the full effects are noticed. Replenish the dishes until no more ants return to them. CAUTION: Keep this mixture away from children and animals.

• To get rid of ants in a nest or an ant hill, pour boiling water into the ant hill or make a mixture of citrus peeling and water in the blender and pour it in the ant hill. It may take more than one application.

• To eliminate ants in the garden, mix 250 grams of salt with half a litre of water. Add 5 kilos of sawdust or bran and about 10 cups of molasses. This makes a crumbly mixture which can be spread around plants and shrubs in the garden where there’s an ant problem, yet it isn’t dangerous for animal or pets.

• Also for garden ants, plant mint but be careful not to let it take over your garden!

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