Summer arrived sooner than we expected and while we’re all out there kidding ourselves about getting beach bodies, those curious little critters known as ants have planned their summertime assault. Specifically, they’re targeting our kitchens.

While it’s probably the easy way out, I’d have to say most people wouldn’t want to use bug spray in the middle of their cooking and food storage space. Toxicity aside, it’s just gross. Plus, you’d have to throw out any unsealed foods the ant spray gets on.

Foodbeast dug around and found a few natural food remedies to prevent that dreaded insect epidemic. Since ants are really receptive to smells, there are a number of foods that can naturally repel them. If you can get your hands on a few of these everyday food items, you can easily create an ant-free zone in your kitchen. Just place a few from the list around cracks and holes in your house, and they’ll work as a powerful scent barrier preventing ants from entering.

———–

Cinnamon

You can easily get your hands on powdered cinnamon. This spice is an amazing ant repellant that not only blocks ants from your home but can kill them as well. Just don’t be stingy.

———-

Coffee Grounds

Made some extra coffee in the morning? Save those grounds and sprinkle. The nitrogen in the coffee burns ants when they walk across. They’ll definitely try to avoid it if they can help it.

———-

Garlic Cloves

Garlic isn’t only a ward for vampires. It also works for those pesky monsters. Just leave a few cloves of garlic lying around here and there and they’ll do their thing. The only downside is smelling garlic. Which I don’t mind.

———-

Pepper

Add either black pepper or cayenne to some water and spray over ants. It’s probably the easiest spice to get your hands on. They’ll quickly disappear.

———-

Citrus Peels

When you’re done garnishing your booze, don’t throw out the citrus pieces. Hang onto the citrus peels and throw them into a blender with some hot water and spray onto lines of ants. Should do the trick.

———-

Mint

Bundle fresh mint together and place it around your kitchen to keep the ants out. Sidenote: Mint is incredibly easy to grow.

———-

Chili Peppers

Like coffee, ants will not walk through a line of chili pepper flakes. Either buy them dried in bulk and grind them yourselves, your save a few red chili pepper flakes from your next pizza outing and have them handy for ants.

———-

Basil

Dried basil leaves sprinkled around the kitchen in cracks and crevices should keep ants at bay. All you have to do is remember to replace them every now and then.

———-

Cucumber

Cucumbers aren’t just for leveling up your water and removing bags from your eyes. Just skin the cucumbers with a peeler and leave them in cracks and openings. Though, like the basil, remember to change them out daily.

———-

Note:  While some of these methods won’t directly kill ants, they will keep them at bay in a safe and natural way that’s chemical-free.