One thing unites Australian homeowners—apart from a love of a good cuppa and a backyard barbecue—is the annual invasion of ants.
Whether it’s a trail marching across your kitchen bench or a full-blown colony setting up shop in your pantry, these tiny trespassers can turn even the most fastidious home into an all-you-can-eat buffet. But what if the solution to your ant woes was sitting in your spice rack all along?
Sydney resident Ashley Fuller recently shared her ‘very easy and simple’ trick for banishing ants, and it’s as budget-friendly as it is surprising: whole cloves.
The same spice you might pop into a Christmas ham or mulled wine could be your secret weapon against these persistent pests.
Fuller swears by a $2 packet of whole cloves from Coles, claiming that a simple sprinkle along the ants’ trail is all it takes to send them packing.
‘I saw it on social media a while ago, it was a video of ants walking away from a whole clove. I had ants in my home, so [I] decided to try it for myself. It worked and that was it,’ Fuller said.
How does it work? The theory is that the strong scent of cloves disrupts the ants’ pheromone trails, confusing them and encouraging them to move on.
It’s a natural, chemical-free approach safe for homes with pets and kids. At just a couple of dollars, it’s certainly worth a try before reaching for the heavy-duty sprays.
But is it too good to be true? We asked the experts.
Eduardo Garcia from Sydney’s Toro Pest Control said he’s not surprised Australians are turning to natural remedies, especially with the recent surge in ant activity.
‘Getting a spray bottle with water and vinegar with peppermint oil would help more than cloves,’ he suggested.
‘Or people often use baby powder. Campers often sprinkle it around their caravan or tent as it neutralises the ants’ ability to communicate because they communicate through pheromones…They get lost and veer off and then just move onto the next area where they can communicate.’
However, not all pest control professionals are convinced that natural remedies are a long-term fix.
Warren Bailey from ABC Pest Control warned: ‘It’s worth a try, but often with ants, they get immune to it very quickly. You can try it once, and it works, then you go to use it again, and they’ve built up resistance.’
‘People can get lucky with natural remedies, but we usually have to come back with something stronger.’
Why are ants invading now?
While many associate ant invasions with summer heat, heavy rainfall can be just as much to blame.
As Garcia explained, ‘Pests are coming out at the moment with all the rain. The water is saturating their workings in the mud, and they get destroyed easily, so they come out of the ground. Obviously, our properties are nice and sturdy, so they go in for food, shelter and water.’
So, if you’ve noticed more ants than usual lately, you’re not alone—and it’s not just your cleaning habits to blame!
While a $2 packet of cloves might be a handy quick fix, the best way to keep ants (and other pests) at bay is to make your home as unwelcoming as possible. Here are other tried-and-tested tips:
- Seal entry points: Check for gaps around doors, windows, weep holes, and skirting boards. A little silicone or weather stripping can go a long way.
- Keep it clean: Wipe down benches, sweep up crumbs, and don’t leave pet food out overnight. Ants are always on the hunt for a free feed.
- Store food properly: Use airtight containers for pantry staples like sugar, flour, and cereal.
- Fix leaks: Ants (and other pests) are drawn to moisture, so repair any dripping taps or pipes.
- Trim back vegetation: Keep plants and trees away from the house to reduce ant highways into your home.
If you’ve tried everything and the ants keep coming, it might be time to call in the professionals. A pest control expert can identify the species, locate the nest, and recommend a targeted treatment plan.
Have you tried using cloves, vinegar, baby powder, or another home remedy to eliminate ants? Did it work, or did you end up calling in the experts? Share your stories, tips, and photos in the comments below.
Also read: Shocking new weather danger puts Australian homes at risk—are you prepared?
