How to Ant-Proof Your Kitchen With Lemons

Ants are common household pests, especially in kitchens, where food is stored and crumbs often remain. Because of their small size, ants can crawl through even the smallest of cracks, which makes ants a challenge to eliminate. While there are traps and chemicals that kill the pests, these solutions are also toxic to children and pets. Instead, use a natural remedy -- lemons -- to repel ants from the kitchen.

Lemons

Cutting board

Knife

Pitcher

Water

Spray bottle

Kitchen strainer (optional)

Observe the ants to determine where they are entering the house. They may be coming in from multiple locations, so watch carefully.

Place four lemons onto a cutting board, and cut each lemon in half with a knife.

Fill a pitcher with 1/2 gallon of water. Squeeze each lemon thoroughly into the pitcher.

Pour the mixture into a large spray bottle. Adjust the nozzle to a fine spray.

Spray the lemon mixture over all thresholds in the kitchen. First spray the bottom of the door while it is closed, then open the door, and spray the threshold and the outside bottom of the door.

Walk back into the kitchen, and spray all windowsills with a light mist. Spray the sides of the windows as well. If the kitchen window is low enough, walk outside and spray the exterior base of the window.

Spray the lemon water in any cracks or crevices where you observed ant activity. Typical locations are under a sink where pipes emerge from a wall.

Slice up the lemons that you squeezed. Place the slices outside on the ground near the kitchen door to further repel ants. You can also place lemon slices outside the kitchen window.

Squeezing the lemons over a small kitchen strainer will collect the seeds and prevent them from falling into the pitcher. Seeds can clog the spray bottle if they remain in the water.