As the weather warms up, ants become an all-too-common pest in many homes. However, instead of reaching for potentially hazardous and costly pesticides, there are simple kitchen cupboard fixes that can keep these unwelcome visitors at bay.

Turning to standard household items not only saves money but also protects your family and pets from chemical exposure. Cleaning whiz Ahmed Mezil from Hella Maid advocates for natural alternatives over conventional pesticides, highlighting their potential threats to the environment and local insect life.He warns: "Chemical pesticides might potentially pollute groundwater and kill butterflies, bees, and other important insects when used to get rid of ants."

To tackle ant invasions naturally and safeguard one's family, home, and the planet, consider his advice: "Instead, give these natural remedies a try to get free of ants in your house and yard. They are less harmful to the environment, you, your family, and your pets."

Many swear by online tips suggesting white vinegar, lemon juice, cinnamon, or black pepper as ant repellants due to their intense aroma, which disrupts the pests' ability to follow scent trails, thus discouraging them from lingering.

Yet these are mere stopgaps since such substances won't exterminate the ants or fend off significant onslaughts. For more lasting results you may also need to venture upstairs into your bathroom cupboard for help. As well as the kitchen staple, baking soda, baby powder can also be a strong deterrent for the creepy crawlies.

Ahmed revealed: "Both baking soda and baby powder suffocate ants by blocking their spiracles, which are breathing pores in their exoskeletons. Baking soda will cause an internal chemical reaction in the ant that will kill it if it is consumed."

Ants require moisture to live, and both baking powder and baby powder can rapidly absorb the moisture in their bodies, leading to dehydration.

All you need to do is sprinkle either baking soda or baby powder where you've noticed a large number of ants, or even on an anthill or nest if you know where one is located. However, be cautious when using it near grass as it can dry out the soil. You can also create a barrier indoors at a doorway in your home that ants are infiltrating with the powder.

However, the most effective way to permanently eliminate ants is to mix either baking powder or baby powder with powdered icing sugar. The sugar serves as bait, which the ants will mistake for food, making it easier to eradicate them.

Ahmed stated: "Ants will be attracted to the sugar, consume it, and then transport it back to the nest so that other ants can eat it as well. They'll consume the sugar and baking soda and die." This natural method is safe to use around children and pets while being one of the most effective ways to permanently keep ants out of your home.