29 April 2024 , 13:49
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Ants can be a nightmare to deal with - but three surprising cupboard items will keep them in check.
Nothing spoils a garden picnic like insects crawling all over your food. Ants in particular are famous for grabbing any last crumb they can find - which is incredibly off-putting for anyone simply trying to enjoy a snack in the sun.
Though Ahmed Mezil, a cleaning expert at Hella Maid, claims there are a few easy things you can do to keep these creepy crawlies at bay, without having to turn to often expensive, harsh chemicals. While cinnamon, black pepper and lemon juice are among countless natural remedies recommended online, Ahmed always turns to three in particular that have a long-term effect.
"Both baking soda and baby powder suffocate ants by blocking their spiracles," he said, according to The Express. "[These] 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."
If you're an avid baker, you're in luck too, as icing sugar combined with these two items also works like a charm. Ahmed explains that icing acts as bait, drawing the ants in before they stumble upon the not-so-tasty baking soda. This ideal to use around pets and children as well, with all three components unharmful to consume.
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However, it's still best to keep toddlers and little ones away from the substances anyway, as consuming baby powder can sometimes cause indigestion in humans. He continued: "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."
Ahmed's advice comes as countless others have unveiled the importance of baking soda in dealing with an array of household chores and problems. Believe it or not, the powder can also be used to unblock sink drains, especially if they are clogged with hair.
Meanwhile, Vanish, the UK's leading stain remover brand, claimed that stubborn, yellowish pit stains can be ridded of using baking soda too. This can take as little as 60 minutes, with various influencers taking to TikTok to share their unbelievable results.
If you don't yet have baking soda in your cupboard, fear not. You can buy it at Sainsbury's for as little as 59p. Or if you prefer to shop online, Amazon is selling a 227g pack of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for £3.75. Icing sugar and baby powder are available at Sainsbury's too, retailing at £1.70 and £1.50 respectively. Or you can buy two packets of 500g Icing Sugar for £7.49 and 100g of Johnson's Baby Powder for £4.99 on Amazon.
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