If you haven’t placed cinnamon sticks near your windows yet, you should try it. This trick is effective against this insect that likes to settle in large numbers in our homes.
The temperatures are dropping outside, and in our homes, little creatures are starting to settle in. Ant invasions in the home can quickly become a bothersome problem. Although they are not dangerous, ants can make their way into your kitchen or living room in search of food, but also a place to spend the fall and winter in warmth. So it’s time to go hunting for good ideas to prevent insects from taking up residence in your home!
Many people turn to insecticides to get rid of them, but there is a natural and much gentler solution to keep these little intruders away: cinnamon sticks. You still need to know how to use it properly. The first important thing to know is that cinnamon, much more than just a spice to flavor your dishes, has effective repellent properties against insects, especially ants. Its powerful odor bothers ants, because their olfactory system is very sensitive. They use pheromones to move around and follow the traces left by their fellow ants.
The intense smell of cinnamon, and more specifically the essential oils present in cinnamon, such as eugenol, are particularly unpleasant to ants. This disorients them, preventing them from following their usual paths. Cinnamon therefore creates a natural barrier.
There are a few different ways you can use cinnamon to keep ants away. The first option is to simply place a few cinnamon sticks on windowsills or near doors where ants are likely to enter. The scent from these sticks will form a natural barrier to keep them from entering your home.
The second solution is to create a line of protection. If you have identified a particularly vulnerable area, you can grind a few cinnamon sticks into a fine powder and spread it along the baseboards or entry points. This reinforces the repellent effect.
Finally, you can use cinnamon essential oil for an even more intense effect. Simply soak a few cotton pads with drops of cinnamon essential oil and place them in strategic locations. You can also dilute it in water to spray areas where ants are common. If you choose cinnamon essential oil, it is best to replace it frequently so that it continues to have its effect. In the case of sticks, you do not need to change them too often.