Banish Pesky Red Ants From Your Pool With This Aromatic Fruit Juice

A backyard swimming pool can be a great place to relax and is an outdoor update that can add value to your home. However, just like a garden pond or any other water feature, a swimming pool can attract ants. This is particularly true during periods of hot, dry weather. In other words, the times when you are most wanting to use your pool.

While water itself is an attractant, the allure for ants to swimming pools are enhanced when you add a deck or patio next to your pool. This is because the wood in decks and sand in pavers, as well as other materials used to build these enhancements, are also desirable to ants. Add any grilling or barbecuing poolside, which will introduce food (another major attractant) to the mix and it's easy to see how a backyard pool can quickly become crawling with these tiny insects.

However, it is possible to combat them. Furthermore, it's possible to do so without harsh chemicals that would inevitably wash into your pool. In fact, it can be done with something that you may already be using to clean your grill, garnish your poolside meals, or make a refreshing drink. Lemons and lemon juice are one of the most effective natural ant deterrents you can use.

The acidic properties that make lemon juice ideal for cleaning grills as well as enhancing foods and drinks, are also the secret to its ability to repel ants. The acidity and scent of lemon and lemon juice overpowers the scent of the ants' trail. This both confuses the ants and prevents other ants from following those trails. It also prevents ants from making new trails through the area treated with lemon juice. Additionally, a study by Texas A&M University shows there is a level of toxicity in lemons that is lethal to ants. The ability to both kill ants on contact as well as prevent new ants from arriving makes lemon juice an ideal natural remedy for combating these pesky insects.

The best method for utilizing lemon juice as an ant deterrent is making a lemon juice spray, which can be applied to known ant trails as well as around the perimeter of your pool and deck and any areas ants are likely to arrive. An easy way to make such a concoction is to mix one part lemon juice with three parts water. Pour the mixture into a mister bottle or handheld sprayer to apply. This method is an effective deterrent.

However, if you are wanting a more potent mixture that is also lethal to ants that it contacts, you can make a brew of lemon peels and vinegar. To do this, place the lemon peels in a pan with enough vinegar to cover them. Next, heat the liquid until it is just about to boil, then remove it from the heat and let it sit overnight. Strain the peels from the liquid and put the liquid in a spray bottle.