The Ant Hack My Dad Swore By (and Honestly? It Still Works)

You ever walk into the kitchen first thing in the morning—eyes half-closed, just looking for the coffee—and BOOM. Ants. A whole line of ‘em. Marching across your counter like they own the place.

Yep. I’ve been there too.

Years ago, during one particularly bad summer, the ants in our kitchen got so bold they were showing up in the dishwasher. I kid you not. I was ready to throw in the towel and call pest control, but my dad—Mr. “I’ll fix it myself, thank you very much”—told me to hold off. He had a trick. And doggone it, it actually worked.

So, if you’re dealing with ants and want something that doesn’t cost a fortune or stink up your house with chemicals, let me show you what he did.

Why You’ll Actually Want to Try This

• It’s cheap. You probably already have everything you need.

• Smells nice! Like peppermint instead of bug spray.

• Safe for kids and pets, which was big for me when the kids were little.

• It works. Really. Not just once—like, every year.

• Doesn’t involve crawling under your house or calling some guy named Rick who charges $150 to spray around your windows.

Here’s What You’ll Need

This is the part I love—it’s just stuff you probably already have under the sink or in your bathroom cabinet:

• White vinegar (just the cheap kind—store brand is fine)

• Water

• Peppermint oil (or tea tree oil—both work great)

Now, my dad never measured anything (you should’ve seen his chili recipe…), but here’s what I do:

• 1 cup vinegar

• 1 cup water

• 10–15 drops of peppermint oil

Pour it all into a spray bottle, give it a good shake, and that’s it.

Now Spray It Like You Mean It

Here’s where to use it:

• Along baseboards

• Around windows and doors

• Near the sink, especially under it

• Behind appliances (yes, even that toaster you haven’t cleaned since Christmas)

Anywhere you’ve seen ants—or anywhere you don’t want to see them—give it a spritz.

And here’s the thing: reapply it every few days, especially after you clean. Vinegar fades, and those little suckers are persistent.

Why It Works (The Short Version)

Ants follow scent trails. One ant finds a crumb, leaves a trail, and a hundred more follow behind like it’s the Macy’s Parade.

Vinegar wipes out those trails—they literally get lost.
Peppermint oil? They hate it. It’s like garlic to a vampire. Too strong, too sharp, and they’ll turn the other way.

So this little mix messes with their game plan. No harsh poisons. No dead bugs on your counter. Just… fewer ants. Hallelujah.

Bonus Tips That Actually Help

Okay, the spray is awesome. But here are a few things I’ve learned over the years that really help keep ants away:

• Wipe down the counters every night. Even one crumb can call in the troops.

• Keep syrups and sticky stuff in containers or zip-top bags.

• Take the trash out regularly. Ants love banana peels.

• Seal any weird little gaps in the walls or windows (caulk is your friend).

• Sprinkle cinnamon or diatomaceous earth around entryways for extra oomph.

And hey, don’t forget to check the pet food area—those bowls are like Vegas buffets to ants.

Final Thought (and a Little Nostalgia)

Honestly, I just love when the old-school tricks still work. My dad was the kind of guy who fixed everything with duct tape and vinegar—and while I used to roll my eyes, I gotta admit: the man knew what he was doing.

This little spray has saved me more times than I can count. And now I swear by it, too.

So if the ants are back (again) and you’re not in the mood to drop a hundred bucks on bug guys, try this first. It might just be the kitchen miracle you needed.

Let me know if it works for you—or if you’ve got your own grandma-approved ant remedy. I’m always up for a good DIY fix that actually works.

Stay crumb-free,