The Trick I Swear By Every Spring to Keep Ants Out of My Kitchen (No Harsh Chemicals Needed)

It happens every year. The minute I open the windows to let in that fresh spring breeze and swap my chunky sweaters for linen aprons, the ants arrive—right on cue. One minute I’m sipping coffee at the kitchen table, the next I’m spotting a trail of tiny invaders making their way across the floor like they own the place.

I’ve tried traps, sprays, even sealing every crumb like it’s top-secret. Nothing worked for long—until I stumbled across this simple little spice trick. And honestly? I haven’t looked back since.

Let me tell you about cinnamon.

Why You’ll Love This (Besides the fact that it actually works)

• It smells like fresh-baked snickerdoodles. Can your ant spray say that?

• Totally safe for kiddos and pets. No weird chemicals lurking under your sink.

• Cheap and already in your spice drawer. Win-win.

• Ridiculously easy to use. Like… borderline lazy (which I love).

• Doubles as a kitchen freshener. Because if I can fight pests and make the house smell better? Count me in.

So… Why Cinnamon, Anyway?

Here’s the thing: ants aren’t just annoying—they’re little communicators. They use scent trails (called pheromones) to tell each other where the good stuff is. You spill a drop of honey and leave it for five minutes? Boom. Party.

But cinnamon—oh, that glorious, spicy-sweet powder—disrupts those pheromone trails like a traffic jam on the freeway. They can’t follow each other, they get confused, and just like that, they’re gone.

It’s kind of brilliant.

A Few Quick Ingredient Notes

• Ground Cinnamon – I just use the same kind I bake with. Nothing fancy. McCormick, Trader Joe’s, store brand… it all works.

• Cinnamon Oil (optional) – If you’re feeling fancy, a few drops of cinnamon essential oil in water makes a great DIY spray. Just shake and spritz near trouble zones.

• Not a fan of cinnamon? Clove or peppermint oil work too, but I find cinnamon the most effective—and it’s usually already in my pantry.

Here’s Exactly How I Do It (And You Can Too)

1. Play Detective

First, take a moment to figure out where those little guys are coming in. Peek along your baseboards, windowsills, door frames—especially near your sink. Look for cracks, crevices, or that single-file line marching in like it’s a parade.

2. Wipe It All Down

Ants love mess. Even a sticky ring from last night’s tea can lure them in. Clean your counters, floors, and especially under the toaster or near the garbage. I do a quick vinegar-water spray and wipe down every morning—it’s five minutes that saves me a lot of hassle.

3. Sprinkle the Cinnamon

Now for the fun part: take a spoonful of cinnamon and dust it along the edges where you’ve seen activity. I keep a small mason jar of it handy. You don’t need to go full holiday baking explosion—just a light line near the entry points and around the sink or pantry.

4. Refresh as Needed

Cinnamon doesn’t last forever (just like its smell). I usually reapply every 3–5 days during peak ant season. If it rains or your cleaning wiped it away, sprinkle a little more. You’ll get into a rhythm fast.

Want to Mix It Up? Try These Variations

• Cinnamon Oil Spray: Mix 10 drops of cinnamon oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spritz entry points.

• Cinnamon-Coffee Blend: This one’s odd but works. Mix used coffee grounds with cinnamon and place small saucers near windows or under the sink. It deters ants and deodorizes.

• Layer It with Lemon: Wipe surfaces with lemon juice before applying cinnamon for a double-whammy. Ants hate citrus.

Storage & Reuse Tips

• Store leftover cinnamon in an airtight jar just for cleaning. Don’t mix it back with your baking stash—it gets dusty!

• If using oil, shake your spray bottle before every use. Oil and water don’t stay mixed, and you want it potent.

• Sweeping or mopping? Reapply cinnamon afterward. It can get swept up without you noticing.

Let’s Keep the Kitchen Cozy (and Ant-Free)

It’s such a small shift, but adding cinnamon to my kitchen routine makes spring cleaning feel a little more intentional—like I’m not just tidying for me, but for the peace of the space too. And there’s something deeply satisfying about solving a problem with something so simple and natural.

So if you’ve got ants already scouting your countertops like tiny kitchen spies, give this a try. And hey—if you’ve got your own secret tip for keeping them away? I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment or send me a note. We’re all in this seasonal shift together.

Here’s to warm breezes, clean counters, and not a single ant in sight.