I had ants everywhere but £1 supermarket plant ‘stopped them getting in’ – smells good to us but they hate it’

As the weather warms, many families will notice an unwelcome guest in their homes – ants.

Lynsey Crombie, better known to her fans as the Queen of Cleanliness, appeared on ITV’S This Morning to reveal how you can solve the common problem.

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The genie said: ”The ants have returned. The daffodils are popping up, the tulips are popping up – and the ants and bugs are everywhere.”

But while these little bugs can be annoying to deal with, Lynsey’s hacks are all eco-friendly, and rather than killing ants, the tips will stop them from entering your home.

mint plant

Chatting to presenters, the lovely duo Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, the cleaning professional explained that mint can be used for more than just a cup of tea – or a refreshing mojito.

”If you have such a big ant problem, put this on your door.

”Mint has a lovely smell […] – and that will stop them from getting in.”

According to Lynsey, although we may find the smell pleasant, ants “hate” the lovely scent.

Cinnamon sticks

Turns out your kitchen cupboard also has a few essential items that can work perfectly to keep those pesky ants at bay — like cinnamon sticks.

“Again, they hate cinnamon,” the guru explained, adding that the powder also works as an alternative.

”Sticks like this you can literally put in the ground outside if you have good plants inside […] – just put them on.

Talcum powder

Another great trick to try this summer as the weather warms is to create a little “mountain.”

”So put it under the baseboards, tighten it down tight and that will stop them getting in because they can’t push the talc out.”

Don’t have chalk on hand? According to Lynsey, drawing a line with some chalk also works – this is a remedy her grandfather introduced to her.

mint oil

With this purse-friendly trick, the cleaning guru instructed to simply spray a cotton ball with peppermint oil and place it in your closet.

”You can also use this cotton ball and then go over the white PVC around the doors and windows.

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”Again, they hate the smell – but it smells good, so make sure the house smells nice, fresh and clean.”

However, the genius advised to be careful with the hack if you have dogs and cats “because they are not good for pets”.

Spicy lemons

Lemon has become a favorite in the cleaning community – but did you know it also works wonders for keeping ants away?

To make the solution, you’ll need a 50:50 ratio of lemon juice mixed with water – or water and white vinegar.

“This is like gold,” Lynsey couldn’t stop praising the cupboard essential, which retails for around 40 cents in most supermarkets.

The idea behind the homemade spray is that the acidic property of lemon juice will mask the ants’ scent trails and, as a result, deter them.

Electric pest repeller

If none of these cost-effective hacks worked, you can also take more drastic measures, like a plug-in electric pest repeller.

”They make a sound that humans and pets can’t hear – but ants can hear it and it keeps them from getting in.”

The £11.99 purchase comes in a pack of four and will cover “a fairly large room”.

Other store-bought items to look out for include the citronella diffuser, £5.10, as well as the Repell Shield repellent spray, £12.99.

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