Cinnamon: Natural Ant Control
Cinnamon, an 85p Ingredient, Effectively Deters Ants by Disrupting Their Trails
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A Reddit life hack thread has gone viral after users discovered that cinnamon — a common kitchen spice — can stop ants from entering homes. The ingredient costs just 85p at Sainsbury's and 99p at Aldi, making it one of the cheapest pest deterrents available, according to Wales Online.
The trick works by disrupting the chemical trails ants use to navigate. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, a strong-smelling compound that overwhelms ants' sense of smell and breaks their pheromone paths. It does not kill them — it simply drives them away.
Reddit Thread Sparks Wave of Cinnamon Converts
The trend took off after a Reddit post titled "I can't believe cinnamon worked" gained traction on life hack subreddits in June 2024, according to Cambridge News. Users reported placing thin lines of ground cinnamon across doorways, windowsills, and floor cracks. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with dozens of replies confirming similar results in their own homes.
Major UK outlets picked up the story and anchored it to the cost-of-living crisis. A 40g jar of ground cinnamon at Sainsbury's costs 85p. At Aldi, the same size costs 99p. By comparison, professional pest control call-outs in the UK can cost between £100 and £200, making the spice jar a very low-risk experiment, reported Examiner Live.
How the Science Behind the Smell Actually Works
The most common ant found in UK homes is the Black Garden Ant, known scientifically as Lasius niger. A single nest can hold up to 15,000 workers, according to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). Scout ants leave invisible pheromone trails for the colony to follow. Cinnamon disrupts those trails by overpowering the scent receptors ants rely on.
Experts describe cinnamon as an "exclusion tactic" rather than an extermination method. It blocks specific entry points but does not target the nest or the queen. If one gap is blocked, ants will find another. The BPCA has said that "while some DIY methods may provide a temporary deterrent, they rarely tackle the nest itself," according to Examiner Live.
Pet Owners Should Take Care With Dosage
Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, but it is not completely harmless either. The American Kennel Club has warned that more than one teaspoon of cinnamon powder can cause skin irritation, digestive problems, and breathing issues in most pets if inhaled or consumed in large amounts, according to Cambridge News.
The AKC stresses that cinnamon is not in the same danger category as foods like chocolate or xylitol. But pet owners should still apply it carefully. Keep lines of cinnamon away from areas where dogs or cats regularly walk or sniff. Wash hands after handling, especially before touching pets.
BPCA Says Hygiene Matters More Than Spices
The British Pest Control Association says the real fix starts with basic hygiene. Sealing bins, cleaning up food spills quickly, and blocking gaps in walls or floors will do more to stop ants long-term than any spice. Cinnamon alone will not address why ants are coming in, according to Wales Online.
UK searches for "ants cinnamon" spike by around 300% between May and July each year, driven by warmer weather pushing Black Garden Ants indoors. Experts warn that homeowners who rely only on cinnamon while ignoring food waste or damp wood may face larger, harder-to-remove colonies later in the summer.
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