Sprinkle 66p spice over your lawn to make ants 'run away'
A low-cost kitchen cupboard ingredient has been hailed online as a great way to stop ants invading homes and patios this summer
Gardeners going to war with ants invading their lawns, patios and flowerbeds may have just the 'weapon' tucked away in their kitchen cupboards. A viral social media hack claims one cheap household ingredient can send ants "scrambling" away from gardens.
The advice comes from TikTok creator Anne Caserta, who shared a video showing ants quickly retreating after a spice was sprinkled near their nest. In the clip, she says: "Ants can’t stand the smell of cloves, so guess what? They run from it." Anne claimed the spice even caused the queen ant to emerge before appearing to guide the colony away from the area. "She's telling them to stay away," the influencer added.
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Cloves contain eugenol, a strong aromatic compound often linked to natural insect-repelling properties. Gardeners’ World claims strongly scented herbs and spices are sometimes used as natural deterrents because ants rely heavily on scent trails for navigation.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says ants are usually harmless in gardens, although large nests can become frustrating when they appear in lawns, pots and paving. Experts note that disturbing scent trails may help reduce ant activity in targeted areas.
Research published by the National Library of Medicine has also explored clove oil’s insecticidal and repellent properties against several household pests. Scientists found compounds within cloves may interfere with insects’ behaviour and sensory systems.
Budget supermarket jars of ground cloves can often be picked up for around 66p, making the hack a far cheaper alternative to many commercial ant deterrents. Some specialist ant-control products can cost more than £5 depending on brand and treatment type.
Garden experts advise using natural deterrents carefully around pets and avoiding excessive use directly on delicate plants or freshly seeded lawns. The RSPCA also recommends checking essential oils and strong plant compounds are used safely around animals.
Viewers were quick to praise the hack in the comments, with one writing: "Yup, and if you put clove oil on your shoes keeps them off of you." Another added: "I’m willing to give it a try."
A third user commented: "Who knew cloves would do that. You’re teaching me something new everyday." Meanwhile, another simply wrote: "Wow, thank you for sharing."
