Ants may be small, but once they find food in your home, they can quickly take over. They march in neat little lines, showing up on counters, around sinks, and near trash bins. Before reaching for harsh chemical sprays, try an old family remedy that’s surprisingly simple. My nana’s trick takes only five minutes, uses pantry staples, and keeps ants away for good.

She swore by a natural mix: equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Each day, she sprayed it along window sills, baseboards, countertops, and wherever ants had been. The vinegar masked and disrupted their scent trails, confusing the colony. Not only did it repel ants, but it also left her home smelling fresh and clean.

Ants rely on pheromones to follow one another to food sources, forming those trails we see. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which breaks up those trails and drives them away with its strong scent. Without their path, they lose direction and abandon the area altogether. It’s a safe, chemical-free solution that really works if used regularly.

This trick is affordable, eco-friendly, and safe around kids and pets unlike most commercial sprays. It’s kept my nana’s house ant-free for decades and now does the same for mine. When I see a trail forming, I grab the bottle and spray without worry. Sometimes, the best answers aren’t new they’re just passed down from someone wise.