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When it�s ant season (often in the spring), these sneaky critters can march into your home and never leave. But with these simple tricks that use common household items like tape, vinegar, lemons, chalk, water, and more, you can protect your kitchen, doors, windows, patio and anywhere else ants like to crawl. You might need to try various solutions to get rid of ants throughout the house, but hopefully one of these tricks will work for you. Adhesive Tape Is an army of ants marching toward the cookie jar on your countertop or some sweet prize in your pantry? Create a �moat� around the object by surrounding it with adhesive tape placed sticky side up. Basters If you�ve had it with sharing your living quarters with roaches or ants, give them the heave-ho by sprinkling boric acid along any cracks or crevices where you�ve spotted the intruders. Use a baster to blow small amounts of the powder into hard-to-reach corners and any deep voids you come across. Note: Keep in mind that boric acid can be toxic if ingested by young children or pets. Chalk Keep ants at bay by drawing a line around home entry points. The ants will be repelled by the calcium carbonate in the chalk, which is actually made up of ground-up and compressed shells of marine animals. Scatter powdered chalk around garden plants to repel ants and slugs. Flour Sprinkle a line of flour along the backs of pantry shelves and wherever you see ants entering the house. Repelled by the flour, ants won�t cross over the line. Flowerpots If fire ants plague your yard or patio and you�re tired of getting stung by the tiny attackers, a flowerpot can help you quench the problem. Place the flowerpot upside down over the anthill. Pour boiling water through the drain hole and you�ll be burning down their house.