Ants are often annoying pests on the dining table, especially when they swarm around food that has just been served. The presence of ants is not only annoying , but can also ruin the dining atmosphere and make food feel less hygienic. Although small in size, ants can appear in large numbers and quickly, making us overwhelmed in dealing with them.
The main cause of ants swarming the dining table is leftover food and drinks. The aroma of sweet, fatty, or high-protein foods is very attractive to ants. They have the ability to find food sources quickly and send signals to their colonies, so that in a short time, the dining table can be filled with rows of ants. The habit of leaving food uncovered also makes this problem worse.
To prevent ant attacks, it is important to maintain a clean dining table regularly. Cleaning up leftover food and drinks immediately after eating can reduce the attraction for ants. In addition, using natural ingredients such as vinegar, lemon, or cinnamon powder around areas where ants often pass can help repel them.
However, if ants have started to swarm the food, many people consider the food to be unfit for consumption. In fact, in some cases, the food can be fresh and the taste or texture does not change. Of course, it would be a shame if the food was just thrown away.
Instagram/@rannie_cometea
This was experienced by Instagram user @rannie_cometea. Through one of the videos uploaded, the netizen once showed dry bread stored on the table. Well, this dry bread was filled with ants, even though it had been tightly closed. Instead of throwing away the dry bread, Instagram user @rannie_cometea chose to repel the ants. As reported by BrilioFood from the Instagram account @rannie_cometea on Friday (4/10), there is one kitchen ingredient that is used to repel ants naturally. Well, the kitchen ingredient in question is cooking oil.
Instagram/@rannie_cometea
How to use it, first open the lid that covers the food. Because the dry bread is placed on a plate, Instagram user @rannie_cometea smears cooking oil on the side of the plate. Make sure the cooking oil is still clean and not used.
Instagram/@rannie_cometea
Next, let it sit for a few minutes. So, this cooking oil will make the ants go away on their own. If not, the ants will die because they are trapped in the slippery and sticky layer of oil. This will make the bread clean and safe to eat again.