Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment OpenAI announcement Switch 2 Restock Galaxy Z Fold 7 iPhone 17 Air Best laptops Wordle Today Best Mattress Recommended reading This cheap hack will stop ants from invading your home People are sprinkling used coffee grounds outside their front door this summer — here's why Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why Pest experts reveal this $1 vegetable can help repel flies around your home Keep flies out of your home this summer — pair these 2 cheap household staples to deter them People are putting cucumber slices by their window this summer — and it makes a lot more sense than you think 5 natural ways to stop ant hills ruining your yard this summer Pest expert says you should use cinnamon in your home to deter flying ants — here’s why Cynthia Lawrence 23 July 2025 It's not just for baking When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Summer is here, and while we’re out enjoying the weather, so are seasonal bugs. From mosquitoes in your yard to fruit flies buzzing around your sweet snacks, it can be challenging to keep pesky bugs away this season. And with Flying Ant Day on the way (between July 22-25), these could sneak into your home, causing havoc. Not only do these winged pests hide in dark, damp areas (inside decaying wood and cracks), but they can quickly multiply, resulting in an unexpected and costly infestation. You may like This cheap hack will stop ants from invading your home People are sprinkling used coffee grounds outside their front door this summer — here's why Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why That’s why it’s so important to know how to safely get rid of flying ants, without the hassle. Luckily, an expert has revealed a rather unusual way of dealing with ants in your home. In fact, this hack involves a fragrant spice mainly used in baking that we all love — that ants will hate. What’s more, this is non-toxic, affordable, and will create a warm, festive aroma. So why is cinnamon so good at repelling ants? Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Sprinkle cinnamon on your floors Cinnamon on wooden board (Image credit: Shutterstock) It seems like cinnamon can do so much more than just spice up your cakes and bakes. Rather than using harmful repellents to get rid of ants, cinnamon can be used to keep these unwanted bugs away simply by its strong, ‘offensive’ scent. "Sprinkling a bit of powdered cinnamon, or even placing a cinnamon stick, near where ants are getting in can be a humane and effective way to deter them,” advises Paul Hambidge, Managing Director at Factory Direct Flooring. “That's because the strong scent can disrupt ants' ability to communicate with each other and find food, without killing them." You can try adding ground cinnamon to a small breathable sachet or cotton pouch (similar to what you might use for a wardrobe freshener) and leave it near ants' entry points in your home. That way, you get the scent benefit without having loose powder to clean up.” Spice ClassicsGround Cinnamon: $9 at Amazon Ground cinnamon is a perfect warm spice to add to many bakes, but it can also be used in the garden to ward off pests, propagate cuttings and as a natural fungicide. This 18oz container can be used to make cinnamon buns, with plenty spare to help protect the plants in your yard. Don’t make this floor mopping mistake Mopping tiled floor (Image credit: Shutterstock) And if you saw a viral hack about mopping floors with ground cinnamon to get rid of ants, don’t even think about it. According to experts, this could do more harm than good. “I wouldn't necessarily recommend mopping your floors with ground cinnamon and water, especially if you have light or porous floors,” adds Hambidge. “That's because the water can release the rusty brown pigment from the powder and leave nasty stains. The same goes for sprinkling powder on light carpets. If you're specifically looking for an ant-deterring floor cleaner, diluting cinnamon oil in water is a better approach for avoiding stains compared to ground cinnamon, but only if you don't have pets. While very small amounts of cinnamon are generally not toxic to dogs and cats, prolonged exposure to cinnamon, or the essential oil version, can be. Top tip for getting rid of flying ants If you prefer non-toxic, pest repellents, you can also opt for a vinegar and water solution to deter ants. “Mopping with vinegar and water can have a similar effect on ants because of its strong smell. It's also considered a dog-safe DIY cleaning solution by the American Kennel Club, which makes it a better option than cinnamon if you have pets. Another great thing about vinegar is it's already a tried-and-tested floor cleaning method, making it a true multitasking hero when it comes to tackling ants and dirty floors (in fact, our swab results show that mopping with vinegar and water cuts bacteria on floors by 71% on average." (Image credit: Shutterstock) In fact, there are so many clever ways cinnamon can be put to good use in the yard. From being a plant fertilizer to a natural fungicide, this spice can do well to protect your plants from all sorts of pests. So if you have this spice in your kitchen, try out the powers of cinnamon. More from Tom's Guide Experts say you should spray vinegar outside your front door this summer — here's why 7 things that are attracting ants to your home Gardeners urged to sprinkle cinnamon on their lawns this summer Today's best Dyson WashG1 deals $608.90View $699.99View $699.99View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Cynthia Lawrence Social Links Navigation Content Editor, Homes As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features. Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many. With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain! You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. This cheap hack will stop ants from invading your home People are sprinkling used coffee grounds outside their front door this summer — here's why Pest experts warn you should never squash ants in your home — here’s why Pest experts reveal this $1 vegetable can help repel flies around your home Keep flies out of your home this summer — pair these 2 cheap household staples to deter them People are putting cucumber slices by their window this summer — and it makes a lot more sense than you think Latest in Home Epic Ninja sale with up to 35% off — 13 deals I'd shop now from Amazon and Best Buy Lowe’s sale starts from $6 — 21 summer deals I’d shop on grills, appliances, furniture and more How to choose the right cooling fan for your space and needs I tried everything to banish limescale from my toilet, but the solution was this cheap household item I already had in my cupboards Don't let summer heat kill your roses — here's how to save them I swear by this $18 IKEA storage solution — now my clutter is safely stored under my beds Latest in Features I use ChatGPT every day — here are 9 new prompts I can’t live without 67% of us experience parasomnias — expert shares 5 most common types and why they happen AI is powering fake Simpsons predictions — here’s how to spot the hoax Forget the AirPods Pro 2, these are the best audiophile earbuds under $200 I took a ginger shot every day for a week to see if it actually does anything — here’s my verdict I test headphones for a living — here's why the AirPods Max have a permanent home on my desk LATEST ARTICLES I put the Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Galaxy Z Flip 6 through a 7-round face-off — here's the winner 5 best Prime Video movies to stream now before they leave this month One of our favorite Chromebooks is on sale just in time for back to school Apple Intelligence will summarize news again in iOS 26 after false headline debacle Amazon buys wearable AI startup Bee, a wrist device that hears and transcribes every word you speak Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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