How to Keep Ants Away From Your Tent While Camping

Camping is one of my favorite things to do.

Getting in touch with mother nature can really bring you peace after a week of computer teleconferences, meetings, and traffic. Unfortunately sometimes mother nature likes to touch you back and it can be disgusting. One way she does this is by releasing ants on your campsite.

Now ants are part of the natural order of life. They act as natures micro vacuum cleaners. They help break organic matter down and return it's nutrients to the soil. But in this case they're after your food, your drinks and possibly your body heat.

Here's an easy tip on how to keep them away from your tent:

Step 1:

Find a campsite that's clean or clean one up.

When you set up your campsite clear an area for your tent. The campsite area should be cleared of any rocks and brush so that you have a fine layer of dirt. Make sure the ground is dry. If it's wet everywhere, lay down a tarp. Even out the dirt if possible, after all its your mattress once you've got your tent pitched. Give your tent about 5 feet clearance on all sides. Be thorough because if you miss an ant hill this doesn't work.

Set up your tent.

Step 2:

Lay down your anti ant barrier.

Take out your powdered cleanser(Like Clorox or Comet) and pour a fine layer, thick enough to see on the ground, completely surrounding your tent. Imagine it as a protective fence. Don't use a lot just enough to make a slight chalk layer like the lines on a baseball field except a little smaller. Put a couple of feet of space between your tent and the cleanser because you may smell it while you are inside.

This method works because ants clean their feet with their mouth. When they step on the cleanser it makes the ants sick to clean it off, thus training them to stay away. I've known how to do this since I was 11 years old and it always works while camping.

Step 3:

Clean up when you leave.

Use the dust pan and wisk broom to clean up the powdered cleanser when you leave. You don't want to leave it behind because that would be environmentally irresponsible. Put the dirt and cleaner in a trash bag and carry it out with you.