As the weather warms up and summer approaches, many families are spending more time outdoors, whether at parks, playgrounds, or in their own gardens. However, sandpits and sandboxes, while great for children's play, often become shared spaces with bugs and insects. This is because sand offers the perfect combination of shelter, moisture, and food. The loose, easy-to-dig sand provides a secure, warm, and dry environment for nesting, while leftover crumbs, sugary spills, and nearby organic debris offer a consistent food source for insects like ants and spiders.
But this doesn't mean you have to stop using sandpits altogether. Instead, there are natural ways to keep these creepy crawlies away without resorting to chemical repellents. One mum, known on TikTok as 'Mrs-Mae', shared her simple £1 solution: sprinkling cinnamon into her child's sandpit throughout the summer months. She claims it effectively keeps all bugs away from the sand.
How Cinnamon Works as a Natural Repellent
Mixing ground cinnamon into a sandbox acts as a natural, safe repellent against ants, spiders, flies, and even unwanted animals, while smelling pleasant. The fragrant spice, a common kitchen staple, is highly offensive to unwanted sandbox intruders. Unlike pesticides and chemical-based repellents, cinnamon is child-safe, eco-friendly, and affordable.
Application Tips
Use approximately 1/4 to a full container of cinnamon per few bags of sand, raking it in thoroughly. It works best when combined with covering the box and using a liner. According to the website Mosquito Joe, ground cinnamon is a great natural repellent, but you need to maintain it regularly. They recommend sprinkling cinnamon evenly across the sandbox and mixing it into the sand for thorough coverage. Reapply after any rainfall or every few weeks. Additionally, cover the sandbox with a cover when not in use and check the area regularly to ensure no bugs have entered.
Other Uses for Cinnamon
Cinnamon also works as a natural spider and bug repellent in other areas of your home. Adding cinnamon sticks around windows or entrances can keep creepy crawlies from entering your home. However, it's worth noting that this method only helps keep bugs away. If the sandbox is already infested, you may need a more permanent solution to eliminate them.
