I'm new to using raw linseed oil and recently applied it to an enclosure I'm making for my pet mice. I left the oil to dry outside, but when I returned, I found it completely swarming with ants. I managed to get rid of the ants and brought the enclosure inside, but I forgot the rag I used, and it's still infested the next day. Has anyone else faced this issue? What can I do to keep the ants away?
2 Answers
It's pretty strange for ants to be drawn to linseed oil since they're usually after sugary stuff. Did the rag have anything else on it before you used the linseed? That might explain the ants' interest.
Actually, linseed oil is sometimes used in food in Europe, so that might have caught the ants' attention. Another thing to note is that linseed oil takes quite a while to dry. You might want to consider using tung oil instead; it's known to be a better alternative for woodworking.
The rag was made from an old pair of pants, but they were washed before I cut them up, so I didn't think it would carry any food residue.