✅ No, we couldn't find enough information from major authoritative news outlets specifically confirming "the household medicine cabinet essential that effectively repels intruder ants" as a widely recognized or rigorously validated fact.

However, there are several credible articles from reputable lifestyle and home care sources discussing household medicine cabinet items that can repel or kill ants:

1. Vicks VapoRub from the medicine cabinet is reported to repel ants due to its strong medicinal scent containing camphor and eucalyptus oils, which irritate ants' highly sensitive olfactory receptors. This is featured by House Digest, a popular home lifestyle site (Trust Score approx. 7/10)

https://www.housedigest.com/1426869/get-rid-of-ants-pest-vicks-vaporub/

2. Rubbing alcohol, another common medicine cabinet item, can both repel and kill ants effectively, and is promoted as a safe alternative to chemical sprays by House Digest as well (Trust Score approx. 7/10)

https://www.housedigest.com/1926951/use-rubbing-alcohol-get-rid-of-household-ants/

3. Other natural repellents mentioned in reputable home advice sites include essential oils, vinegar, boric acid syrups, and cinnamon, but these are not necessarily “medicine cabinet” staples and their effectiveness varies; information is often anecdotal. For example, boric acid mixed with sugar water acts as bait to kill ants but is not strictly a repellent

https://thedollarstretcher.com/frugal-living/inexpensive-all-natural-ant-repellent/

While these sources indicate that some common medicine cabinet items (VapoRub, rubbing alcohol) can be used to repel or control ants, such home remedies are mostly supported by anecdotal evidence or limited studies rather than broad scientific consensus or coverage by major news outlets (like BBC, CNN, or the Associated Press).

Therefore, the claim about a specific household medicine cabinet essential that effectively repels intruder ants appears plausible but not extensively confirmed by major news or scientific authorities. The best available information comes from well-regarded home and lifestyle websites rather than mainstream news outlets.