The best thing to put to keep snakes away is Ammonia Repellent. Snakes are known for their heightened sense of smell, and they find the scent of ammonia particularly unpleasant. Spraying this around the borders of your property can serve as an effective snake deterrent. Epsom Salt: Another effective method is to scatter Epsom salt around your home or garden, as it emits a powerful smell that snakes would prefer to steer clear of.