Buzz
Ants in the house are a very common issue. A few individual ants may not pose any threat, but a whole colony taking over the yard or surrounding your home can cause many problems. If you need to get rid of the ants invading your house, try some of the methods outlined below.
Steps
Natural, Non-toxic Ant Killers
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in affected areas. Apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth in areas where ants are prevalent, focusing on entry points, their main food sources, and their nests.
- Only use food-grade diatomaceous earth. Some diatomaceous earth used in pool cleaning contains harmful chemicals that can be toxic to pets and children if ingested. In contrast, food-grade diatomaceous earth is non-toxic.
- Diatomaceous earth is a sedimentary earth made primarily of the shells of diatoms, a type of single-celled marine organism.
- The earth is abrasive and highly absorbent. Once ants crawl over it, the diatomaceous earth breaks down the protective wax coating on their bodies. While ants won't die immediately, they will eventually perish due to dehydration.
Create traps using baking soda and powdered sugar. Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar. Sprinkle the mixture in small amounts where you have seen ants, as well as in suspected areas where ants may be gathering.
- The powdered sugar serves as bait, as it attracts many types of ants.
- Baking soda kills ants. Ants have a special acid inside their bodies that reacts with baking soda when ingested.
- Although the mixture doesn't work immediately, it can be quite effective. Ants carry the food back to their colony, where the queen and other members eat it. This way, you can eliminate almost the entire colony.
Use cornmeal. Sprinkle a small amount of cornmeal near entry points, ant nests, and primary food sources.
- Before the method works, ants must ingest the cornmeal. Cornmeal is usually very attractive to ants. If the ants don't touch it after a few days, you can mix in some sugar to make it more enticing.
- Cornmeal disrupts ants' digestion. While the ants won't die right away, they will eventually starve to death in a few days. Moreover, as ants carry the cornmeal back to their nest, many others will also be eliminated.
Sprinkle coarse wheat flour. Spread a small amount of common breakfast cereal flour in areas where ants appear: entry points, kitchen cabinets, or any other areas where you see them.
- When ants consume the coarse wheat flour, it causes a reaction that makes them swell up. Within hours, any ant that eats the mixture will actually explode.
- Plain wheat flour typically works without any odor, but if the mixture isn't attracting the ants, you can use flavored types. Brown sugar or fruit-flavored wheat flour can yield good results, but avoid using cinnamon-flavored flour, as it repels most types of ants.
Spray vinegar on ants. Pour pure vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it on any ants you see.
- White vinegar or apple cider vinegar has antifungal and insecticidal properties that are lethal to ants.
- You can also spray vinegar in areas where ants frequently appear, such as near primary food sources.
- If you locate an ant nest, pour 1/2 to 1 liter of vinegar directly on and around the nest. This method will kill ants faster and more effectively.
Mix artificial sweeteners with apple juice. Stir 2 to 3 teaspoons (10 to 15 ml) of artificial sweetener containing dextrose, aspartame, maltodextrin into 1/2 to 1 cup (125 to 250 ml) of apple juice. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on any ants you see.
- The artificial sweetener acts as a neurotoxin.
- You can also spray this mixture in places where ants gather, including entry points and common gathering spots.
Other Household Ant Killers
Mix sugar and borax. Combine equal parts of sugar and borax, and gradually add a small amount of water until you form a thick paste. Spread the mixture on paper or cardboard and place the traps near entry points, food sources, and areas where ants tend to appear.
- Borax, or sodium borate, is a salt of boric acid. This compound is commonly used as a cleaner and can be found in the cleaning aisle of stores.
- Borax is toxic if ingested, so make sure to place the traps out of reach of children and pets.
- The ants are attracted to the sweetness of the mixture and carry it back to their colony for the queen to consume. Eventually, the borax will poison the entire colony that feeds on the bait.
Use dish soap. Mix 1 liter of water with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of dish soap and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of cooking oil in a large spray bottle. Shake well and spray the solution directly on any ants you encounter.
- The cooking oil helps the mixture stick to the ants, and the dish soap dehydrates them until they die.
- You can also spray the solution around areas where ants frequently gather, but it will only be effective as long as the solution is still wet.
Use talcum powder. Apply baby powder or body powder that contains talc.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of powder where ants are, especially if you can identify the entry points.
- Ants cannot cross the powder and will be prevented from entering the house. Afterward, you can easily eliminate any ants trying to cross the talcum barrier.
Chemical Ant Killers
Place ant bait traps indoors. Purchase ant bait traps and place them in every room where ants are visible, especially in areas where they tend to gather most frequently. Replace the traps regularly until the ants stop appearing.
- Ant baits work by targeting the queen’s reproductive system. Worker ants carry the bait back to the queen, and the poison prevents her from reproducing. As the ants die off, no new ants are born to replace them.
- Ant baits are most effective indoors. You can place them outside, but avoid moist areas or using them in temperatures below 21°C (69.8°F).
Scatter ant bait granules indoors and outdoors. Purchase and sprinkle bait granules in cracks, crevices, and areas where ants frequently gather. You can also sprinkle it on outdoor ant mounds or use it indoors.
- Unlike ant traps, granules are not affected by temperature and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Worker ants carry the granules back to the colony to share with others. The bait poisons the ants after consumption.
Spray ant killer. Buy a specialized ant pesticide and follow the instructions to spray the ants that appear, as indicated on the label.
- It is crucial to follow the instructions on the label precisely. Otherwise, the spray won’t work, and you may risk your health and that of your family.
- Ensure you’re using an ant-specific pesticide. Some pesticides are effective only against particular types of insects. For example, a wasp pesticide won’t work on ants.
- Some ant killers act quickly, while others cover ants in toxic chemicals, killing them slowly to allow the poison to penetrate the colony.
Call an ant control service if necessary. Many ant-related issues can be addressed at home with household products or natural remedies, but sometimes you’ll need professional help.
- Ant control experts will assess the situation and determine the most effective ant-killing agent. The chemicals used by professionals tend to be more potent than those available in stores.
- If you have young children or pets, let the professionals know so they can take the necessary precautions before spraying chemicals in your home.
Non-Chemical Ant Control Methods
Pour boiling water on ants or their nest. Boil water in a kettle or small pan, and immediately pour it over the ant mound or large colony outside.
- Ants can swim, so warm or cold water won’t work. In contrast, boiling water will burn the ants and effectively kill them.
Set up sticky traps. Buy yellow sticky traps and place them where ants usually gather. After a few days, the traps will be covered with ants.
- Sticky traps are non-toxic, but keep them out of reach of pets, as they may accidentally get stuck. This is especially important if you have rabbits, mice, ferrets, or other free-roaming pets in the house.
- You can also make your own sticky traps by spreading petroleum jelly or a mixture of corn syrup and water on yellow craft paper.
Squash the ants. If all other methods fail, you can use shoes, old magazines, or a flyswatter to crush the ants.
- Of course, this will kill the ants you see, but if the ant colony is near your home, this method won’t resolve the problem entirely.
Items You’ll Need
- Diatomaceous earth
- Baking soda
- Powdered sugar
- Cornstarch
- Whole wheat flour
- Vinegar
- Artificial sweetener
- Water
- Borax
- Granulated sugar
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Ant bait traps
- Ant bait granules
- Ant-killing spray
- Kettle or pan
- Sticky traps
- Shoes, magazines, or a flyswatter
