Buzz
If ants have infested your home, but you can't afford harmful chemicals or pesticides, don't worry! You can easily exterminate them using borax and sugar. This guide will walk you through how to eliminate ants and their nests.
Steps
Exterminating Ants with Borax and Sugar Solution
Prepare the Tools. To make the solution, mix borax, sugar, and water, and soak cotton balls in it. You will need the following ingredients:
- ½ cup (100 grams) of sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons of borax
- 1 ½ cups (350 ml) of warm water
- A jar
- Cotton balls
- A shallow dish, small box, or lid (optional)
Pour sugar and borax into a jar. Borax is the substance used to eliminate ants, and sugar acts as a bait to attract them. Since ants don't recognize borax as food, they are drawn to the sugar, making it an effective trap.
Close the jar and shake it well. This step ensures the borax and sugar are thoroughly mixed together.
Open the jar and add water. You can use cool water, but warm water helps dissolve both the sugar and borax. The water will turn the mixture into a liquid, making it easier to dip cotton balls into.
Stir with a spoon, fork, or chopsticks. Keep mixing until the sugar and borax dissolve or become moistened.
Dip the cotton balls into the solution. The number of cotton balls you use should correspond to the number of ants in your home. If there is leftover solution, you can store it by sealing the jar and keeping it in a dry, cool place.
Place the cotton balls soaked in the solution. Focus on the ants' trail; you should place the cotton balls directly in their path. If you can locate the starting point of the ant trail, place the cotton balls nearby. This method helps them encounter the poison faster.
- If you don't want the floor or window edges to get dirty or sticky, place the cotton balls in a small box and set the box in the designated spot. You can also use a shallow dish or jar lid. Regardless of the item chosen, do not reuse it for food storage. Borax is highly toxic to humans and pets.
Consider sealing the ant nest. If you find the ant colony's nest, you can seal it with sticky plastic or adhesive powder. This prevents the colony from returning. Perform this step after you've eliminated all the ants.
Exterminate the Ant Nest
Prepare the ingredients. You only need two simple ingredients: borax and sugar. Adult ants don't consume solid poison, but they will bring it back to the nest for the larvae to eat.
Mix three parts sugar and one part borax. Combine the borax and sugar in a container and stir well using a spoon or fork. The amount of borax and sugar you use depends on the number of ants. Be sure to follow the ratio of one part borax to three parts sugar.
- Do not reuse the containers or bowls that were used to mix borax for cooking or food storage.
Sprinkle powder along the ant trail. If ants are entering your home through windows and doors, sprinkle the powder along the paths leading to the entrance and on the window sills. The ants will carry the powder back to their nest to feed the larvae. The borax in the powder will kill the larvae.
Sprinkle powder around any entry points the ants may use to invade your home. In addition to dealing with the ants, you should block all potential entryways they might use, such as doors and windows. This will prevent ants from finding other ways to enter your home while you are working to eliminate them.
Consider sealing the ant nest. If you locate the ant nest, you can use sticky plastic or another adhesive substance to seal the hole. This will stop the ants from returning. Perform this step once you have completely eradicated the ant colony.
Store the ant poison properly. If there is any leftover ant poison, place it in a tightly sealed jar and label it. Keep the jar out of reach of children and pets. Borax is extremely toxic, even to humans and animals.
Advice
- Consider spreading diatomaceous earth near doorways and windows. This substance is effective in eliminating ants that enter your home. Diatomaceous earth is also useful for killing fleas and other pests. However, you should use food-grade diatomaceous earth rather than the kind intended for swimming pools.
- If possible, place the poison near the ant nest.
Warning
- Borax is highly toxic to both humans and animals. Keep it away from children, pets, and food.
What You Will Need
Items You Need to Make Common Ant Poison
- One part of borax
- Three parts of sugar
What You Need to Eliminate an Ant Nest
- ½ cup of sugar (100 grams)
- 1 ½ tablespoons of borax
- 1 ½ cups (350 ml) of warm water
- A jar
- Borax
- A shallow plate, small container, or lid
