Nobody wants to see a trail of ants crawling across their kitchen counter or crowding around their pantry. But these insect visitors are fairly common, especially in the spring and summer. When the weather heats up, these tiny insects break out of hibernation and start their hunt for food, water, and shelter. For some, spring rainstorms destroy their outdoor nests, so they often relocate their search inside—and your house provides the perfect place for these bugs to nest. Sticky spills, leftover crumbs, strong-smelling pet food, and open trash bins in your home are like magnets for ants, but there are a few other sneaky culprits that bring bugs inside. “Moisture from pipes, under the sink, or condensation from appliances also attract ants,” says Roy Gotiangco, general manager of Broadway Pest Services.
A few bugs might not seem like an issue, but Gotiangco explains that these efficient insects leave behind a trail of pheromones that invite other ants to join them, so colonies seem to pop up out of thin air. While most home ants are annoying but harmless, some species can actually cause a good amount of structural damage, and others can contaminate your food.
Whatever the cause and severity level, if you’re dealing with a swarm of ants, you might resort to buying an ant trap to get rid of them, but there’s a simpler, more natural solution right in your kitchen. We asked Gotiangco to break down the most effective DIY ant killer, and it couldn’t be easier to make with common household ingredients. Of course, if you’re dealing with a larger infestation, you might need to contact an exterminator, but if you’re trying to eliminate these insects naturally, this at-home method is almost foolproof.
The Best DIY Ant Killer
You don’t always need a store-bought solution to tackle an ant problem. Before heading to the hardware store, the first line of defense is checking for ingredients around your house. Here’s how to create and apply an all-natural solution:
Gather the Ingredients
“For a small group of ants, a mixture of borax, sugar and warm water can work,” Gotiangco says. You might use borax to boost your laundry detergent or cut through greasy surfaces, but it’s a surprisingly powerful household product for eliminating ants. Combining it with sugar helps to lure the bugs, while a little water turns it into a paste.
Follow the Recipe
After you’ve collected the necessary ingredients, mix one part borax with three parts powdered sugar. (The ratio is vital: If there’s too much borax, the ants will die before they carry the solution back to their colony.) Then, add a few drops of warm water to create a thick, sticky paste. Make sure the borax has fully dissolved—otherwise, the ants will only eat the sugar.
Apply the DIY Mixture
Once you’ve stirred the mixture, Gotiangco suggests soaking it up with cotton balls before placing them near ant trails or entry points on bottle caps, index cards, or plastic lids. Because borax can be toxic if pets and children ingest it, be sure to keep the DIY ant traps out of reach.
Let It Work Its Magic
While borax acts as a slow-releasing poison to ants, the addition of sugar makes it more appealing and palatable. After ants eat the mixture, they’ll bring the solution back to their nest, disrupting their scent trails along the way. Once they get there, the sugar-borax medley will quickly spread through the colony, preventing future invasions.
How to Get Rid Of Ants With Other Household Solutions
While a combination of borax, sugar, and water is the most effect home remedy for an ant problem, there are a few other pantry staples you can try:
White Vinegar
If you’re dealing with a one-off issue, not an entire ant colony, mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spritzing a single ant with the solution won’t just kill it, but the spray will also destroy any scent trails that they left behind, deterring future ants from invading your home.
Baking Soda
Although it isn’t as powerful and won’t get rid of a whole nest, baking soda is a pretty good alternative to borax. Mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar to attract the ants before the baking soda damages their digestive system.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
