Setting out shallow dishes of soapy water is another good way to kill ants. Lure them in with a trail of something sugary. This method is good for killing groups of ants, but it won’t take out the entire nest. If ants keep coming back, you might have to address the source of the problem. Soapy water is a natural insecticide that kills most insects, not just ants. Try it on roaches, too.
You can also use vinegar and water as a deterrent; spray it around your windowsills, doorways and other places where you see ants coming inside. Some people have found that using this vinegar solution to clean the floors, windows and countertops makes ants less likely to crawl over these surfaces. White vinegar makes an excellent household cleaner, and you can’t smell it once it dries.
It’s recommended that you wear a mask or cloth over your face when handling diatomaceous earth. While the powder isn’t harmful when ingested, the tiny particles can be hard on your lungs when you breathe them in. Diatomaceous earth becomes ineffective when it gets wet, or even when the air is damp and humid. It will regain its effectiveness when dry, so if your home’s humidity is reducing the potency of your DE consider using a dehumidifier in the problem areas. [3] X Research source
Boric acid is not a toxic pesticide, but it should not be consumed by humans or pets. Avoid using it in areas where your children and pets play. Don’t use it near food sources or in your kitchen cabinets. While it should not cause harm to your pets, it may be toxic to smaller animals like birds, reptiles, and fish. [5] X Research source Boric acid is toxic to beneficial insects as well.
Mix 2 tablespoons of corn syrup and 2 tablespoons (29. 6 ml) of boric acid in a small bowl. Make sure the texture is paste-like and sticky, not runny. Add more boric acid if it’s too wet. Use a spoon to spread the mixture over the surface of your cardboard pieces. Each piece is its own trap.
Since the traps contain boric acid, don’t put them in your kitchen cabinets or near food sources. You can put the traps outside, too. Place them in your flower beds or near your trash cans. The sugary smell might attract critters other than ants, like your child or dog. Make sure to put the traps out of reach of kids and pets.
When you see ants entering and leaving the traps, let them move around freely. If you kill them, they won’t get the chance to bring the poison back to the nest, killing dozens more ants. This method won’t necessarily kill the entire nest of ants, but it will significantly reduce the population of ants around your home.
Make sure the dishes of cornmeal and borax are low enough to ants to get in and out. You can also make a dry paste with cornmeal, borax, and a few drops of water. Spread the paste in areas where you tend to see ants.
Little black ants are one of the most common home invaders. These ants walk in long, slow lines, giving away their nest sites to anyone with the good sense to follow them outside. You’ll find their nests in sheltered spots around the yard. Odorous house ants (known for the rotten coconut smell they emit when you crush them) build nests inside the house in window frames or inside the walls. They also build nest outdoors in woodpiles, mulch piles, under rocks, and in other outdoor crevices. Pavement ants tend to nest in cracks in the sidewalk or driveway. You might not be able to see the nest itself, since it could be hidden under the pavement, but you should be able to find the ants’ entryway. Fire ants usually don’t come inside the house, but you might have a nest on your property that’s preventing you from walking around your yard in bare feet. Look for a large mound raised above the ground and composed of sand-like granules.
If the nest you’re dealing with is indoors, the boiling water trick might damage your house. Instead of using water, douse the nest with a bowl of soapy water. You can also put on a pair of long rubber gloves and scrape the nest into a bucket, then drown the ants. If you’re dealing with fire ants, make sure you approach the nest wearing long pants tucked into socks and long sleeves. The ants are sure to get angry, and they may swarm out of the nest and attempt to climb into your clothes.
If the boiling water doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, take a stake and stab it down into the nest. Wiggle it around until you have a fair-sized crater. Fill the crater with baking soda about halfway up and pour vinegar over it. If you’re trying to kill red ants, you can also try what is known as “bucketing. " Wearing pants tucked into long socks for protection, take a shovel and quickly shovel the fire ant mound into a large bucket that has been sprinkled with baking soda, which keeps the ants from climbing out. Keep going until the whole nest has been shoveled out. Drown the ants in vinegar and water or with boiling water.
Cinnamon Cayenne pepper Ground orange or lemon peels Coffee grounds
Lemon oil Peppermint oil Eucalyptus oil (don’t use this near cats! It’s toxic to them, but not to dogs) Lavender oil Cedar oil
Keep food containers tightly sealed, too. This is especially important for sugar, honey, syrup and other foods that ants like to eat. Clean up spills right away, especially fruit juice or syrup spills.
