Best Homemade Ant Killer

Ants are mother nature’s clean-up crew and contribute to the environment in many different ways. They are masters of decomposition and help to clean up dead animals, dead bugs, and other types of decaying organic matter. Many ants turn the soil and produce fertile topsoil as they burrow into the ground to create nests. Others make their nests in logs and deadfall, speeding up the breakdown of decaying material.

Ants aren’t always a nuisance, but they can become one when they have intruded upon your personal space, especially in your home. Ants can pose a severe health risk to your family and pets, and some ants can be aggressive and cause physical discomfort or death under the right circumstances. Learning what the best homemade ant killer is and how to use it will not only save you money but will help you protect your loved ones and your home.

Why Do Ants Invade Your Property and Home?

Ants are opportunistic by nature and seek out food, water, and shelter in a variety of places. Your lawn, garden, and house are prime real estate for ants who are seeking those three necessities. Most ants are omnivores and will eat just about anything they can find that has nutritional value. Initially, they may find their way onto your property while foraging, and if they find a substantial food and water source, they will ultimately take up residence closer to these sources.

Ants need food, water, and shelter, and as they spread onto your property and begin to deplete the sources that initially brought them there, they will start to seek out new sources of food and water, thus leading them into your house. Ants, such as fire ants, won’t typically create nests inside your home as they prefer to have their colony underground, but they will invade your house and continue to as long as they have access to food and water. Other ants like carpenter ants can and will nest inside your home, especially if they find water damaged wood to move their colony into.

Even if your home only provides access to food and water, it will be enough to entice the ants to stick around. This makes preventative measures most important when it comes to deterring ants from seeking refuge where they don’t belong.

A few methods of prevention that you can take are as follows:

• Seal off any cracks, crevices, or gaps in window seals or door frames.
• Maintain a well-manicured lawn.
• Keep landscaping plants trimmed away from the side of your house.
• Thoroughly clean the inside of your home.
• Keep stored foods in sealed, airtight containers.
• Fix leaky faucets and humidity issues inside your home as quickly as possible.

These few preventative actions can go a long way to keep ants off your property and out of your house. If you have used these methods and still find yourself battling against an ant infestation, you can benefit from contacting a professional pest control agency. They will be able to identify the pest, diagnose the issue, and implement a plan to eliminate the threat and prevent future invasions.

What Are the Best Homemade Ant Killers?

Image via Flickr by Ben Sutherland

Sometimes the best ant killers are the ones you make yourself. Homemade ant killers are easy to make, and you likely have all the ingredients in your house, saving you time and money. Let’s explore a few DIY ant killers that you can make at home:

• Borax and sugar: Borax is a common product used in many different ways for cleaning and contains boric acid. All you need for this homemade ant bait is 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of Borax, and 2 cups of sugar. Mix the ingredients together in a saucepan on the stove and boil it for about three minutes. Give the mixture time to cool before use. As it cools, it will thicken into a paste that you can apply to trouble areas where ants have been observed.
• Borax and peanut butter: If you find that the Borax and sugar aren’t working as you had hoped, you may be dealing with ants that prefer fat and protein-based foods. Another DIY bait can be made using 2 tablespoons of Borax and peanut butter. Combine the mixture until you reach a consistent paste. This bait can be a bit messy, so you will want to use cardboard or paper plates and place it where you have seen foraging ant trails.
• Dish soap, oil, and water: This is a simple DIY bait that is easy to make. For this homemade ant killing solution, you will need 1 quart of water, 1 teaspoon of cooking oil, and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. You can use this solution in one of two ways. You can spray ants where they have been observed entering your home to create a barrier. You can also use this in a small bowl or container placed in the path of the intruding ants. The ants will be attracted to the cooking oil and the sweet smell of the soap, but when they try to drink the substance, it will trap and drown them.
• Baking soda and powdered sugar: Baking soda is another active ingredient to use in a homemade ant bait as it disrupts the digestive system of ants, slowly killing them. Ants won’t take the baking soda by itself, so adding powdered sugar is vital, as the ants are unable to distinguish between the two ingredients and will eat the bait and carry it to the rest of the colony. For this DIY bait, you will need to mix one part powdered sugar with one part baking soda. You can use a milk jug cap or another small container to distribute the bait to the ants.

The best homemade ant killer is the one that you find yields the results you are looking for. If you are experiencing ants in your house, give a few of these homemade ant killer ideas a try. When you find the one that works best for your situation, you will be well on your way to protecting your family, pets, and home from pesky ants.