If you see ants around the spilled sugar when opening your kitchen cabinets, you may be tempted to apply harsh chemicals to get them all out as soon as possible. However, pesticides are also harmful to humans, animals and other beneficial creatures you wish to have on your property. The important thing to know is that there are many very effective ways to kill ants without the need to use pesticides. Read on to learn how to make a spray and trap product, destroy an entire nest, and discourage these insects from entering your home - all without the use of pesticides.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use Natural Insecticides
Step 1. Use water and dish soap
Fill a bottle with 1 part dish soap and 2 parts water and shake the container well to mix the solution. When you see a row of ants (or even just one), spray the mixture on them, which will immediately block them and choke. Clean and collect dead ants with a damp cloth and make sure to keep the spray bottle handy for the next ants you find.
- Another good way to kill them is to make shallow saucers filled with soapy water. Attract the ants with a trail of some sugary substance.
- This method is effective for eliminating clumps of ants, but it does not eliminate the entire nest. If you see them keep coming back, you may need to address the source of the problem.
- Soapy water is a natural insecticide that kills most insects, not just ants. Try it with cockroaches too.
Step 2. Try a solution of white vinegar and water
Ants hate vinegar, and you can make an easy and inexpensive pesticide using just these two elements. Mix an equal parts solution of vinegar and water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray it directly on the ants to kill them, then wipe and scoop them up with a damp paper towel and discard.
- This solution also works as a deterrent; spray it all around windowsills, doors and other places where you see ants entering.
- Some people have found that using this mixture to clean floors, windows and countertops creates a hostile environment for ants, so they are less likely to invade these surfaces. White vinegar is an excellent detergent for domestic use and the smell disappears once it dries.
Step 3. Make a lemon juice solution
If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, you can spray the ants with a lemon juice mixture. These insects can't stand the citric acid present in citrus fruits, so you can use it as a deterrent and spray it all around the perimeter of the house. Make a solution of 1 part lemon juice and 3 parts water and use it like any other spray product.
Step 4. Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth inside the house
Edible diatomaceous earth is a very effective insecticide and is not dangerous to humans or pets. It is composed of fossilized and subsequently pulverized diatomaceous earth. When insects walk on this fine dust, the tiny fossil fragments scratch the waxy coating of their exoskeleton, dehydrating the organism. Sprinkle this powder along baseboards, window sills and around the perimeter of the house to kill the ants.
- You should wear a mask or cloth on your face when handling diatomaceous earth. While not dangerous if swallowed, the tiny particles are harmful if you breathe them in and get into your lungs.
- Diatomaceous earth becomes ineffective when it gets wet or if the air is humid. However, know that it returns to regain its effectiveness when it dries; therefore, if the humidity in the house risks compromising its effectiveness, consider turning on a dehumidifier in particularly problematic areas.
Step 5. Apply boric acid
It is a completely natural product and is really effective against ants. When these insects ingest it, boric acid poisons them leading to their death; it also damages their exoskeletons just like diatomaceous earth does. This substance has the appearance of a white or blue powder that you can sprinkle in areas where you often notice ants, such as near baseboards or on windowsills.
- Boric acid is not a toxic pesticide, but it should not be ingested by humans or pets. Avoid using it in areas where children and pets play. Do not apply it near food sources or in kitchen cabinets.
- Keep in mind that it is not toxic to beneficial insects or to birds, reptiles and fish.
Method 2 of 4: Install Traps
Step 1. Make a boric acid and sugar trap
They are two substances that are easy to combine, inexpensive and, more importantly, extremely effective. All you need are a few pieces of construction paper or card index cards (one for each trap), a bottle of corn syrup or any other sticky, sugary substance, and some boric acid powder. Here's how to set up the trap:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of corn syrup with 2 tablespoons of boric acid in a small bowl.
- Make sure the mixture is mushy, sticky, and doesn't run. Add more boric acid if it's too liquid.
- Take a spoon to spread the mixture over the surface of the cardboard pieces. Each piece is a single trap.
Step 2. Place the traps in the most strategic areas, where you often see ants
If you notice them on the bathroom floor more often, put one there. Place another under the kitchen sink and another on the veranda. Place them almost wherever you see ants gather.
- Since they contain boric acid, do not keep them in kitchen cabinets or near food sources.
- You can also put some outside the house. Place more in the flower beds or near the garbage cans.
- The sugary smell may also attract other creatures besides the ants, such as even your child or dog - make sure the traps are out of their reach.
Step 3. Wait for the traps to attract the ants
If you have a serious infestation problem, it won't be long before the traps are full of ants walking on the cardboard trying to eat and party with sugary food, which however is contaminated with boric acid. Know that, however, they will not die right away, but the poison will start working in their bodies. In the meantime, they will return to their nest to bring some new food to their mates, who in turn will ingest the poison.
- If you see ants keep coming and going in the traps, let them move freely. If you kill them they will not be able to bring the poison to the nest and they will not be able to contaminate their mates.
- Usually this method does not eliminate the entire nest, but it drastically reduces it.
Step 4. Replace the traps when the syrup dries
After a few days it will probably be necessary to prepare some fresh traps. Mix a fresh batch of boric acid and spread it on the piece of cardboard along with a sugary substance and place the traps all over the house again.
Step 5. Keep using this method until you realize there are no more ants
After a week or two you should start to notice that the number of insects that come to feed drops dramatically. When you notice dead ants around the trap area and no longer see endless lines of these insects marching into your home, the job is done.
Step 6. Use borax and cornmeal traps to kill the larvae
Worker ants ingest liquid, non-solid substances, but carry the cornmeal powder to their nest to feed the larvae solid food, which in turn converts the food to liquid and feeds the worker ants again. In this way, boric acid completes a complete cycle through several generations of ants.
- Make sure the containers you put the cornmeal and borax on are low enough for the ants to get in and out.
- You can also make a thick dough with cornmeal, borax and a few drops of water to distribute in areas where you often see ants.
Method 3 of 4: Destroy the Nest
Step 1. Follow the ants to locate their nest
If you see them still swarming around the house, despite all your attempts with sprays or traps, you need to hit them at the source: the nest. When you see a trail of ants marching in line, pay attention to their path as much as you can to find the anthill. Depending on the species of ant you are dealing with, the nest can be outdoors, carefully hidden under rocks or hedges, or inside the house.
- Small black ants: it is one of the most classic domestic invasions. These ants walk in long slow lines, allowing anyone who wants to follow their path to find their nest outdoors. Their nests are most often found in sheltered places around the garden.
- Odorous house ants (so defined for the smell of rotten coconut they emit when they are crushed): they build the nest inside the house, in the window frames or in the walls. They can also build it outdoors, in wood piles, under mounds of mulch, under rocks and in other crevices.
- Tetramorium caespitum (pavement ants): they tend to nest in the cracks of sidewalks or private streets. You may not be able to see the nest, as it is often hidden under the cobbles, but you should be able to locate its entrance.
- Fire antsThey don't usually go inside houses, but you may have a nest for them on your property that prevents you from walking around the yard barefoot. Look for a large raised mound made up of sand-like grains.
Step 2. Prepare a pot of boiling water
Fill it halfway or a little more with water and bring it to a high boil over high heat. As soon as the water is boiling, and while it is still boiling, carefully carry the pot to the nest you have located.
Step 3. Pour the water over the nest
Try to pour it right into the entry hole you found. Boiling water kills hundreds of ants on contact alone, plus it destroys the nest. If this is quite large, you can consider spilling more than one pot of water into it.
- If the anthill you want to destroy is inside the house, this may not be the best solution. In this case, instead of boiling water, throw a bowl of soapy water on the nest. You can also put on a pair of long rubber gloves and scrape the nest by putting it in a bucket and then drown the ants.
- If the ants you need to kill are the fire ants, be sure to wear long pants tucked into your socks and long sleeves when you approach the nest. The ants will certainly be bothered by the intervention and could swarm trying to attack you.
Step 4. Check the activity of the ants in the following days
If the boiling water was effective and killed them, your "hunting" days should be over. If you see a small swarm that is making a slow return, do another treatment with boiling water. Sometimes it takes more than one intervention to permanently kill them all.
- If the boiling water method doesn't work, grab a pole and tap it hard in the nest. Move it to create a rather large hole, fill it halfway with baking soda and pour vinegar over it.
- If you are looking to kill fire ants, you can also try the "bucket" method. Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks to protect yourself, take a shovel and shovel the ant mound by placing it in a large bucket previously sprinkled with baking soda, which prevents the ants from getting out quickly. Continue filling the bucket until you have emptied the entire nest. At this point, drown the ants in a mixture of vinegar and water or with boiling water.
Step 5. Plug the entry holes if you can't reach the nest
It is sometimes difficult to access, but more often it is possible to spot the hole from which the ants enter. You can pour boiling water inside, although it is equally effective to simply close the hole. Fill it with stones and sand and sprinkle boric acid all over the area as an additional safety measure. The ants will most likely go to nest elsewhere.
Method 4 of 4: Try Natural Deterrents
Step 1. Create a barrier that the ants cannot cross
There are several natural substances that ants can't stand and they tend to move away from. If you use one of these products to create a barrier all around the windowsills, the perimeter of the house and all the places where the ants tend to enter, you can avoid their invasion. Check every 2-3 days that the barrier is solid and complete, as ants can overcome it if for some reason the line is broken. Listed below are substances that are proven to be effective for this purpose:
- Cinnamon.
- Cayenne pepper.
- Ground orange or lemon peels.
- Coffee grounds.
Step 2. Squeeze some lemon juice along the outer edges of the house
This way you avoid that the inside of the house becomes sticky and the ants will be discouraged from entering due to the strong citrus smell. If necessary, you can also spray (always along the external area of the house) a solution in equal parts of lemon juice and water.
Step 3. Use essential oils to keep ants away
These insects can't stand the smell of a variety of essential oils, many of which smell very pleasant to humans. Add 10 drops of essential oil to a cup of water and spray the solution both inside and out to prevent ants from approaching the house. Here are the main oils you can try:
- Lemon.
- Peppermint.
- Eucalyptus (however, do not spread it near cats, for which it is toxic - but it is not for dogs).
- Lavender.
- Cedar.
Step 4. Keep surfaces clean so ants won't be interested in climbing on them
During the spring months, when their presence is most likely, do everything possible to keep floors, countertops and cabinets clean and free of any kind of residue. This is a great way to keep ants away. If they don't smell food, they're not interested in invading your home.
- Also keep food containers tightly closed. This is even more important for sugar, honey, sweet syrups and all the other foods that ants have a sweet tooth.
- Clean up any stains or spills immediately, especially fruit juices and sugary sodas.
Step 5. Seal the house to prevent them from entering
If you don't provide them with an entrance door, they will be more likely to stay in the outdoor areas. Locate all those little cracks where you think they will go in, like under the door, around the sills, and other little cracks in the foundation. Fill the holes with putty or other sealants to keep the house “airtight”. Spray the areas with a lavender or lemon water solution to add another deterrent.
Advice
- Always check doors and window sills; even a single ant can carry thousands. These insects leave an invisible odor trail that only other ants can smell, so choose specific cleaning products that can eliminate it.
- Ants don't like peppermint toothpaste. Just put a small strip of them in the areas where you notice them and you will see that they will soon go away!
- If you can't bear the idea of killing them, leave a jar of honey on a tree in the garden in early summer. Ants will be happy to stay out of your kitchen.
- The best way to keep them away is to keep the house clean. Clean kitchen countertops often and don't leave crumbs.
- Gypsum and salt are thought to be effective barriers to warding off ants, but many people actually believe they don't work.
- Get some duct tape. When you see an ant, place duct tape over it and use your fingers to squeeze it. The dead ant will remain stuck on the adhesive tape, so the environment will remain clean. Repeat this until the tape is no longer sticky.
- Squeeze the ants with your fingers. Make sure you wash your hands right after, especially since many ants stink.
Warnings
- Remember: ants are an important part of the food chain. Don't try to kill all the ones in your neighborhood, just the ones in your house.
- The ants return, with time; be prepared for the fact that you will have to hunt them again.
- Always keep baits and traps away from children and pets. Place them where only ants can reach them.
