Effective Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ants

Ants can be an unwelcome guest in our homes, especially during warmer months when they're actively foraging for food. If you’ve noticed these tiny invaders trailing through your kitchen or pantry, it’s time to take action. While there are numerous commercial ant repellents available, you can also use simple, natural ingredients to create effective ant baits at home. In this blog, we'll explore two proven recipes that can help you tackle an ant problem without harsh chemicals.

Recipe 1: Sugar-Borax Solution
One of the most effective homemade ant baits involves a mixture of sugar and borax. Borax (sodium borate) is a natural mineral that is toxic to ants but relatively safe for humans and pets when used properly.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of sugar
1.5 tablespoons of borax
1.5 cups of warm water
Instructions:
Mix the Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, borax, and warm water. Stir the mixture until the sugar and borax are completely dissolved. The warm water helps the sugar and borax dissolve more easily, creating a uniform solution.

Prepare the Bait: Pour the solution into small containers or soak cotton balls in the mixture. These will serve as your ant bait traps.

Place the Traps: Place the baited containers or cotton balls near ant trails, entry points, or areas where you’ve seen the most ant activity. Ants are attracted to the sugar and will carry the borax-laden bait back to their colony.

Monitor and Replenish: Check the bait stations regularly and replenish the mixture as needed. It might take a few days to see a significant reduction in the ant population.

Recipe 2: Sugar-Borax Ratio Mix
Another effective ant bait recipe uses a simple ratio of sugar to borax. This method is flexible and can be adjusted based on the severity of the infestation.

Ingredients:
3 parts sugar
1 part borax
Instructions:
Mix the Ingredients: In a small container, mix three parts sugar with one part borax. For example, if you use 3 tablespoons of sugar, you should mix it with 1 tablespoon of borax.

Create the Bait: Sprinkle this dry mixture directly along ant trails or near their entry points. Alternatively, you can dissolve the mixture in water to create a liquid bait similar to the first recipe.

Place the Bait: If using the dry mixture, spread it lightly in areas where you’ve observed ants. If using the liquid version, follow the same steps as in Recipe 1 to prepare bait stations.

Monitor and Adjust: Keep an eye on the bait stations and trails. Adjust the placement as needed to ensure the ants are finding and consuming the bait.

Tips for Success

1. Keep it Safe: While borax is less toxic than many commercial pesticides, it’s still important to keep it out of reach of children and pets. Place bait stations in areas where they won’t be disturbed.

2. Be Patient: Ant colonies can be large, and it may take a few days to a couple of weeks to see a significant decrease in ant activity.

3. Clean Up: Ensure that your home, particularly the kitchen, is clean and free of food debris. This will make the bait more attractive to the ants.

4. Seal Entry Points: Once you’ve dealt with the ant infestation, take steps to seal any cracks or openings in your home to prevent future invasions.

By using these simple, homemade ant baits, you can effectively reduce and eliminate ant colonies in your home. These methods are not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly, allowing you to manage pests without resorting to harsh chemicals. 

For questions about real estate, contact Ed Black today at (403) 830-8510.

Ed Black
REALTOR®

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