Ants can breed rapidly, which means a small ant problem can escalate quickly into an infestation if not addressed. Professional pest control services can be expensive and may also need toxic chemicals.
So, whether you dislike using chemicals or don’t have a budget for it, you can always go the DIY route if you want.
What is the best DIY ant killer? There are many ant killers DIY today, and some of them are:
- Dish soap and water mixture—This is one of the most effective ways to kill ants. Just mix dish soap or dishwashing liquid and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Once done, shake it lightly and spray it on the ants.
- Water and white vinegar mixture—Mix vinegar and water at the same ratio into a clean spray bottle and mix it well. After that, spray the solution directly into the ants and their entry points.
This article will show you different ways to deal with your ant problems through various DIY solutions. Furthermore, we will also guide you through making your own ant poison.
Table of Contents
What Kills Ants Instantly Naturally?
Below are some of the best natural treatments you can try to get rid of the ants invading your space.
Mint
Mint has a pleasant minty scent to humans, but not for ants. Ants find mint to be strong scented and steer away from them as much as possible.
Plant mint around your home to repel ants and other insects, such as bugs. You can also use the essential peppermint oil as a natural way to manage ants.
To use: Put a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and leave them on areas where you frequently see ants.
Vinegar
Vinegar has a repulsive scent to ants, making them run away when they sense it. To use:
- Blend a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar in a clean spray bottle.
- Once done, spray it straight to the ants or around your window sills and affected places to eliminate them effectively.
Lemon Juice
Like vinegar, lemon juice scent also erases trails that ants follow to get their food. Furthermore, its acidic smell deters ants from visiting your place more often.
To use: Mix 3 parts of water and one part lemon juice, mix well, and spray it on affected areas. Moreover, spatter some it to entryways and around your property area to prevent ants from coming again.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another good option for killing ants. Cinnamon can suffocate ants when they inhale it, causing them to die.
To use:
- If you opt to use ground cinnamon, sprinkle it directly on the ants’ path or around the anthill entrance.
- If you’re using the cinnamon essential oil to get rid of ants, mix water with a few drops of cinnamon oil and spray it on ant trails, windows, cracks, and around doors.
Cayenne Pepper or Black Pepper
Ants both hate black pepper and cayenne pepper since they find the spices’ scent irritating. To use:
- Locate first the source of ant infestation.
- Once found, sprinkle a generous amount of pepper around the area. Although this won’t necessarily kill the ants, it will discourage them from returning.
Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth can break down the insects’ exoskeleton, including ants. DE powder is fossilized marine phytoplankton remains that can dry out the ant’s body.
To use:
- Sprinkle a thin coating of DE gently on windowsills, under cabinets, beneath the fridge, in and around garbage bins, and any other areas where you notice ant activities.
- Repeat daily until all the ants are gone.
What Food Kills Ants Instantly?
Several foods in the market can kill ants instantly, and some of them are the following:
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a versatile kitchen ingredient used in cooking various food. However, it’s more than that—it is also a natural solution for ant infestation.
To use:
- Sprinkle a bit of sugar into the baking soda.
- After that, spread the mixture in the affected areas to eliminate these nuisances in your property.
The sugar encourages the ants to taste the sugar-baking soda mix. Meanwhile, baking soda troubles the ant’s digestive system, causing them to die.
Salt
If you’re looking for a cheap and quick way to kill ants and stop their annoying line away from your goodies, salt accomplishes this effectively. Salt dries them out, killing them eventually.
To use: Sprinkle a generous amount of salt into the affected area and reapply until ants are all gone.
Bay Leaves
Bay leaves may appear innocuous, but they can kill ants almost when powdered up.
To use: Sprinkle the grounded dried bay leaves in the affected areas and wait for the result.
Coffee Grounds
Ants dislike the scent of coffee. Hence, this is a natural deterrent for ants that can also remove their chemical contact trail.
To use: Sprinkle coffee grounds to the areas where you frequently see ants. Reapply as needed until ants are gone.
How Do You Make Ant Poison at Home?
If you want to make a DIY poison at home, you may consider the following:
Dish Soap and Water
Dish soap and water is one of the most common and effective DIY methods to kill ants.
To make:
- Fill a clean spray bottle with two portions of water and one portion of dish soap.
- After that, shake the mixture well and spray it directly on the ants.
The mixture will adhere to the ants, suffocating the ants to death. You can also spray the solution to kill ants thriving on your plants.
Sugar and Borax Paste
Borax is an effective ant killer as it holds an active ingredient that inhibits the ants’ digestive systems, which kills them eventually within 24 to 48 hours after ingesting.
To make:
- Make a paste from sugar and borax by mixing 1 1/2 tbsp of borax, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1.5 cups of warm water.
- Soak several cotton balls into the mixture, and place them near ant mounds or where you often see these pests.
The sugar draws the ants, while the borax kills them one to two days after consumption. This method can destroy the whole colony as the ants can take the sweet paste to their queen, the one known to deliver more ants.
Water and White Vinegar
Vinegar is known as one of the well-known insect killers and deterrents, including ants.
To make:
- Get a clean spray bottle and fill it with equal parts of water and vinegar.
- Once done, shake the solution well and spray the solution directly to the ants and their access points.
What Is the Best DIY Ant Killer?
Some of the best DIY ant killers, such as traps, involve two primary components—one that attracts the ants and one that kills.
With that in mind, here are some ant traps that you can make at home:
1. Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar Combo
This combo is similar to the boric acid trap. To make, combine the baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, powdered sugar, water and leave it in areas where you often see ants.
2. Boric Acid and Powdered Sugar Mixture
Another combination that you can use is boric acid and sugar. You can make this combo by combining one part of boric acid and three parts of sugar.
The sugar will draw the ants in, and the boric acid will annihilate them.
Note: While boric acid is not a traditional pesticide, it can potentially be dangerous for pets and kids when ingested. So, make sure to put it out the reach of kids and pets.
What Is the Strongest Ant Killer?
If you’re looking for some of the strongest ant killers in the market today, you may try out the following:
Terro’s T300 Liquid Ant Baits
This ant bait killer has an active ingredient—borax, which is proven successful against ants. This item is not as harmful to pets and humans as other pesticides in the market.
This bait is sweet, luring ants into the clear plastic bait station where you can monitor the ant activity easily. For the direction of use, refer to the label’s instructions.
Terro T334 Multi-Surface Liquid Ant Baits
Another effective ant killer available in the market today is the Terro T334. This item contains aesthetically pleasing ant-killing stations.
The item’s shape is designed to blend with the surroundings to lure ants into the trap easily. This also comes with little adhesive strips to mount the bait on a vertical surface.
This attribute gives users more choices for placement and can help keep the bait station out from the kid’s little curious hands or pet’s paws. However, this comes with a downside.
The item is opaque, which makes it impossible to monitor. In addition, it’s also more expensive than the T300. For the correct usage, read the manufacturer’s label thoroughly.
Syngenta’s Advion Fire Ant Bait
Syngenta’s Advion is a granular bait that contains indoxacarb — a fast-acting and effective element for fire ant control. You can treat each mound with only a few tablespoons of Advion or sprinkle it over your yard.
One container is enough for an acre of land. For the best result, read the label for proper usage.
How Do You Use Borax as an Ant Killer?
To eradicate ants using borax, consider doing the following steps:
- Mix borax and sugar in a large container.
- Then, pour in some warm water and stir until the borax and sugar are dissolved.
- After that, soak several cotton balls in the borax mixture and put the soaked cotton balls in areas where you often see ants.
How Does Baking Soda Get Rid of Ants?
Ants die when they ingest baking soda since it parches them out when it advances on their stomachs. This is a cheap, non-toxic, and effective solution to get rid of ants, not to mention that it’s also very easy to make.
All you have to do is mix the two ingredients. After that, leave it near the affected areas.
What Happens When Ants Eat Baking Soda?
When ants ingest baking soda, it can dry their bodies out from within. This transpires very quickly, killing ants within a few minutes from ingestion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Get Rid of Ants Overnight?
To get rid of ants overnight, you may use the following natural ingredients:
- Cinnamon—Make a line using this, and ants won’t cross it due to its scent.
- Vinegar—This is an effective ant killer and very simple to use. All you have to do is get a clean spray bottle, fill it with vinegar and a portion of water, then spray it directly on ants.
- Salt—This kitchen item can kill ants. Just boil water with salt into a mixture and let it cool. After that, pour the solution into a spray bottle and splash it to affected areas.
- Lemon Juice-Slice one lemon and use half of it to make a lemon juice. Add half water into the juice and spray it around your home. Reapply as needed.
Although natural remedies can be a good option to start, the best way to get rid of a massive ant infestation is by calling a pest control professional. So, if you have a larger ant infestation issue, it’s best to hire pest control services to solve the ant problem for you.
What Do Ants Hate Most?
There are many things that ants hate the most, and some of them are baking soda, pepper, vinegar, and detergents. These items deter and kill ants once they come in contact with the ant’s exoskeleton.
Why Are Ants Afraid of Baby Powder?
Baby powder holds a large portion of talc, an instrumental agent for absorbing moisture. Talc is a well-known killing element for ants, so ants are bound to escape from the mere smell of it.
What Smell Do Ants Hate?
There are many scents that ants can’t tolerate, and some of them are:
- Cinnamon
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Garlic
These are only some of the fragrances known to repulse ants, which can be used to your advantage.
Summary
The tips found in this article can help repel and kill ants within your property. However, as a homeowner, you must ensure that there’s nothing in your place that keeps on attracting ants, such as food crumbs and spills.
If the DIY solution doesn’t work for you, you can always reach out to a local pest control professional to deal with the issue.
Related: How to Get Rid of Ants in Carpet? | All You Need to Know!