We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. If you still dont see success, you can always try other natural ant killers. Mix equal parts of baking soda and confectioners sugar in a cup. We independently select these productsif you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Its safe for humans to touch and ingest. Some species of ants can cause damage to our homes but most are just obnoxious to have around. Add 30 drops of tea tree oil and 1 tsp of liquid castile soap. You can touch it without experiencing any irritation. In reality, it doesnt happen that violently. This solution may not help long-term, but it will confuse a line of ants that is making its way up your driveway or across your picnic area. Put the baking soda bait as close to those spots as possible if you want it to kill the ants. Instead, its used for destroying nests. Add a few drops daily until the sugar ants are all gone. While its okay for humans, in ants, its deadly. If you dont have baking soda already, a box or two isnt expensive and you can pick up some at any local grocery store. If its through a crack into your kitchen, place the mixture into the crack and around the entrance. That might sound like a negative, but its one of the best things about using baking soda for ants. Once the queen ant is dead, you wont have to deal with any further infestations, (at least not from that colony). You can also consider moving the traps or placing a few more. Baking soda is a chemical base compound, which also goes by the name bicarbonate of soda. Benefits of Using Baking Soda to Kill Ants, Vinegar can be used to repel ants naturally, enough of the natural salt to last us over 2,300 years, Which Ants Bite? There you have it, another reason that baking soda is a miraculous ingredient that helps us around the home in so many ways.And now you know how effective it can be to kill ants quickly, inexpensively, and effectively. If youre dealing with a severe infestation, you might want to know what baking soda brings to the table before you decide to use it. While we dont know that for sure, we do know that it dries out their bodies to kill them. If you dont, take a trip to your local grocery store! Powdered sugar and other attractants will mask its scent, easily fooling ants into eating baking soda. If you dont want to wait or you cant afford to wait, then you might want to try baking soda alternatives. They dont like it and have no interest in eating plain soda, so most will avoid it and move onto something else. This solution is a mixture of natural and not-so-much, as it requires you to use some dish soap, but if you have these ingredients handy (as well as a few days to wait), then youll be set. Finally, most species of ants love sugars, and even those that prefer grease, oils, or fats may harvest your homemade insecticide. Combine cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons of borax, and cup of warm water in a container you dont use for food. 1. The best way to ensure ants inside your home dont make a comeback is to practice good hygiene. Pour mixture into a spray bottle. Holly Riddle is a travel, food and lifestyle writer, and a full-time freelance content creator after several years on editorial staffs for a multitude of publications ranging in topic and audience demographic. When ingested, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and other digestive trouble so be sure to keep kids and pets away from it. Instead, visit your local big-box home improvement store and find some commercial repellents, insecticides, pesticides or bait traps that may be able to take care of your problem. How long are you willing to wait until youre sure all the ants in your home are dead? Learn how it works, how to make your own natural ant killer, and how to use it in our guide. It is one of the most efficient homemade treatment for killing ants. Note: After making three lids of bait and waiting several days, the number of ants in my kitchen reduced dramatically. But when theyre in your kitchen, theyre nothing but a nuisance. Its nice that baking soda is an all-natural insecticide thats safe to use around humans and pets. Related: How to Deal With a Mouse Infestation. .author-date{display:none}.image_wrapper img.scale-with-grid.wp-post-image{width:100%;height:230px !important}.home h2.entry-title{font-size:18px;font-weight:400;line-height:normal}. As mentioned above, the real danger comes from the bacteria that the ants can bring into your home. For example, if ants are using a crack in the wall to access your kitchen, put some baking soda mix at the mouth of the opening. The only downside to using this all-natural and safe method is that it only kills the ants that you directly spray. Without the acid, baking soda will not be able to . You can sometimes hear that people put baking soda in bait stations and traps. Vinegar: Vinegar is another natural ant repellent. Make a strong mixture of salt and water and add it to a spray bottle. Baking soda has a few other uses too. Baking soda takes time to work, but using it to kill ants is actually one of the more consistent extermination methods around. If you have a constant ant problem outside, theres one other thing you can do to keep those infestations at bay. Shake to combine, and spray any visible ants with the solution. The water will flush out the colony and kill the ants. And of those solutions there are plenty of natural ant killers to choose from that are free from toxins that could be risky for your family. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When the ants eat the mixture, they carry it back to their nests, killing the ants within. Giving them this combination will be simply feeding them. If youve tried some of the above natural repellents and ant killers, and youre still not seeing the results youd like, you dont necessarily need to immediately jump to calling a pricey exterminator. Thankfully, its also quite effective at killing ants if used properly. Bait can become stale after a week. Although sugar is a natural ant deterrent, it does not have the properties to outright kill ants. Scout ants can mistake the substance for food and consume some of it to check that its safe. Use a dish soap and water mixture to kill visible ants. It has a bitter and salty taste, but you wont experience any dangerous side effects. Theyre even preferred in some cases as they allow homeowners and exterminators to kill ants passively. Add water as needed to fill the remainder of the bottle. These pests have their own preferences and dietary needs. While baking soda is a great natural ant killer, it's not your only option. So get creative and get rid of those ants once and for all. Mix about a teaspoon of oil with an equal amount of baking soda. The one downside to using tea tree oil is that its not safe for use around pets. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any of the baking soda that you were planning to use for your ant problem, keep a close eye on them. Heres how to mix up the baking soda concoction: If you dont have a shallow container to use, you can sprinkle the mixture directly onto the floor, counter or window sill. Such as making old books smell less musty, being the main component of the black snake firework, as well as being used in whitening toothpaste. But Weitz does not recommend it for indoor use. You might also be interested in:How to Get Rid of Mold [And Identify it]. Weve got answers. There are a few other alternatives to fall back on. One of those remedies to get rid of ants is the use of baking soda. Sure, there are plenty of strong chemical products that can address infestations pretty well, but baking soda offers a few benefits that you cant get anywhere else. Thats not very quick. Have more questions about keeping ants out of your home, whether you use baking soda or any other method? Because the entire concept of killing them with baking soda depends upon the ants being attracted to it. If youre using a powder-based bait or liquid, place it into a shallow container. Natural remedies typically take a little bit longer to work. In general, baking soda is a naturally occurring salt comprised of sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion. Theres a good chance that the insects travel through cracks and voids. Be aware that even though the ingredients are natural and generally safe for people, it could still cause illness if ingested because of the essential oils in it. It can act as a leavening agent in your baked goods, absorb odors from your fridge, and clean surfaces. There are other ways to repel or kill ants in your home without having to buy any insecticide. Borax is also used for cleaning. Zap-A-Roach Boric Acid Roach and Ant Killer. To use baking soda as an insecticide, you need baking soda and confectioners sugar. Does Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs? The point is to have them ingest the product. Most experts agree that ants dont violently explode. This guide will break down how effective it really is, and the best ways to use it. Put some of your baking soda and sugar mixture into an empty soda can and place it outside. You can sprinkle dried bay leaf powder in the garden or outdoors as well and it is easy to see the results almost instantly. But some people swear by the baking soda and traps. Place the can next to the nest and let it do its thing. Procedure. Attach the lid and sprayer and shake vigorously to combine. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! Combine 3 tablespoons of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of borax in a container you dont use for food. Does baking soda kill ants, or is it just a myth? Check back the next day and see how many ants you've killed. Compared to all other ant-killing methods, its probably one of the safest. Like baking soda, its also found in some toothpastes and deodorants and may be used in DIY cleaning solutions. Quick Tip: If youve ever performed the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, you know that the mixture can be devastating. So, the theory is that baking soda will trigger a violent chemical reaction in ants when they ingest it and that it will eventually cause the pests to explode. She currently acts as the editor at large for Global Traveler magazine and is a regular contributor at Trazee Travel, WhereverFamily, TravelMag, CruiseHive and more. Why? So, if youve been noticing more than just a few ants here or there around your home, its worth finding a (safe) way to kill the ants in your home. For ants, though, the altering of their bodies natural chemistry is fatal. Your email address will not be published. Mixing equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar is one way to naturally kill ants with spray, as these two ingredients act like a one-two punch. Is there any truth to this myth? We use this stuff in everything from decadent dessert recipes to cosmetics. The next time you see ants in your home, resist the urge to use those stinky chemicals and spray cans full of pesticide. Sprinkle some on the soil when its dry and leave it for a few hours before you water the plants. Mix the baking soda and corn syrup in a small bowl. Baking soda can be dangerous if your pet consumes a large quantity. Its in most homes already, and many people know people who recommend using it to deal with ant infestations. You can also take advantage of baking soda to deter ants from your domain. Step-3 Use a spoon to spread the mixture over the areas you have found ants in your house. Shake occasionally to ensure the solution is properly combined. Most ant species gravitate towards sweet food items. If youre considering using baking soda for your ant problem, though, youll want to take caution. If someone tossed a little sprinkle of pepper your way, it might make you sneeze a few times, but it otherwise wouldnt be a big issue but just think about how that little sprinkle would look to an ant! The original Windex spray is by far the fastest, easiest, way to kill ants in your house (especially the little red ants). Baking soda is a chemical base compound, which also goes by the name bicarbonate of soda. Was it a success? Do you remember when you mixed baking soda (base compound) with vinegar (acid) and created an eruption of bubbles? When it comes to sugar, its essential that you use powdered sugar (confectioners sugar). These granules of pepper can pose big problems for ant colonies, who find them irritating, just like a human might. Follow these steps to kill ants with baking soda: These simple steps should be enough to fix your ant problem. By the time the first ant to eat it dies, its already spread to other ants! The problem is that it can take days, sometimes even weeks, for it to happen. Therefore, you may not want to overuse it when making your DIY bait stations or ant traps. Baking Soda and Sugar. Baking soda alters your pH balance. While baking soda alone can kill ants, you need to mix it with powdered sugar to make it work. If you have an excess of ants or if theyre protecting aphids, you might want to try DE as a natural ant killer for garden use. While theyre all a nuisance, not every ant acts the same! Again, if you see any entrances to the nest, put a teaspoons worth of mix there too. Bay Leaves. Theyll be attracted to the sweetness and take the food back to the colony not realizing that its poisoned. The bait usually contains a powerful attractant that lures ants to it, making them believe that its food. Baking Soda is a staple found in most of our kitchen pantries, as it is commonly used in day-to-day baking and other home recipes. Just because ants are not attracted to it. Mix equal amounts of the ingredients and sprinkle over ant hills. When used alone, it works better as a repellent to keep ants away from your home. Although baking soda has been proven to be effective on pests, you'll need to know just how to apply it. There are plenty of other DIY ant control methods that you can try at home, including dish soap and water sprays, white vinegar, boric acid traps, baby powder barriers, borax, boiling water, and sticky traps. Not only that, but the acidity of the vinegar will damage the ants exoskeleton. And if you need a natural ant killer outside, DE is safe for your yard as well. Most sprays, made from either synthetic or natural ingredients, should kill ants in a few minutes. Finally, we have the good old baking soda and vinegar trick! Dont have any baking soda on hand or looking for an alternative but still natural way to kill or deter ants? Keep your kitchen counters, windows and floors free of food and crumbs. And well tell you yes, it does. It has to be made into the bait. It can also be used to kill ants. SUGAR & BAKING SODA BAIT. Tea tree is toxic for dogs and cats so avoid using this spray around your pets. Ghostwritten work for travel clients has appeared on Forbes, Bloomberg, Inc. and other top publications. Baking soda is preferred primarily as an all-natural solution that you can safely spread around your property to kill ants. As with boric acid, you can add some diatomaceous earth to your sugar and baking soda recipe to make your insecticide more potent. Powdered sugar is ideal since it has the sweetness that ants like and is the right texture to blend in perfectly. Place that container close to where you see (or have seen) those annoying little ants. No spam ever. A simple and natural carpenter ant bait can be made by mixing equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. You can use just water to kill ants. Quick Tip: On its own, baking soda wont do much to keep ants out. Thats why you should, if you can, locate the nest and sprinkle the solution around that too. Add a little more powdered sugar or peanut butter to disguise the baking soda and attract the ants. Add water as needed to fill the remainder of the bottle. To use it for infestation prevention, you just need some baking soda. Luckily, baking soda is an effective, all-natural ant killer. So dont worry about salt reserves drying up anytime soon. Look around your home and observe the ants carefully. How To Use Baking Soda to Kill Pests - COCKROACHES, BEDBUGS, ANTS, MICE, Etc Natural Health Remedies 724K subscribers 2.3M views 1 year ago https://www.epicnaturalhealth.com/how. Pest control can be a difficult task for gardeners. Whether you keep an immaculate home or tend to be a bit messy, its easy for ants to find their way indoors. Peppermint is often used to deter a range of insects and pests, and it works for ants, too. The best way to kill ants, without damaging yourself or your loved ones with harmful chemicals, is by using a natural ant killer. . You can use baking soda to keep ants out of your home or to kill the ones that have set up on your property. However, youll have to pour the water on each ant mound that you find. | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page. Edible Pudding Slime Only 3 Ingredients! The first thing you should do is choose the right mixture. Because powdered sugar and baking soda have the same look and texture. No spam ever. I used a 3/4 tablespoon of each, and mixed it together directly in the jar lid. Since the goal is to attract ants and drown them in the liquid, an ingredient with repellent properties shouldnt be your first choice. The fewer food sources you provide, the less desirable your home will be to future ants! Youll also find it in some toothpaste recipes. Now that you understand a little more about how baking soda kills ants, lets put that knowledge to use! You can use baking soda with many homemade ant killer solutions. Watch on. Pesticides and toxic bug sprays, on the other hand, can be extremely harmful to little ones. Mix equal parts confectioners sugar and baking soda in a cup. In fact, using baking soda is actually not an effective form of treatment and can even attract more bed bugs with its sweet smell. More of our most popular natural homemade products: Natural Homemade Ant Killer Spray Natural Itch Relief Spray for Bug Bites Author If you have any questions, let us know! Using a spray made from multiple ingredients that are known to be harmful to ants ensures itll be effective. Here in this guide, we will run you through everything you need to know about removing these little critters from your life using this natural ant killer. Do Wasps Eat Mosquitoes? Combine vinegar, dish liquid, and baking soda powder in a large bowl and stir gently. Its also important to understand that most ants will instinctively avoid baking soda. Larger colonies can take up to a week to kill with baking soda. This all has an impact on our carbon footprint. Privacy Policy. After all, we use it in food! Especially when comparing it to the commercial ant pesticides. While most are familiar with natural substances like diatomaceous earth or borax, baking soda is a lesser-known alternative. Now that you no longer need to research the best product for getting rid of those annoying little critters, you can spend more time perfecting the Pink Panther tune to sing when they are gone! It appears to be a very fine powder to us but it has tiny sharp edges to ants and will cut them, dehydrate them, and ultimately kill those affected within a few days. People use it in certain conditions, but we cant say that its as effective as many believe it to be. Since most homeowners dont want to bother with targeting nests, aerosolized spray treatments make the most sense. However, you need to use it properly to see any results. Hoorah! Going right to the source is ideal. You can keep one on hand and immediately spray it on the ants that you can see. Some will even kill on contact. Baking soda is commonly used as an odor absorber and placed under sinks or in a refrigerator or freezer. Baking Soda & Vitamin C Did you know that some ants are naturally attracted to Vitamin C? To prepare this safe and natural mixture, use about two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of peanut butter. Top 5 Things You Can Use to Kill Ants Naturally. Ask us the question, does baking soda kill ants? Yes, baking soda does kill ants, and it is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of getting rid of them once and for all. Luckily, baking soda is an effective, all-natural ant killer. Were happy to say that baking soda does indeed kill ants. These are the ways you can use baking soda to kill ants and how this chemical compound actually works for this purpose. While they look similar, baking soda is about four times stronger than powder and doesnt contain any acids. Bonus Recipe: Baking Soda and Diatomaceous Earth. However, its important to understand how to use it properly if you want to see success. But one cup is more than plenty to spread around for your average ant incomers. Combine baking soda and dry sweetener in equal parts and sprinkle it in a ring around any ant hills youve seen so that the lethal substance is easily accessible for the ants. Lets take a look at the three biggest reasons why: Cheap products being able to get baking soda and confectioners sugar from the grocery store for under a dollar each is super cheap. ReadTerms of Service andPrivacy Policy, Gnat Traps: 17 Ways To Get Rid Of Those Pests, Shiplap: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (Plus 9 Ways To Use It In Your Home), 11 Ways To Stretch Shoes (DIY & Professional Methods), 9 Pizza Ovens To Help You Celebrate National Pizza Day, The Best 50 Gifts For Vegans Plant Powered Finds, How To Monitor Your Psychological State: Mood, Emotions and Thoughts, 6 Reasons You Should Add Cuticle Oil To Your Routine [Plus Our 13 Top Picks]. Another big perk is that its cheap and readily available! Learn more. Sugary Baking Soda or Borax Ant Trap Make your homemade ant trap appealing to sugar ants by using powdered sugar, but mix the sugar with another white powder that's deadly for these pesky critters. Divide the mixture across 4 to 6 disposable plastic container or jar lids. Boric acid isnt a common household product, but some people keep the chemical around as an antiseptic or to make homemade eyewash. Heres how you can use the all-natural compound to tackle your ant problem. A week to kill ants without having to buy any insecticide about keeping ants out of your,. Ant bait can be dangerous if your pet consumes a large bowl stir! Than plenty to spread the mixture over the areas you have found ants in my kitchen dramatically... Soda powder in the garden or outdoors as well understand how to make homemade eyewash chemical! Colonies can take up to a week to kill the ones that set. 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