Ingenious Method to Get Rid of Ants at Your Home
by Dustin on Feb 17, 2019
Have you ever walked into the kitchen in the morning to go rinse off some dishes and spotted ants? Or maybe you've been showering and noticed those pesky guys down around the drain? Whatever the case, you are usually not very excited to know that your home has acquired some new friends. The question remains, how to get rid of these guys? The answer is actually much more simple than you think.
Before we straight into the method that you need to be using let's first discuss things that you are probably trying or have tried and that did not work. Most people see ants, they immediately run to the big box store, grab the biggest can of Ant Killer Spray they can find, bring it home and they turn into a pest control specialist. Unfortunately, the ants are only temporarily slowed down, as hours later a whole new crew of worker ants are coming back into your home. But why? It's because you aren't going to the source of the issue. In order to get rid of ants completely, you must kill the queen. How do we kill the queen? You definitely don't kill the queen by spraying her worker ants with Raid or whatever else you think works. In order to kill the entire army you have to send those worker ants back into the anthill with poison for the queen, and that is what we are here to talk about today.
Most common ants that will be coming into your home will be attracted to something sweet, like sugar. But sugar itself is not poisonous, however, the ants will take sugar back to the queen for her to eat, so the question becomes how do we lace the sugar with poison? You do this with a laundry detergent booster, otherwise known as Borax. When consumed by ants, Borax expands inside the body killing them. When the ants take the sugar laced with Borax back to the queen, she has her delicious sugary meal, and the next day you no longer have an ant issue. Once the queen is dead, the workers no longer come back into your home which means you can get back to enjoying your lovely home, ant-free. So here is exactly how we handle the situation.
You will need maple syrup, powdered sugar, borax, and mixing bowls. You will want one bowl for the maple syrup and borax mixture, and another bowl for the powdered sugar and borax mixture. With both mixtures you will want to mix them at a 2:1 ratio, meaning 2 parts sugar, 1 part borax. 3:1 is the highest you'll want to go. Once you have your mixtures combined now you will want to spread them along entry points outside the house where you think they might be coming in. Around window sills, doorways, along the brick on the outside, and you will also want a paper plate to place next to your bathroom or kitchen sink, whichever place has the worst problem. After that, all you have to do is wait. The ants will come take the tasty goodness back to their mound, and the queen will have her last supper and you will no longer have an ant problem.
Next time you are faced with an ant problem, save the money on a bottle of raid that wont work, and instead look to the cabinets for things you likely already have sitting around the house. You might need be a professional exterminator, however you will definitely feel like one once you eradicate that farm of ants living underground in your back yard.
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
93652 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
73765 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
71526 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
52259 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
30384 Views
Latest Articles
Troubleshooting Excess Water in Your HVAC Secondary Condensate Drain Pan
When maintaining your air conditioning system, it is easy to overlook the condensate drain pan - until excess water starts pooling in places where...
on Jan 12, 2025
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): A Beginners Guide
By combining the advantages of stock market and real estate investing, Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, offer an alluring investment...
on Dec 19, 2024
Global Real Estate Trends: What’s Driving Property Investments This Year?
For investors hoping to optimize returns in the ever-changing world of real estate, knowing current trends is not merely a matter of staying...
on Dec 19, 2024
5 Reasons to Use Gutter Cleaning Services
Gutters protect your home from water damage by directing rainwater away from your roof, walls, and foundation. However, they often required regular...
on Nov 14, 2024
Before You Sign: How Home Inspections Identify Hidden Hazards in Your Future Home
Buying a home is exciting, but hidden dangers can turn that dream into a nightmare if not addressed early on. Beyond what is visible during a...
on Oct 18, 2024
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 263
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 240
- Real Estate / Finance — 202
- Appliance / Repair — 186
- Interior Design / Decor — 184
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 148
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 144
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 116
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 113
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
How to Select a and Enhance Your Bathroom’s Style
A heated towel rail is the best way to get a luxurious accessory that will upgrade your bathroom. It’s a sure way of having warm and dry towels at...
DIY Home Security Systems: The Basics You Need to Know
There are countless home security systems on the market today, which means choosing the right security system for your home can be a challenging...
Why Front Load Washers are More Energy Efficient
Front load washers are much more energy efficient than vertical washers, which makes them much more environmentally friendly to use. This can be a...
Saving Money with French Door Refrigerators
French door refrigerators offer stylish and convenient options that fit in perfectly with modern kitchen organization. With finishes ranging from...
3 Reasons You Should Consider Tree Removal for Your Property, and Reasons You Should Not
Deciding on a tree removal isn’t always an easy process, as trees beautify a property and create a charming, welcoming look outside a home....