How to Kill Ants?

These yellow, black or brown tiny creatures known as ants have so much power that they can ruin your favorite food, damage your building material or can make your skin itchy and red by their sting. Sometimes their large number is enough to make you feel scary. This is a common problem in every home. In this article, you will come across some natural ways to kill ants.

Types of Ants:

Fire Ants: These are red colored ants causing a painful sting. Generally, people avoid touching it. These are 1.6 to 5 mm in length.

Carpenter Ants: These ants are generally red or black in color with a length of 6 to 12 mm. These are well known for damaging your building material. These are one of the largest types of ant species.

Pavement Ants: These are generally black or brown in color and is attracted to sugary foods. They are smaller than carpenter ants with a length of 2.5 mm. You can also find them on greasy foods and seeds.

Odorous House Ants: These ants are also black or brown in color with a very small length of 3.3 mm. You will be able to spot these ants on sweet items.

Causes of Ant Infestation:

• There are small holes or gaps in your house from where the ants enter. Sometimes there are also cracks in the walls.
• The scent of the food can just gather a lot of ants. So make sure that you keep your kitchen and home clean.
• If there is a plant near your house then it can act as a perfect bridge for the ant to enter.
• If you have left the food open or small crumbs are lying on the ground, then it can cause ant infestation.

Natural Ways to Kill Ants:

1. Lemon to Get Rid of Ants:

Ants are generally attracted by the scent of the food. The smell and acid of lemon juice disrupt the scent trails. This will keep the ants away.

How to Use:

• Rub some lemon juice on the areas from where the ants can enter.
• You can also spread lemon peels on the windows and doors from where the ants can enter.
• Do this 3 to 4 times a day to see the difference.

2. White Vinegar to Kill Ants:

The strong smell of white vinegar is unbearable for the ants. This smell masks their scent trails and they lose direction.

How to Use:

• Take a bowl and add water.
• Add an equal amount of white vinegar.
• Add a few drops of essential oil.
• Fill the liquid in a spray bottle.
• Spray the solution all over the house, especially in areas where ant infestation is more.
• After a few hours wipe off the dead ants.
• Repeat the process daily until all the ants are cleared.

3. Peppermint Spray to Kill Ants:

Peppermint acts as a natural repellent of ants. The strong smell of peppermint damages the smelling capabilities of ants and hence they are not able to find food.

How to use:

• Fill a spray bottle with distilled water.
• Add two tablespoons of witch hazel and 10 drops of peppermint oil.
• Spray it on the ant infested areas and places from where the ants are likely to come.
• Do this daily for encouraging results.

4. Borax to Kill Ants:

It is a natural remedy to kill the entire colony of ants. The toxicity of borax attracts the end and ultimately kills them.

How to Use:

Follow the steps given below:

Method 1:

Follow the steps given below:

• Take a plate and add 3 teaspoons of sugar.
• Add one teaspoon of borax.
• Add a little water to form a syrup.
• Keep the plate in the infested area.

Method 2:

Follow the steps given below:

• Mix equal amounts of borax and cornmeal.
• Add a little water to make a paste.
• Spread the paste in areas where you have ants.
• You can also mix borax with food jelly.

5. Cinnamon to Keep the Ants Away:

This is one of the natural remedies to kill ants. The smell of cinnamon is unbearable for the ant. When an ant inhales cinnamon it gets suffocated and dies.

How to Use:

• Take a cup of water.
• Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon oil.
• Soak a cloth in the solution.
• Wipe the ant infested areas.
• Do this daily to get rid of ants completely.

6. Soapy Water to Kill Ants:

This is a very simple method to kill ants by suffocating them. It requires only a tub of water and soap.

How to use:

• Fill a container with water.
• Add a good dish soap.
• Pour the solution over the ant infested area.
• Wipe away the dead ants with a cloth.
• Repeat this until all the ants are killed.

7. Find Out the Ants Nest:

This method is a little time consuming but will surely help you to get rid of ants.

Instructions:

• Find out the hole, gap or crack from where the ants are coming.
• Boil a cup of water and pour it in the hole.
• You can also close that hole using plaster.
• For the next few days keep checking if the ants are coming or not.

8. Baking Soda to Kill Ants:

It acts as a non-toxic pesticide for ants. When ants eat baking soda the acidic substance present in ants react with baking soda which kills them. The benefit of this is that ants carry food to their nest. So maybe you will be successful in killing a large portion of ants. It is also 100% safe and effective method.

How to Use:

• Mix equal amounts of baking soda and sugar.
• We are using sugar to attract ants.
• Keep the paste in ant infested areas.
• Do this daily until all the ants are killed.

9. Talcum Powder to Keep the Ants Away:

This is an effective method to stop ants from entering the house.

How to Use:

• Find the place from where the ants are entering.
• Draw a line using talcum powder. The ants will not be able to cross the border and will stay away.
• You can also sprinkle some talcum powder on the ant infested areas.

10. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth to Kill Ants:

This is an effective insecticide to kill ants. It is composed of the remains of marine phytoplanktons. The sharp edges of diatomaceous earth cut the exoskeleton of the ants and gradually dries out their body.

How to Use:

• Sprinkle this powder in the ant infested areas.
• Repeat this daily until all the ants are killed.

11. Tea Tree Oil to Get Rid of Ants:

The antiseptic and disinfectant properties of tree tea oil make it a good option to kill ants.

How to Use:

• Take tea tree oil in a bowl.
• Soak a cloth in this oil.
• Wipe the ant infested areas like windows, baseboards, and other entry points.
• Repeat the process several times a week.

12. Homemade Spray to Kill Ants:

Follow the steps given below:

Method of Preparation:

• Fill a spray bottle with purified water.
• Add ¼ cup of vodka and 8 drops of citrus essential oil.
• Add equal drops of peppermint oil and tea tree oil.
• Spray the solution on the entry points of ants.

Note: If you are using the spray on food surfaces, then only use peppermint oil.

13. Black Pepper to Get Rid of Ants:

This luxurious spice is found in every kitchen. The capsaicin present in black pepper irritates the mucus membrane and kill the ants. You can also use cayenne pepper instead of black pepper.

How to Use:

• Fill a spray bottle with pepper.
• Add black pepper to it.
• Spray the solution on the ants.
• You can directly put some black pepper on the ant’s hole.

14. Boiling Water to Kill Ants:

Follow the steps given below:

How to Use:

• Boil a pot of water.
• Add some cayenne pepper to it.
• Pour the water on the ant’s hole.

15. Cucumber Peels to Repel Ants:

Cucumber peels is very toxic for the ants and can kill them. Try this one of the amazing remedies to repel ants easily.

How to Use:

• Grate the peels in a blender.
• Add a little water.
• Pour this juice on the long trails of ants.

Tips to Prevent Ant Infestations:

• Keep sugary foods in an airtight container.
• Maintain the cleanliness of your kitchen. Not only the slab, but also the sink.
• Wipe your house daily using a good disinfectant.
• Use a covered dustbin and clean it every day.
• Don’t litter the food crumbs on the floor.
• Keep your home dry and moisture free.