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Learn to make a safe, low-cost, and effective ant killer at home
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If you’re looking to get rid of ants without using store-bought pesticides, borax is a cheap and effective solution. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make a borax and sugar ant killer at home so you can eliminate the entire colony. We also interviewed pest control specialist Kevin Carrillo to find out the best ways to kill ants and prevent them from returning.
Using Borax and Sugar to Kill Ants
Mix ½ cup of sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons of borax, and 1 ½ cups of warm water in a jar until it becomes a paste. Soak cotton balls in the borax and sugar mixture, then place the cotton balls around areas you see ants. Alternatively, mix 3 parts sugar and one part borax together, and sprinkle it around potential entryways.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Killing Ants Using Borax and Sugar Water
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Mix sugar, borax, and warm water in a jar until thoroughly combined. Pour ½ cup (100 g) of sugar and 1 ½ tablespoons (38 g) of borax into a jar, then slowly stir in 1 ½ cups (350 mL) of warm water. [1] X Research source Mix until the sugar and borax are completely dissolved and the mixture becomes a paste-like consistency. [2] X Research source
- The water can be any temperature, but warm water helps the sugar and borax dissolve better.
- Alternatively, mix 3 parts sugar and one part borax together, then sprinkle the powder across your doorway and window ledges. Carrillo says to “use a duster
to apply a thin layer,” or the ants will avoid it. [3]
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Expert Source
Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
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Soak cotton balls in the borax sugar water solution. Place a couple of cotton balls in the jar and wait until they’re completely saturated in solution. How many cotton balls you need depends on how bad your ant infestation is. If you have a small infestation, start off with 4 cotton balls to test where the ants are coming from. [4] X Research source
- If you have any of the solution left over, save it for later use by putting the lid back on the jar and storing it in a cool, dry place.
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Set the soaked cotton balls where you see ants. If possible, place the cotton balls along ant trails, which are invisible pheromone trails ants create to guide other ants to food. [5] X Research source The best way to locate these trails is to see if there’s a trail of ants anywhere. Check the cotton balls after a few hours to see if the ants begin swarming and taking the bait back to the colony. You can then determine exactly where they’re coming from! [6] X Research source
- If the ants are entering your house through your windows and doors, place the cotton balls across your doorway and window ledges.
- If you don't want your floor or window ledges to get dirty, place the cotton ball on a shallow dish, index card, or lid. Just make sure you don’t use the dish or lid for food purposes again—borax is toxic to humans and pets!
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Change the bait every 2-3 days and seal entryways into your home. Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks and crevices in your home, and replace your old bait with fresh bait to eliminate the entire ant colony. If you notice the ants are entering through the gaps around your doors, put weather stripping up. [7] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow long does it take for borax to kill ants?Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.Ants will try to dig a separate tunnel to escape, but the borax will probably kill around 100 within 24 hours.
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Tips
- Borax is a mineral made of sodium, oxygen, and boron, while boric acid is a refined form of borax that consists of other minerals like boracite and colemanite. Both are commonly used as pesticides. [20] X Trustworthy Source National Pesticide Information Center Organization run by Oregon State University providing objective, science-based information about pests and pesticides Go to sourceThanks
- According to Chris Parker, Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, you can “trim the trees and bushes away from [your] home” and “remove any debris and vegetation around your house…to deter as much [ant] activity as possible.” [21] X Expert Source Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control Expert Interview. 3 April 2024.Thanks
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Warnings
- Borax is toxic to humans and animals. [22] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source If you have any borax ant killer left over, put it in a tightly-sealed container and label it. Make sure you put it in a place where children and pets won't be able to reach it.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.thepestinformer.com/pest-guides/ants/how-to-get-rid-of-ants-with-borax/
- ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/kill-ants-with-borax
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://wingingitonthehomestead.com/easy-homemade-ant-killer/
- ↑ https://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu/newtp1.htm
- ↑ https://wingingitonthehomestead.com/easy-homemade-ant-killer/
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/pavement-ants
- ↑ https://pestagent.ca/ant/using-borax
- ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/does-borax-kill-ants/
- ↑ https://pestagent.ca/ant/using-borax
- ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/does-borax-kill-ants/
- ↑ https://pestagent.ca/ant/using-borax
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-ants-in-the-house-a3627053544/
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.prokill.co.uk/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-ants-permanently/
- ↑ https://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0714/ijsrp-p31106.pdf
- ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/what-is-diatomaceous-earth-and-how-can-it-be-used-for-ants/
- ↑ https://staysafe.org/pest-control/what-kills-ants/
- ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/boricgen.html
- ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 3 April 2024.
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2776007/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To kill ants using borax, mix sugar and borax in a large jar, then pour in warm water and stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved. Soak several cotton balls in the borax solution, then set the cotton balls near where you’ve been seeing the ants. The sugar will attract the ants, and the borax will kill them. For tips on using borax to kill the entire colony, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I did this last night. I could follow the trail of ants through the living room to the kitchen. And there were many. Single file. Fascinating to watch but had to get rid of them. I put a small cotton ball soaked in the mixture last night on the kitchen counter. Not a single ant anywhere to be seen in the morning. The single file trail gone. Kitchen devoid of them. I was skeptical but I am oh so happy. No poisonous insecticide to be sprayed. Dog safe. Thank you. " ..." more
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"I did this last night. I could follow the trail of ants through the living room to the kitchen. And there were many. Single file. Fascinating to watch but had to get rid of them. I put a small cotton ball soaked in the mixture last night on the kitchen counter. Not a single ant anywhere to be seen in the morning. The single file trail gone. Kitchen devoid of them. I was skeptical but I am oh so happy. No poisonous insecticide to be sprayed. Dog safe. Thank you. "
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"My best friend asked me how to get rid of ants. We are both in our 70s & I used to be able to just answer without thinking. But years have passed and I had to have help remembering. I thought it was Borax but not sure. So thank you for all this information which helped me to remember. I learned some new information as well."
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"I knew that borax would kill ants. My mother used it but I never asked for the recipe/method. This article was exactly what I needed. I ordered a large amount of borax, and have shared with all my neighbors. We are all grateful. Thank you!"
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"I used both methods last evening. Loads of ants immediately swarmed the cotton pads. Yuck! Since there were so many, I also sprinkled some powder in the area and sprayed the perimeter with vinegar. All but a few were gone by this morning."
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"I have tiny black ants living in the walls of my ground-level house. They use the inside of walls/floor as their rubbish tip. Nothing has worked and I didn't know how to use borax, but I do now!"
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