Does Baking Soda Kill Ants?
Everyone has a tip or trick to help you get rid of ants. Some of them are helpful, and other hacks are a waste of time and money. Ants are a serious problem in the spring and summer, but is there a safe way to eliminate them without pesticides? Baking soda is one solution many folks run to in an attempt to kill ants, but does it really work?
Kill Ants With A Baking Soda Solution
Baking soda can help control ant populations, but it’s not a quick or guaranteed solution. Anything acidic the baking soda encounters will react. Have you ever tried mixing soda and vinegar to clean drains?
The foaming action does all the work and eliminates anything in its path. Inside the ant’s digestive system, a similar chemical reaction occurs. Baking soda and acid create dangerous carbon dioxide gases. So, when the ant consumes the baking soda, it reacts to the acids in its stomach, making this lethal pressure that will kill it.
Another thing that baking soda can do is to aid in drying out the exoskeletons of ants and any other insects. Since it’s a desiccant or hygroscopic substance, it will absorb all the moisture in their bodies. It’s a slow death, but it’s still a way to kill ants. Though it works better on soft-bodied insects like slugs and snails, it will work on ants, too.
Mixing baking soda and sugar to make a liquid paste is one of the most popular tricks. Ants are drawn to the sweetness of the sugar, and once they take a bite, it’s only a matter of time before they perish. Remember, ants are very social creatures, sharing the food they find with others in their colony.
So, they find the mixture of baking soda and sugar, indulge themselves, and take some back for the rest of their family members to enjoy. It causes widespread death in the colony by dehydration and making their insides explode.
The best part about using baking soda as a pest control method is that it’s not toxic to humans or pets. So, it won’t hurt your child or fur baby if they get it on their hands/paws or in their mouth. Many folks seek holistic ways to control ants, and baking soda is cheap and effective.
While you’ll likely see some results from this method, it may not be enough. It depends on many factors, such as:
- The amount of food taken back to the colony
- How large the nest
- How many of the ants eat the mixture
If the worker ant only brings back enough for 2-3 ants to feed, it will just put a small dent in your problem. However, if many ants feed on this toxic mixture and return it to the nest, it will have a more significant impact.
11 Household Items Great for Pest Control
Using chemical-free pest control methods is becoming more appealing. Here are some popular choices that may help reduce or completely eliminate an ant invasion.
1. Borax and Sugar, Kill Ants From Inside
Another method that’s very similar to the baking soda mixture is borax and sugar. The key is to make bait so the ants can return to the others in their colony. Borax is poisonous, and will kill ants once it is in their digestive system. Many folks think that borax and baking soda are the same or similar, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Borax is a substance with a higher level of alkalinity than baking soda. Additionally, borax comes naturally from the earth, while baking soda is created using sodium chloride and ammonia. To make bait utilizing this product, combine two tablespoons of sugar with two tablespoons of borax and add water to turn it into a liquid.
Use a disposable container to put the mixture near entry points and other hot spots. Ants can’t resist sweets, and their sweet tooth will ultimately be their demise.
2. Vinegar Spray, Throw Them Off The Trail
Vinegar has a potent smell, and ants can’t stand it as it masks the pheromones or chemical substances it releases. Ants must be able to communicate with one another for survival, and they use pheromones to do it. An eco-friendly option is to mix two cups of vinegar with two cups of warm water in a spray bottle and shake well.
Ants usually travel in a line as they follow these chemical trails. Spraying this vinegar mixture all along their trails throws them off course. Vinegar is affordable, and spraying it on entryways and commonly used trails is effective. The good news is that the smell becomes undetectable to you, but it destroys all the work the ants did to help their colony.
3. Salt, A Cheap Way To Kill
Of all the existing methods to kill ants, nothing is cheaper than salt. Salt can help with many insects and bugs because it dries out their exoskeleton. Additionally, ants don’t like anything on their legs or the abrasive nature of salt, so they will avoid it.
If you don’t want a salt line around your home, you can create a spray, just like with vinegar. The saltwater solution should be potent, so mix two tablespoons with every cup of warm water. Spray the solution around entryways and anywhere you’ve seen them frequently. Salt helps to disrupt ants’ chemical trails, and it’s a practical option that’s safe and frugal.
4. Cucumber Peels, Ants Hate The Smell
While there’s nothing like a fresh slice of cucumber on your salad, the ants don’t feel the same about this vegetable. Cucumbers have a strong odor, so placing the peels around where ants enter or trail in your home can help keep them away.
Why do ants hate this veggie so much? It’s the bitter taste and pungent odor that deters them. Place some peels near your entry points, and they won’t come near your home. This is another way to recycle kitchen scraps and create a non-toxic, eco-friendly pest control open.
5. Chalk, They Can’t Cross
While the days of writing on chalkboards are over, chalk still has a purpose. Did you know that ants can’t stand chalk, as it makes it hard for them to navigate? It’s just another item that interferes with their scent trails.
Draw a chalk line along doorways, windowsills, and other areas where ants enter. The ants will be reluctant to cross the line, helping to keep them out of your home. This method is safe, non-toxic, and easy to apply, giving a simple yet effective way to manage your ant problems.
6. Diatomaceous Earth, Every Home Should Have It
Diatomaceous earth is one product that no household should be without. It comes in food and non-food-grade options. Did you know that some people take this stuff because of the high silica content to help them with GERD, high cholesterol, and constipation? It’s a detoxification agent that has proven benefits. In the pest control world, there’s nothing quite like it.
While DE looks like a fine powder that’s harmless to humans, to an insect, it’s deadly. This natural product is made from diatoms. If you have no clue what diatoms are, you’re not alone. At the bottom of any body of water, sediment forms, and within this sediment are diatoms.
Ironically, the structure of the diatoms is made from silica. These deposits are harvested to create the powdery substance. It’s fascinating to consider that 26% of the earth’s crust is made of silica, which is reported to have many healing properties for humans.
Sprinkling DE around the perimeter of your home and anywhere you have an ant or other insect problem will eradicate them. When an insect walks through this substance, its skin absorbs the sharp and abrasive edges within the compound. This dries out the insect’s body and leaves it unable to breathe.
Diatomaceous earth is a fascinating product that you should consider keeping around for pest control, to help with mites if you have chickens, and for many other uses.
7. Soap and Water, Cost Effective Method
A soap and water mixture is so simple. Can it effectively kill ants in your home? Many people swear by a simple dish detergent and water mix.
The mixture can be used instead of pesticides as it can be sprayed on the ant and have the same effect. Mix a spray bottle with warm water and add around ten drops of dish soap. Spray this whenever you see ants and along their trails.
It’s a cost-effective method that’s safe for children and pets and won’t exacerbate breathing issues in those with asthma or other problems.
8. Neem Oil, Keep Ants Off Plants
Neem has long been revered as one of the best pest control agents. It’s the azadirachtin in it that makes it hard for ants or other insects to breathe. Neem is used against insects and bugs like whiteflies, garden pests, aphids, and even mealybugs.
Using neem oil is best, as you can mix it with water and dish soap to make a spray. You can also use the powder mix in a garden to help prevent the ants and other pests from attacking plants and making their way inside.
9. Lemon Juice, Smell Nice – Repel Pests
From lemonade to a slice of meringue pie, lemons are very versatile in the kitchen. However, you may not know it can also be a natural ant deterrent. While you may enjoy this citrus fruit and love using it in your cooking, ants can’t stand its acidic properties.
Not only does lemon juice serve as a natural ant repellent, but it also leaves your home smelling fresh. The strong scent of lemon disrupts ants’ chemical pathways, rendering them unable to find food. So, by using lemon juice, you’re not just getting rid of ants but also enhancing your home’s aroma.
When you’re juicing your lemons, don’t throw out the peels. For extra protection, you can place the peels in your garden or near the entrance to your home.
10. Peppermint Oil, Eliminate With Mint
A list of all-natural pest control methods to kill ants would be incomplete without mentioning peppermint. The strong, minty aroma in candy, ice cream, and hot chocolate is a significant deterrent for ants. It’s best to mix peppermint essential oil with water to create an eco-friendly spray.
Another benefit is that not only do ants dislike the smell and taste of peppermint, but many other insects do, too. The cool and refreshing feeling it gives you makes it difficult for little critters to breathe. The potent smell will add a lovely aroma to your home, but it will keep the pests away.
11. Garlic, Ward Ants Off
Garlic is one pungent herb. If you’ve ever eaten too much Italian food, your breath might have a strange odor for the rest of the day. However, while it tastes pleasant in meals mixed with other herbs and spices, garlic is still a pungent plant.
Ants find the smell of garlic overpowering to their tiny bodies. It not only disrupts their chemical trails but also makes it highly challenging for them to breathe. You can employ garlic in a variety of ways.
Crush a few fresh cloves and place them near the entry points to your home, or mix them with water to create a spray. If you opt for the spray, you’ll need to use powdered garlic or allow the cloves to steep for a while, allowing the water to absorb the herb.
The best part about this technique is that it’s safe and non-toxic, offering a unique way to utilize kitchen ingredients for pest control.
Fighting Ants the Eco-Friendly Way
Natural products offer a safe and effective way to eliminate and even kill ants from your home. Simple, everyday items like vinegar, lemons, and cucumber peels can do wonders in keeping ants and other pests at bay. Even better, these methods are environmentally and budget-friendly, plus they’re easy to use.
Who knew you could protect your home from your kitchen pantry? Of course, natural remedies may not always work in all situations. You should try several methods to see what solves the problem. If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to be working, calling a local pest control professional can resolve the issue.