The Easy Solution That Can Help You Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (If You're Up For It)

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It seems like every summer all the bugs come out of the woodwork (literally)! Ants are one of the many types of bugs you don't want living in your home. And you can guarantee when you see one, the rest of the colony is making your home their new hangout. There is an easy solution using a borax bait, and a little patience, to rid your home of these uninvited house guests.

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral usually found in dry lake beds. It has been found to be an effective method to kill off ants, which is just one of many genius ways you can use borax at home. It is considered safer than traditional insecticides if used properly, which is why many people prefer it to chemical sprays or traps. Worker ants mistake it for food and take it back to their colony, sharing it with the other worker ants and the queen (which is key to eliminating the whole colony). Once they ingest it, the borax damages their ability to digest their food, slowly killing them.

Creating a borax ant trap can be quite simple and only takes a few common kitchen ingredients you can use for pest control. To make the bait, you will need ½ cup of sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons of borax such as Pure original borax, and 1 ½ cups of warm water. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, soak cotton balls in the solution, and place them in the areas you have seen ants. 

Although this method is less toxic than common chemical insecticides, borax can cause skin and eye irritation on contact and is harmful, even potentially fatal, if ingested, so keep the bait out of reach from animals and children. Consider placing the traps under sinks, in and around cabinets, and near windows. These are some of the common areas of the home ants tend to be found.

Once you've set your bait, it is just a matter of patiently waiting for the colony to die. This can take from several days to weeks depending on the size of the colony. Just be sure to refresh your bait every couple of days. Most common ants are naturally drawn to sugar, which makes this an effective trap to use in your home. Only a few species, such as fire ants, are protein-driven, so you'll need a different solution for those. Although it takes more patience to implement this method, the payoff is likely worth the time invested killing these invasive critters.