The Medicine Cabinet Staple That Can Powerfully Fight Off Intruder Ants

Whether for cleaning cuts and scrapes, disinfecting items like thermometers, or removing water spots from stainless steel surfaces, rubbing alcohol is one of the most versatile items you can have in your medicine cabinet. But while there are many clever ways to use rubbing alcohol around the house, using it to get rid of ants that invade your home may be the most satisfying. That's because ants aren't just annoying — they can wreak genuine havoc, too. Some ants, like carpenter ants, can damage wooden surfaces around your home, while others may bite when they feel threatened. An ant infestation can even attract other pests that like to feed on them, such as spiders and bats.

You can buy commercially prepared sprays and traps for ants, but these products contain chemicals you may not feel comfortable using around children or pets. Rubbing alcohol is a mixture composed of either isopropyl alcohol or ethanol and water. It sometimes contains additives like fragrance and is available in concentrations from 70 to 99%, but it is formulated for use on the skin, so it's unlikely to irritate if you come into contact with it. Ants, on the other hand, are extremely sensitive to rubbing alcohol, so it can kill them instantly or discourage them from entering your home in the first place. You just have to know the right way to use it to send these unwanted intruders packing.

While there are many ways to get rid of ants in your home, rubbing alcohol may be one of the most effective. That's because it affects ants on several fronts. When ants come into contact with rubbing alcohol, it easily penetrates their protective exoskeleton, which not only affects their internal structure but also completely dehydrates them. Death occurs almost instantly, but in some cases, the ants may become paralyzed. Unfortunately, this only happens to the ants you can see, so the rest of the colony won't be affected.

However, rubbing alcohol's potent scent repels many pests, including ants, so they're less likely to want to visit your home. Its odor can also affect their ability to smell. Ants use pheromones to communicate with one another, leaving scent trails behind for other ants to follow. Rubbing alcohol's odor can cover up these trails to make it impossible for other ants to follow, or even disorient ants, so they're unable to follow the trails as they normally would, making your home less likely to get infested.

If you've tried popular pest removal hacks that just don't work, you want to be sure to use rubbing alcohol properly to get rid of the ants in your home for good. Create an ant-killing spray by filling a spray bottle approximately three-quarters of the way. Top it off with water, and shake well. Spray the formula directly on any ants you see, as well as in areas where you've seen them previously or crevices they might hide to cover up their scent trails. To ensure you've gotten rid of all the ants in your home, repeat the process until you no longer see any pests.

You can also discourage ants from entering your home by using the rubbing alcohol solution to create a barrier. Spray it in any areas where ants may enter, such as around windows, doors, and along baseboards. While rubbing alcohol is a fairly safe substance, it's important to be careful when using it as an ant repellent. Ensure that your home is well-ventilated to prevent any irritation from inhaling its fumes, and wear protective gloves and eyewear to avoid contact. Remember that rubbing alcohol is highly flammable, too, and keep it away from heat sources and open flames.