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Anthills Won't Be A Problem Anymore With These Simple Tricks
By ALEXANDRA MILLER
Boiling Water
To flush out the underground tunnels of an ant nest, boil a kettle of water and pour it directly into the anthill — the intense heat will kill the ants.
Texas A&M recommends using 2 or 3 gallons of water to ensure you kill enough ants or else the colony will simply move to another nearby location. Repeat this method several times.
Vinegar
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, then pour the solution into an anthill using a funnel. Use at least 2 to 3 gallons, so it reaches the deepest parts of the anthill.
The vinegar smell disrupts the ants' scent receptors, preventing them from communicating with each other and following trails. It also deters them from returning to the anthill.
As the vinegar doesn't kill ants but only drowns them or repels them by scent, you'll have to keep reapplying the vinegar or combine this hack with others for full effectiveness.
Insecticide
To deal with an ant invasion, Iowa State University's Integrated Pest Management Center suggests using an insecticide like Sevin from Home Depot to spot-treat anthills.
Rake the anthill flat, then sprinkle the granules around it or drench it with the liquid solution. Only use insecticides on lawns or vegetable patches — never pastures or prairies.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle this abrasive powder into the anthill, and it'll damage the ants' exoskeleton and absorb into their waxy outer layer, causing them to dehydrate and die.
You'll need to combine this hack with another one as it might not kill the entire colony. If you have children or pets, only buy a diatomaceous earth product labeled non-toxic.
Borax
Borax is a natural mineral often used for laundry that's highly toxic to ants. Mix it with sugar to trick the ants into carrying the poison deep into their underground nest.
Put the mixture near the nest, and the ants will pick it up. Termini explains that because it doesn't kill ants instantly, they have time to spread it within the nest.