Ashley traded the quiet life of a small town in a big house for the hustle and bustle of the Windy City. On any given day you might find her working on a freelance photo or blogging gig, wrangling her little darling, or walking Chuck the boxer. Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, covering all things real estate and home improvement. When she's not watching house flipping shows or dreaming about buying a vacation home, she writes fiction. Barbara's debut novel is due out later this year.
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Got ants? I’ve got an easy-peasy homemade ant killer recipe using baking soda — and it’s non-toxic! After making three lids of bait and waiting several days, the number of ants in my kitchen reduced dramatically.
Here’s how to make my DIY ant killer using only two household ingredients.
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Powdered sugar
- Jar lids (or something similar to hold the bait, although a container is not necessary)
- Measuring spoon
How to Make Homemade Ant Killer
- Combine 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. I used a 3/4 tablespoon of each, and mixed it together directly in the jar lid.
- Place the mixture in strategic locations and wait for the baking soda to do its thing. You can use a jar lid or something similar to keep the bait contained, or you can place it directly on the surface where the ants are prevalent.
Why This Homemade Ant Killer Works
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, know that ants do as well. “The powdered sugar is an attractant for ants, as they are foraging for water and a source of energy,” says David Price, director of technical services and associate certified entomologist at Mosquito Joe, a Neighborly company.
When you mix powdered sugar with baking soda, however, the ants not only get their sugar fix but also a dose of sodium hydrogen carbonate. “The sodium will react with certain acids within the ant, causing a chemical reaction that will dehydrate its exoskeleton and ultimately lead to the ant’s expiration,” says Price.
How to Prevent Ants in the Kitchen
I have found that it is essential, of course, to keep problem areas in your kitchen clean and void of any food. You can use vinegar to clean kitchen surfaces and to scrub any ant trails (vinegar is a well-known bug repellent). If you can find their point of entry, I strongly recommended that you fill it with Borax or diatomaceous earth and seal it off with clear caulk.
