Ants are a pretty common household pest, but sugar ants are an especially annoying type of ant. Not only do they tend to swarm into kitchens and pantries when the weather is hot, but they also carry bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses.
Luckily for you, there are several natural ways to get rid of sugar ants without resorting to harsh chemicals or pesticides. Here’s what you need:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Keep sugar sources and food debris clean and contained to prevent sugar ant infestations. |
| Use natural repellents like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils to disrupt sugar ants’ pheromone trails and prevent them from finding food sources. |
| Seal cracks and gaps in your home and foundation to prevent ants from gaining entry. |
| Maintain good home hygiene and cleanliness to reduce the likelihood of sugar ant infestations. |
| Consult a pest control professional if sugar ant infestations persist or become particularly severe. |
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural product that works to kill ants. It has been used for decades as a safe and effective insecticide, but diatomaceous earth can also be used in your home to get rid of other pests like bed bugs or fleas.
Sugar ants may be small, but their impact can be huge. Don’t let them take over your outdoor space. Follow our tips on how to get rid of ants outside permanently to keep your outdoor areas ant-free and enjoyable
Borax and Sugar
If you’ve got a sweet tooth and want to get rid of ants, combine borax and sugar together. This mixture will be more appealing to ants than just sugar alone, but not quite as much as honey would be.
Mix a tablespoon of borax into two cups of sugar, then place the mixture in a jar and place it near the ant nest.
If no results are seen within 24 hours, consider increasing or decreasing the ratio until you see results (more borax means less tasty for your ants).
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Borax | 1 tbsp |
| Powdered sugar | 1 tbsp |
| Hot water | 1/2 cup |
| Cotton balls | Several |
Vinegar Traps
If you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of sugar ants, vinegar is a good option. Here’s why:
Vinegar is an effective ant killer. Ants are drawn to the sweet smell of honeydew excreted by aphids and scale insects, so they’ll follow this scent to your plants and flowers.
Once there, they may encounter a homemade trap made with vinegar that’s been mixed with water and food (such as protein powder).
This mixture will attract both male and female ants, but not larger insects like wasps or bees—and it can’t hurt humans either!
Just make sure not to breathe in any fumes generated when heating up your bait mixture because it could irritate your nose or throat if inhaled too heavily
Ants in the house can be a frustrating and sometimes overwhelming problem. Stop these pesky insects in their tracks with our guide on how to get rid of ants in the house quickly, using effective, natural remedies that really work
Garlic Spray
Garlic has been used as a natural pest deterrent for years. Simply crush 3-4 cloves of garlic, mix them with water and spray the mixture on the area where you see ants.
Be sure not to spray directly onto plants or other items, and do not spray during the day when it’s sunny out! This is one way to keep ants away from your home without using chemicals that could harm you or your family members.
Garlic Spray Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another natural ant repellent. Sprinkle cinnamon in areas where you have seen ants, and they will move away from it.
Cinnamon is also an antiseptic and fungicide. If you want to get rid of the ants without using chemicals, make a spray out of a mixture of water and cinnamon powder (1 tablespoon per 1 quart). Spray this on the ants as well as where they are likely to return, then wait for them to die off.
Boric Acid and Powdered Sugar
Boric acid and powdered sugar
Mix together equal parts of boric acid and powdered sugar, then spread the mixture wherever you see ants. Leave it overnight and remove in the morning. Repeat as needed until you’re no longer seeing any signs of the pests.
Dealing with persistent ant problems can feel like a never-ending battle. But with patience and the right approach, it’s possible to achieve lasting results. Learn from our experience on how to get rid of ants permanently and finally say goodbye to these unwelcome guests for good
White Flour and Baby Powder
To get rid of sugar ants naturally, you can use a mixture of white flour and baby powder. Mix 1/4 cup each together in a jar or container.
Put this jar where you see the ants, such as their nest or any area where they are crawling around. The ants will take the mix back to their nest, which will kill them off shortly after they eat it.
Cucumber Peel and Coffee Grounds
To make the cucumber peel and coffee grounds mixture, put some coffee grounds and a few slices of cucumber into a container. Add enough water to cover the contents and let it sit for about three days (or until you see that there are no ants).
Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture where you see ants or suspect they might be hiding.
If you don’t want to deal with all these steps, or if they just aren’t working for you as well as hoped, there are also commercial ant killer products available at most grocery stores that will kill off clusters of sugar ants within 24 hours.
These products usually have active ingredients such as boric acid or pyrethrins which will kill any insects they contact—including beneficial ones like honey bees!
Carpenter ants might not be harmful to humans, but that doesn’t mean you should let them roam free in your home. Keep these wood-boring insects at bay with our advice on how to get rid of carpenter ants naturally and preserve the structural integrity of your property.
Out With the Old, In With the New
Clean up any food spills. If you have ants in your kitchen, it’s likely that they’re coming from an area where there’s some sort of sugary food or drink present. If you don’t want to see them crawling around on your countertops, clean up those spills right away!
Remove any standing water. Ants are attracted to moisture because they need it to survive, so if you have a leaky faucet or other sources of standing water outside your home (or inside), fix them as soon as possible—this will eliminate the ant problem before it even starts!
Keep food sealed in containers. It’s important not only that we keep our homes clean and tidy; but also that we take steps toward eliminating all traces of sweetened foods so that these pests won’t be tempted by what they find when they enter our homes through cracks in doors or windowsills or even our basements’ walls.”
Natural Ant Repellents
There are a few common ingredients that can be used to repel ants. These include:
Apple cider vinegar – Ants don’t like the taste of apple cider vinegar and it also makes their bodies dry out, so they won’t want to hang around you after soaking in this stuff.
Lemon juice – Lemon juice has a similar effect on the ants as apple cider vinegar; it makes them dry up and die. You can use lemon juice directly on the ants or add some drops of it into an ant trap (see below) for even better results!
Raw sugar – Ants don’t like anything that’s sweet or sticky, so raw sugar will keep them away from your kitchen counters and other food preparation areas. To make sure that you’re getting rid of all of the ants in your home without harming yourself or anyone else who may visit later down the road, try sprinkling some on top of your countertops before putting down any food products at all times throughout each day until complete eradication occurs within three months’ time span from initial discovery date when first detected by homeowner.”
Soap Water Solution
- Pour a cup of soap into a spray bottle.
- Fill the rest of the container with water, leaving a little room for shaking later.
- Shake well before using this solution on areas where you see sugar ants.
Spray the mixture directly on your sugar ants to kill them off and prevent further infestations from occurring.
If you don’t see any ants in your home or business but are still encountering them outdoors, then spraying this solution wherever they appear outside might be enough to keep them away from your property indefinitely—but it’s best to take an active role in preventing future problems by making sure there aren’t any nests nearby!
Are ants constantly encroaching on your sugar supply? Don’t let them indulge in your sweet treats any longer with our few tips on how to get rid of ants from sugar, and keep your pantry ant-free for good
Moisture Control
Moisture control is an important step when trying to get rid of sugar ants. Keep the area dry by keeping food and water sources away from the nest.
You can use a sponge or towel to soak up excess moisture if you have a leaky pipe or roof, but don’t let water sit on surfaces for too long as it may attract ants.
Conclusion
I hope these tips are helpful for you and your family! Just remember to always be patient with people and the ants too.
If you’re having trouble getting rid of ants in a certain area, try one of these methods. If not, try another one out until you find something that works. You may need more than one method depending on how bad the infestation is.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on getting rid of sugar ants you may find helpful:
How to Kill Ants: 10 Simple Solutions: Learn about 10 natural and effective ways to kill ants and keep them from invading your living spaces.
10 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Sugar Ants: Discover 10 eco-friendly and organic methods for controlling sugar ants without using harmful chemicals.
How Do I Get Rid of Sugar Ants Naturally?: Find out how sugar ants differ from other ant species and explore natural remedies for removing these pests from your living spaces.
FAQs
How do I know if I have a sugar ant problem?
Sugar ants are usually small ants ranging in size from 1.5 to 3.0 mm in length. They are typically yellow, brown or black in color, and are attracted to sweet foods and sugary substances. If you notice a trail of ants leading to a sugar source in your home, or if you see the ants themselves, you most likely have a sugar ant problem.
What are some natural ways to get rid of sugar ants?
Natural ways to get rid of sugar ants include using vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils like peppermint or tea tree oil. These substances are toxic to ants and can disrupt their pheromone trails, preventing them from finding food sources.
How can I prevent sugar ants from entering my home?
Preventing sugar ants from entering your home involves keeping your living spaces clean and free of food debris, sealing food sources in airtight containers, and sealing cracks and gaps in your home’s foundation, walls, and windows.
Are sugar ants harmful to humans?
Sugar ants are not typically harmful to humans, but they can contaminate food sources and damage property. In rare cases, sugar ants have been known to bite humans, causing mild irritation and discomfort.
When should I call a professional to get rid of sugar ants?
If you have tried natural remedies and preventative measures without success, or if your sugar ant problem is particularly severe, it may be time to contact a professional pest control service. A pest control expert can help you identify the source of the infestation and develop an effective plan for removal.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
