Ants can be a major problem for homeowners, especially if you have a large lawn. Ants are attracted to the sweet taste of tree sap, which is why they love to nest in areas near trees.
They also like sugar-rich foods such as bread crumbs and sweets left out on tables. If ants get inside your house, they can cause a lot of damage by eating food residues and by chewing through electrical wires and other infrastructural elements
Fortunately, there are many remedies available to eliminate fire ants from your lawn or home. Some are natural pesticides that don’t rely on harsh chemicals; others use traditional methods like boiling water or borax powder.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Borax can be an effective natural solution for getting rid of fire ants. |
| Borax works by slowly poisoning the ants and spreading the poison throughout the colony. |
| Borax should be used with caution around pets and children. |
| It can take several days or weeks for borax to kill off an ant colony completely. |
| Borax can be applied to areas where ants are commonly found, including ant trails, windows and doors, and near their nests. |
The following tips will help get rid of those pesky little insects:
Buy Borax
Borax is an easy-to-find product that can be purchased at a supermarket, discount store, hardware store or gardening store.
You can also buy Borax on Amazon and in drugstores. If you’re going to buy it locally, make sure it’s labeled as “boric acid.”
If you want to get rid of fire ants for good, look no further than Boric Acid. Safe, effective, and eco-friendly, this natural solution can be a game-changer in your fight against fire ants
Dilute the Borax
The first step in using Borax to get rid of fire ants is to dilute the Borax.
Mix 1 part borax with 9 parts water. Use a spray bottle or pressurized garden sprayer, but avoid applying directly from the container.
The idea is to spray until you’ve wetted the area, but not dripping (this will make it easier for ants to escape).
Apply this mixture directly onto ant mounds, trails, and into their tunnels. You can also apply this around the perimeter of your property if you’d like to discourage them from moving onto your lawn in the future
| Dilution Method | Ratio of Borax to Water |
|---|---|
| Light dilution | 1 tablespoon of borax to 1 quart of water |
| Medium dilution | ½ cup of borax to 1 gallon of water |
| Heavy concentration | 1 cup of borax to 1 gallon of water |
Use Boric Acid
Borax is a natural insecticide that can be used to eliminate fire ants. The powder form of borax is safe for humans and pets, so don’t worry about using it in your garden, yard or home. Boric acid is also effective at killing termites, fleas and other pests.
Boric acid naturally kills insects by disrupting their nervous system and causing dehydration. Borax powder can be sprinkled around ant hills or nests to kill the ants who live there.
For best results, wait until nighttime, when most of the ants are inside the colony before applying borax powder directly onto ant hills or nests with a watering, can filled with water mixed with 5 tablespoons of borax per gallon (about 6-8 teaspoons).
Use Honey
Another way to get rid of fire ants is by using a mixture of equal parts honey and water. Mix this well, then sprinkle it on the ant mounds.
Honey is a natural sweetener that attracts ants. It also contains pollen, which the ants consume as part of their diet. However, there are other reasons why honey works so well at eliminating fire ants:
As mentioned above, honey has antibiotic properties that kill bacteria in soil and can prevent bacterial growth in your yard. This makes it easier for your lawn to resist ant infestations because they won’t be able to survive if they aren’t already present in large numbers when you apply this treatment.
It helps prevent mold from growing on top of an untreated mound by killing off any fungus spores before they have time to develop into full-blown colonies — particularly important if you live somewhere where humidity levels are high due to rain or humidity levels being higher year round than usual due to climate change impact factors (or both!).
Sick of fire ants ruining your outdoor space? Say goodbye to these pesky pests once and for all with the help of Boric Acid. Our guide outlines everything you need to know to take back your yard and enjoy outdoor living again.
Sprinkle baking soda on ant mounds
Sprinkle baking soda on ant mounds and the surrounding area to kill ants. Baking soda is a natural ant killer, but it won’t kill the queen.
If you want to rid your lawn of fire ants without using chemicals or poisons, sprinkling baking soda around an infested area will work wonders.
If you have small children or pets who may get into it by accident, however, make sure that they stay away from this solution as well.
You should also avoid using this method if there are any flowering plants in your yard; while it won’t hurt them directly (unless they’re sensitive to alkaline), sprinkling baking soda over their roots can cause nutrient deficiencies that could damage their growth.
Sprinkle Orange Oil on ant mounds
If you’re looking to get rid of fire ants, there’s no better natural solution than orange oil. Orange oil is a natural ant repellent that will drive your fire ant infestation away without any harmful side effects.
Put a few drops of orange oil on the ant mound and marvel as your ants scurry away in less than an hour!
Orange oil is not toxic to humans or pets, so it’s safe for both kids and pets who may come into contact with it. It also won’t harm plants if sprayed directly onto them, making it an ideal choice for lawns or gardens with sensitive vegetation.
Are you tired of using harsh chemicals to control fire ants? Borax presents a natural alternative that is both effective and planet-friendly. Learn how to eliminate fire ants safely with our easy-to-follow guide.
Pour Boiling Water on mounds
If you have a large number of fire ant mounds on your property, pouring boiling water over them will kill the ants.
However, be sure not to pour the water directly on yourself—you’ll get burned and that’s no fun! To ensure that the mounds are completely covered with boiling water, use a watering can or hose with a spray nozzle for best results.
If you’re using a watering can, fill it with boiling water and empty it over each mound. If you’re using a hose with an adjustable nozzle (like this one), adjust it so that you get as little or as much power as needed over each mound while still ensuring complete saturation of all areas within its reach.
Do not use boiling water in microwaves or dishwashers because they could explode if they come into contact with superheated liquids like those found inside microwave ovens (or other appliances).
Ready to tackle fire ants like a pro? Our ultimate guide to using boric acid to eliminate fire ants has everything you need to know to get the job done. From application techniques to safety tips, we’ve got you covered.
Sprinkle Talcum Powder on Stray Ants
Talcum powder is not toxic to humans or animals, so it’s safe to use around the house. Plus, it won’t harm plants when applied properly.
However, talcum powder isn’t a pesticide; it just interrupts the ants’ communication system by causing them to lose their grip on each other and fall off of each other’s bodies.
This method is ideal for getting rid of lone strays in your yard because you don’t have to get close enough for them to bite you!
Sprinkle Red Pepper Flakes on Stray Ants
Sprinkle red pepper flakes on stray ants. If you’ve found a stray ant, use a spoon to sprinkle some of the red pepper flakes near it.
Be careful not to get any in your eyes or mouth! Don’t use too much pepper; just enough to tickle them. At first glance, this method may seem harmless and even laughable, but it actually works well as long as you don’t overdo it with the hot stuff.
Use A Spray Bottle Of Vinegar And Water To Knock Ants Off Buildings And Trees
If you have fire ants living in your yard, try a vinegar and water spray to keep them off of your home.
The acid in the vinegar will cause the ants to disperse, and the water will keep them from returning for a few days.
If you don’t want to use an entire spray bottle on this project, just pour some vinegar into an empty container and mix with water until it’s about 50% vinegar.
This homemade ant repellent is safe for plants and won’t harm children or pets if they get into it. Spray this mixture onto your home’s outer walls once every few days to keep fire ants away from your house without using potentially harmful chemicals on yourself or others.
Boric acid can be a powerful tool in your arsenal for fighting fire ants, but do you know how to use it effectively? Check out our guide with 15 tips for using boric acid to get rid of fire ants and take your battle against fire ants to the next level.
Use A Mixture Of Equal Parts Sugar And Baking Soda
If you have a small infestation of black sugar ants in your kitchen or bathroom, sprinkle equal parts sugar and baking soda on the floors. Leave the mixture for 24 hours. Then vacuum up all of the dead ants. Repeat weekly if necessary.
Conclusion
You can also use Borax to kill ants. Borax is a natural mineral compound with many uses, including as a fire ant killer.
You can find Borax in most grocery stores and it works by dehydrating the ants and killing them within 24 hours.
However, this method does not leave any toxic residues behind so it’s safe for your kids or pets if they happen upon an ant pile before we get there!
Further Reading
How Borax got rid of the ants: Check out this article to learn how a DIY solution of borax and sugar can effectively get rid of ants in your home.
Ant Killer with Borax: Yes, it really works: Curious about how borax and sugar can eliminate ant colonies? Look no further than this informative blog post.
How to Use Borax for Ants Outside: Can borax be used outside for ant control? This article has the answers you’re looking for, along with helpful tips to make the process easier.
FAQs
How does borax work to kill ants?
Borax contains boric acid, which acts as a slow-acting poison. Ants will consume the borax and carry it back to their colony, where it will spread and eventually kill the queen.
Is borax safe to use around pets and children?
While borax is generally considered to be safe, it should still be used with caution around pets and children. It’s always a good idea to keep the borax mixture out of reach of children and to avoid using it if you have pets that may be inclined to ingest it.
Is borax an effective long-term solution for ant control?
Yes, borax can be an effective long-term solution for ant control. The slow-acting nature of the poison allows it to spread throughout the colony, killing off the ants and preventing new ones from emerging.
How long does it take for borax to kill ants?
It can take several days or even weeks for borax to kill off an ant colony completely. This slow-acting poison works gradually to ensure that the entire colony is affected, which can take time.
How do I apply borax to get rid of ants?
Borax can be mixed with water and sugar to create a bait solution that ants will be attracted to. The solution should be dispersed in areas where ants are commonly found, such as along ant trails, around windows and doors, and near their nests.
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!
