How to Kill Ants

An ongoing infestation of ants is no joke. Trails of black, red or fire ants can be quite distressing as well as embarrassing. Stepping on a trail and having red ants all over your feet, with stinging bites to follow is one of the most agonizing times one can go through. Moreover, if you have toddlers or older children playing in the house, you do not want them to be bitten by ants. So it's best to equip yourself with different ways killing ants in the house. Pesticides and commercial sprays are available for killing ants, however, the stink of pesticides and other side effects (harmful to pets), several people are looking for ways to kill indoor ants with natural remedies.

How to Kill Ants with Household Products

The best way to kill ants is by pouring hot water onto the anthill and their trail. However, if you find this too dangerous for yourself, then you could try some of the methods mentioned below.

Borax and Boric acid
Mix some borax with sugar such that the borax does not react quickly, thereby giving the ants enough time for them to take the food home and share it with their families. The ants will eat it and die. For killing them with boric acid, you need to add some boric acid to the ant's trail. You could also add a little sugar and water to some boric acid and dunk a cotton ball into it. Then, use the cotton ball to dab the path of the ants. The ants will be lured to the sweet solution, drink the boric acid mixture and die.

Cornmeal
Did you know cornmeal could be used as a weapon to destroy ants? When the ant eats the cornmeal and drinks some water, the cornmeal ingested swells inside its body, causing the digestive organs to swell up and causing them to die. Since cornmeal is not deleterious to humans and pets, it does not hold any danger even if accidentally ingested.

Soap Water Spray
Ants die when brought in contact to soap and water. In a spray bottle, mix some soap solution and water and spray it on the ant trail. You can even pour the solution on the anthill. The ants will drown and die in the soap water. However, to kill indoor ants, make sure nobody walks on the slippery floor.

How to Kill Ants in the Yard Naturally
Ants can prove to be a pain in your vegetable garden. In order to kill ants outside the house i.e in the garden or backyard, one can use the pipe tobacco treatments. You need to take some tobacco and make tea with it. Don't forget to use gloves while handling it. Now discard the wet tobacco and pour the solution on the anthill and ant trails. The ants will die. You could also sprinkle some baby powder on the anthill to kill them.

How to Kill Red Ants Organically
In a jar, place some honey and borax powder. Place the jar near the anthill and allow the ants to make their way to the sweet, luring solution. The ants will follow the sweet scent and try to climb into the jar to have their fill. However, they will have a tough time climbing out. Moreover, even if they manage to climb out, the borax will work its way into their bodies and eventually kill them.

To prevent ants from returning, make sure you have no food lying around on the floor or countertops. Wipe down all the surfaces clean with some mild bleach or vinegar solution and keep the sink clean. Regularly sweep and mop the house. Place sweets and other savories in air tight containers. Cleanliness is the best way to keep ants at bay.