The most common ant elimination methods involve the application of ant-killer pesticides which usually contain harmful chemicals. Using these pesticides may pose some risks to your health as well as the environment, that’s why it’s worth considering trying natural ant control methods.
So what are some of the best eco-friendly ways to chase black ants away from your home? A majority of the natural ant killer and repellent methods make use of simple ingredients that can be found in your pantry or kitchen such as vinegar, lemon, baking soda, and black pepper. Other materials such as borax acid and food-grade diatomaceous earth can be bought in groceries and home improvement stores.
When you start seeing tiny black ants marching inside your living spaces, chances are high that you have an ongoing ant infestation. These black house ants, also known as carpenter ants, are usually harmless but they can be a real nuisance when you spot them in large numbers.
Fortunately, it’s easy to do your own ant control without having to rely on toxic chemicals. Here are some of the best natural and environment-friendly techniques to get rid of black house ants:
Vinegar is a cheap and readily-available ingredient that can be used to naturally kill and deter black ants. One of the best ways to use this is to create an ant spray with equal parts white vinegar and water.
Simply spray this mixture onto the surfaces where you see an ant trail. The pungent smell of the vinegar will conceal their pheromone trail so that other ants will not find their food source inside your home. You can also use this natural solution to clean kitchen counters and stovetops where ants are likely to wander off in search of food.
You can also make your own ant deterrent spray by combining natural essential oils with water. Similar to white vinegar, using them can effectively remove their scent trails and at the same time, some types of oils such as citrus oils contain D-limonene which can kill ants upon contact. The most commonly used oils are clove, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, orange oil, and lemon eucalyptus oil.
You may also dab a cotton ball on your preferred essential oil and wipe them along baseboards, corners, and other potential entry points. Do this daily and you may notice a decrease in the black ant population inside your home.
Deterring ants can also be done with the use of a soapy water solution. In a glass spray bottle, put one part dish soap and two parts water. Mix them well and spray as many as needed to the areas where you see their trails or activity. It’s suggested that the soap and water can dissolve their bodies and suffocate them to death.
The combination of baking soda and powdered sugar is also a known effective ant killer and repellent. What makes this work is that the baking soda contains components that can react with their digestive system and cause them to die, while the sugar simply acts as the attractant for the ants.
There are two ways you can use this method: one is to directly place them onto their ant mound if you spot one indoors or outdoors. The other approach is to mix equal measurements of baking soda and sugar in a shallow dish and place them in locations where you see many ants.
Cinnamon is also considered a great option for naturally getting rid of black ants. For one, ants dislike its strong smell and when they inhale or ingest it, it can kill them slowly. You can simply apply cinnamon powder or leave a cinnamon stick near their entry points to repel them. You can also place a few drops of cinnamon oil on a cotton ball or mix it with other essential oils for an effective ant spray.
Black or red chili peppers are another substances these household pests cannot withstand. Its powdery texture and strong smell are irritating to the ants and it can disrupt the scent coming from their trails. When you want to use this method, simply sprinkle them directly onto their path or surrounding their ant hill. You may also create a natural pesticide with 10 to 12 chili peppers and spritz them on their trails.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic substance that is composed of fossilized remains of the aquatic species known as marine phytoplankton. To humans, it’s mostly harmless but to insects and ants, its white powder contains sharp particles that can cut through their skeletons and dehydrate them to their death within 48 hours from contact.
Boric acid or borax (sodium borate) contains a toxic acid that can kill ants by destroying their stomachs and nervous systems. As a pesticide, you can use these by creating a homemade bait by mixing them with any sweet substance that can act as an attractant. You can place the baits indoors or outdoors near their ant mounds.
When you want to deal with black house ants on your own, there are several factors you need to consider to assure the success of your chosen home remedy. Here are some tips on setting up and managing your own ant control:
Before you use your DIY ant spray or baits, it’s important to look for the location of their nests indoors. Find active ant trails and follow them to pinpoint where they are mostly coming out from. You can also look for signs of frass or wood shavings or damaged wood since this can indicate a nearby ant colony.
After placing your baits or eradicating the ant scent trails, you should make sure to regularly wipe surfaces and mop the floors clean. Don’t leave water spills or food crumbs alone for too long since this may attract ants to return.
Black ants also love moist and dark areas. To avoid recurrence of ant infestation, you should repair leaky pipes to avoid giving ants a potential living environment and water source. Spray your homemade pesticide around these moist areas to prevent ants from coming back.
Outside your home, you can find carpenter ants nesting in moist wood or piles of firewood and tree trunk. If you’re keeping them in your backyard, make sure to place them at least several feet from your home to keep ants at bay. Avoid placing them indoors or in the garage to prevent starting an ant invasion.
After getting rid of black house ants, you should keep your pantry tidy and eliminate access to food by storing them in plastic airtight containers. Make sure that they are sealed thoroughly so ants cannot easily sneak their way in.
Although it’s convenient and inexpensive to do your own ant control, they may not always be effective and cannot eradicate the whole ant population. To get rid of ants more efficiently, it’s better to reach out to a team of pest control experts who can do proper measures and treatments to make your home ant-free.
Here are some signs that you need professional exterminators for your ant infestation:
Commercially available ant killers and pesticides are not always toxic-free so using homemade sprays and repellents are the safer option for eliminating these unwanted pests. However, it’s hard to guarantee the efficiency of natural methods in ant extermination which is why it’s always best to let a professional pest control company handle your ant infestation.
Permakill Exterminating is a locally-owned and operated pest control company that provides quality extermination and prevention services for all types of ants and other pests. We use a variety of tools and non-chemical methods to make your home free from ants. Find the source of your ant problem and call us today to schedule for a home visit.
Our company is affiliated with professional organizations and accreditations in the industry recognized in the state of New Jersey and the rest of the country:
