The Easiest, Safest, & Most Effective DIY Ant Killer!!

DIY Ant Poison & Ant Killer

Today, you will be hearing from my momma friend Katie!
She is a momma on a mission…a mission to eradicate ants.
Enjoy her post as she hilariously writes about her victory.


I hate ants. They are the worst thing about summer. Good thing that Drake Lawn & Pest Control has a program that includes the inspection, tap insulation, treatment, and prevention of pests in your property.

You’re outside, enjoying your children and the weather. You’re thinking, “What could go wrong? This day is perfect.” And the next thing you know, your son is screaming bloody murder because his leg is getting eaten up by ants.

DIY Ant Killer or Ant Poison - Bare feet in summer

Or maybe, your friend invites you to the splash pad last minute. So in an attempt to be that spur-of-the-moment mom, you toss your kiddos in the car only to slam on your breaks 10 feet out of the driveway because there are ants biting your sweet babies.

My personal favorite, or shall I say LEAST FAVORITE, is when you’re preparing a delicious dinner. As you do, a hard-working line of ants is crawling across your counter attacking a microscopic cookie crumb you didn’t realize was there. And forget about getting rid of them. Once those misfits get a taste of food, they keep coming back for more. Even when you clean, even when you spray.

I used to always slightly dread warmer weather because of ants. But not anymore.

I have finally found the secret weapon. The spray-no-more, enjoy-every-second-of-every-day, never-have-an-ant-in-your-car-again-even-if-you-lay-out-lucky-charms secret weapon. And I want to share it with you!


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Last year, ants invaded my car, invaded my life. I was 6 months pregnant and ants were ruining my summer. Every trip I took with my son I was sweeping them out of his seat, brushing them off my arm as I drove, and squashing them in my cup holder. I probably set a new speeding record for traveling from one end of the city to the other. My goal was always to be in the car as little as possible. Actually, now that I think about it, I should have had more tickets for speeding.

So, my thoughtful, concerned, loving husband cleaned my car. He swept, he wiped, he disinfected and so on. He even went so far as to spray my tires and doors with ant killer. Needless to say, the ants were still there. Perhaps even more of them. We desperately started scouring the internet for a solution with a simple list of non-negotiables:

1. It had to be safe for my child to breathe around

2. It had to be economically practical (I’m a cheap-o)

3. And the obvious… it had to kill those dastardly ants

I saw many recipes that claimed to be THE ANSWER to my problem… but there was really only one that seemed to fit all my criteria. It was the Borax & Sugar Ant Killer. This ant killer is a liquid, so after treating the ants, we don’t have to put on our gas masks and huddle in the closest bunker to wait for the mist to clear…CHECK. It probably cost me thirty cents to make and lasts for over a year… CHECK. And after ONE, just ONE application, I never saw those ants in my car again… HALLELUJIAH, CHECK!

**A side note to all you mommas out there who have children young enough to pick up bird poop and eat it without question: Borax is a natural pesticide and is a salt of boric acid. It has a low toxicity if ingested, but let’s go ahead and say… don’t let your kids eat it. For more information about Borax, here is a great article. You can also seek help from a pest control expert to have a termite treatment that is safe for the kids.

Below is the basic recipe for the Borax Ant Killer. Materials: · 1/2 cup sugar · 1 ½ tbsp. Borax (find in laundry aisle pretty much anywhere, but I got mine at Wal-Mart) · 2 cups water · Empty jar with lid (I used an old peanut butter jar) · Cotton balls · Tin foil/ coke bottle lids, milk lids, yogurt lids Jar of ant poison / ant killer



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Directions:

1. Boil water, then pour in empty jar
2. Add sugar and borax to hot water and stir until completely dissolved
3. Soak cotton balls with mixture and place on a small tin foil piece or old drinking lid
4. Place cotton ball wherever you have ants!
5. 24 hours later, get your summer back, your car back, your kitchen back!… ant free.  🙂

Ant Killer or Ant Poison - Ants on cottonball

Note: The first time I did this recipe I added extra sugar… but that was only because I added extra Borax. What can I say, I just wanted them outta here. Also, it looks like the ants will be uninterested in the cotton ball, and you may even think it isn’t working. But trust me, they’ll take the bait. I always put mine out in the evening or in the morning, this way my sweet babies are less likely to go pick up the edible looking cotton ball.  🙂

Let me tell you. This stuff works. I was EXTREMELY skeptical, but even as the warm weather is returning and critters are waking from their winter sleep… I have still not had a single ant in my car.

the best diy antkiller

Mission accomplished.


KatieKatie Short is a former teacher who seeks to honor God daily by loving her closest neighbors…her family.  She has 2 small children and a husband who has gifted her with the joy of staying home.  Katie enjoys gardening, playing outside with her son, rocking her sweet  daughter, and cooking delicious gut-healing food.


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How To Make A Compost Bin In Your Backyard That You Don’t Have To Be Ashamed Of
How To Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

Photo credits for header:  here

Katie Short
Hi, I’m Katie. I am new at this stay-at-home-mom thing, and I live in the deep HOT south. My days can be long and tiring at times, but I want to bring glory to God daily by loving my closest neighbors… my family. It is a calling, and I count it all joy. My days are spent playing outside with my son, sitting in a rocking chair with my “sweet potato” of a baby girl, and cooking yummy gut-healing food for my hubby. I am so excited to have the opportunity to write blog posts for AGoodTired and I hope you will find as much laughter and encouragement here as I have.

312 Comments on The Easiest, Safest, & Most Effective DIY Ant Killer!!

  1. kc white
    March 26, 2015 at 2:50 pm (9 years ago)

    LOVE THIS!! And Katie, I’m totally interested in “gut-healing” recipes… For fear of TMI, let’s just say…I NEED IT!! :-/

    Reply
    • VJMarino
      April 29, 2015 at 7:02 am (9 years ago)

      This, in fact, does work. I could not believe it. I tried it and it worked. The only problem I have is that I had to purchase a big box of BORAX. I have enough of that stuff now to kill every ant in the world. Thanks for the heads up on this!

      Reply
      • carola mc clure
        August 19, 2015 at 3:39 pm (9 years ago)

        Dont worry about having extra borax on hand.
        I use mine also as a deodorizer. I am a 4=5 mile daily walker. I also have pets. Great deodorizer in the washer.
        Carola

        Reply
      • Kayleigh
        May 10, 2016 at 9:16 pm (8 years ago)

        Add it to your laundry as a booster. It’s especially great if you have hard water

        Reply
      • mememe
        May 11, 2016 at 6:59 pm (8 years ago)

        family dollar has decent size borax for $1

        Reply
        • cathy adler
          September 27, 2016 at 2:49 pm (8 years ago)

          how about $4.00 at family dollar.

          Reply
      • Barb
        May 25, 2016 at 6:18 pm (8 years ago)

        This did not work for my ants! I have used it for a week and they are still crawling on the kitchen counter. I have also used.spray
        .

        Reply
        • carol
          April 10, 2017 at 11:49 am (7 years ago)

          didn’t work here either 🙁

          Reply
        • Carrol
          March 13, 2020 at 6:34 pm (4 years ago)

          I use a 50/50 mix of bi carb soda and caster sugar.Enough Water to mix. You can mix up a little bit and I put it in a small juice bottle with a finger tip size hole in the lid. Lay bottle down. Then replace if neccessary as word spreads that it tastes great. Put it in there track run.They will continue to eat bait even if it sets or you can add a spot of hot water and swirl to make drinkable for ants again if any left.

          Reply
      • Missy
        July 9, 2016 at 5:21 pm (8 years ago)

        Add the Borax to your laundry! It works super well, especially for majorly dirty clothes or extra sweaty clothes.

        Reply
      • Nanc
        July 3, 2019 at 10:30 am (5 years ago)

        Sprinkle dry around outside perimeter of home. Works for spiders, ants etc. I do every spring and later if needed.

        Reply
      • Carrol
        March 13, 2020 at 6:43 pm (4 years ago)

        I use baby power(talcum powder) on and around wheels of car and caravan to stop them getting in as they don’t like walking in it.

        Reply
    • Ann
      July 5, 2015 at 8:57 am (9 years ago)

      I used the formula and voila, lots and lots of ants showed up and it seemed to work. However, it’s now 2 days later and I’m finding them randomly crawling all over the house. Not a lot, maybe 3 or 4 in a room. Are these remnants? They also don’t seem interested in the solution. Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Kristin
        July 8, 2015 at 12:07 pm (9 years ago)

        I had this problem too! Let me know if you figured anything out!

        Reply
      • Soo Yung
        March 4, 2016 at 7:23 am (8 years ago)

        dilute the solution by adding 1/2 cup of sugar and another cup of water. If too many ants die too quickly the ants start avoiding the bait.

        Reply
    • CJ
      May 22, 2016 at 2:58 pm (8 years ago)

      The ants that are

      Reply
    • Misty Link
      July 6, 2016 at 7:41 pm (8 years ago)

      I have tried this I never see the ants go to the cotton ball….am I doing something wrong ..my driveway is beyond gross I see millions in the cracks…

      Reply
  2. Katie Short
    March 26, 2015 at 8:05 pm (9 years ago)

    That’s too funny. Well I definitely have a good stock of them! We should get together some time!

    Reply
    • Annette
      April 2, 2015 at 3:07 pm (9 years ago)

      Will this work on carpenter ants in my window seals? They are chewing up the wood and plastic.

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 2, 2015 at 7:22 pm (9 years ago)

        Great question! I’ve never used it on carpenter ants, but it worth a try! Good luck

        Reply
        • Grama
          April 7, 2015 at 11:41 am (9 years ago)

          Katie, I have used this for years, except my recipe calls for Boric Acid. Older folks will remember this as eye wash, so I don’t feel it is any more dangerous that Borax. I had to ask at the pharmacy for it, as they keep it behind the counter. I was just thinking in it might be a little stronger for the carpenter ants.

          Reply
          • Katie Short
            April 9, 2015 at 3:04 pm (9 years ago)

            EXCELLENT idea! Thanks! Now, why was it used for an eye wash?

          • Sue B
            March 14, 2016 at 7:10 am (8 years ago)

            Back in the 50s-60s, kids got pink eye alot. Doctors always told our Moms to make a liquid solution of Boric Acid and water and swab our eyes 3 times per day to cure the pink eye. I have used the boric acid powder and powdered sugar to kill cockroaches for years.

        • jim
          May 26, 2015 at 12:55 pm (9 years ago)

          what about fire ants……?

          Reply
      • Melody
        April 5, 2015 at 2:33 am (9 years ago)

        My dad used Borax mixed with mint jelly and would put it in a piece of a straw and the carpenter ants would eat and run. Lol Worked great!

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 5, 2015 at 5:43 pm (9 years ago)

          I love that! Sounds like it smells good too!

          Reply
          • Brodrick
            April 14, 2015 at 6:33 am (9 years ago)

            I’ve done the same, but with pancake syrup and roach powder. Then I inject it into the drinking straw. They eat it up from each end, and it knocks the population way down, if not completely gets rid.

            What I read is that some ants are attracted to sweet, and some to grease. So you could do the same with maybe melted butter, and let it gel back up with the borax in it.

      • Jan
        April 10, 2015 at 12:01 pm (9 years ago)

        I don’t think this will work on Carpenter Ants. Only on sweet-eating ants … and carpenter ants aren’t attracted to sugar. Not that they WON’t eat some of it, but they have to carry it back to their nests to kill what you have. You can get bait that is in containers to put outside around the edges of your house for carpenter ants. They are protected from rain and kids and pets won’t track in any grains of pesticide and they do work.

        Reply
      • Alicia
        April 12, 2015 at 6:44 pm (9 years ago)

        This the borax alone will work for cockroaches too – wipes them out and was a God send when I lived down south. They would take it back to their nests and ingest it and it would cause them to explode.

        IMPORTANT: Keep Borax away away from pets, it will poison/kill your pets.

        Reply
      • Will Mason
        April 13, 2015 at 2:25 am (9 years ago)

        For carpenter ants I used a product called a Max Force. I bought mine from ebay. I haven’t seen it sold in stores. This stuff works like a charm. Google it.

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 13, 2015 at 9:54 pm (9 years ago)

          wow, i’ll have to check it out!

          Reply
      • AMP
        April 14, 2015 at 6:17 am (9 years ago)

        If you want to kill Carpenter Ants or Carpenter Bee’s use liquid Seven Dust. I promise you this will work. Try to find the holes they have drilled and spray them good. It also gets on them & they can’t move & die. It works!!

        Reply
    • Stuart
      April 4, 2015 at 6:11 pm (9 years ago)

      Hi Katie
      I am in Australia. I read your story with much interest about the ants. I would like to know if the borax method works for white ants or as we call them here ( termites) If not do you have a potion for getting rid of termites
      I look forward to hearing back from you soon
      Kind regards Stuart

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 4, 2015 at 7:07 pm (9 years ago)

        Hi stuart! What’s funny is that someone mentioned to me earlier that ants are the best thing to keep away termites. Maybe if you mixed just the dry ingredients and sprinkled that around your house… that might keep the termites away. LET US KNOW HOW THIS GOES!

        Reply
        • Greg
          April 8, 2015 at 12:45 pm (9 years ago)

          Termites and carpenter ants eat wood matter, this recipe will not work for wood-consuming insects.

          Reply
          • Katie Short
            April 9, 2015 at 3:05 pm (9 years ago)

            Thanks for the heads up!

          • Shawn Wood
            April 10, 2015 at 2:50 am (9 years ago)

            That’s not correct I’m afraid. Termites do eat wood, but carpenter ants – as their name states – just work with the wood. They tunnel through it and destroy it, but they don’t live off of it. They like sweet, sugary stuff so I suspect this may work on this. I’m going to give it a try.

          • Harvey Johnson
            April 10, 2015 at 7:10 am (9 years ago)

            Heads up! The presence of carpenter ants could mean you have wet wood rotting in/on your house. Leaks to fix or wood to replace.
            Not sure, but I think the c-ants follow the trails of much smaller ones to get into where wet wood is hidden. Little ants need treatment too.
            C-ant queen could be in old tree/stump +75 feet away!

      • Suzan
        April 8, 2015 at 2:59 pm (9 years ago)

        Powder form borax Mike with sawdust or rubbed into wood grain

        Reply
        • Val Rogne
          April 8, 2015 at 3:43 pm (9 years ago)

          Hi Katie,
          Wil this work on ant hills in the yard?

          Reply
          • Frances Lee
            April 9, 2015 at 2:41 pm (9 years ago)

            To the question about ant hills, my mother used to say boil water and pour it on the ant hills. Someone else told me to use instant grits. They said ants will eat the grits and go for water, well mini explosions I guess. Thanks for the tips.

          • Katie Short
            April 9, 2015 at 3:05 pm (9 years ago)

            I’ve heard this too, I’m anxious to hear how it works out for people!

          • B. Kirby
            April 13, 2015 at 9:51 pm (9 years ago)

            The instant grits work wonderfully on ant beds!

          • Nyna Clymer
            April 26, 2015 at 11:12 am (9 years ago)

            I just put down some grits, says it will explode them! Also read ANY WINDOW CLEANER WILL WORK!!

      • Rick
        September 20, 2016 at 7:52 pm (8 years ago)

        I had a large quantity of ants crawling up our bedroom window to the ceiling. I couldn’t figure out what was attracting them. Come to find out that ants eat termite eggs, which we had in that part of our house. Our termite man explained this to me. Ants aren’t always a bad thing. I regretted killing them!

        Reply
    • Lacy
      April 7, 2015 at 9:44 pm (9 years ago)

      I made this mixture last night. I definitely noticed a decrease in ants tonight but they’re still there. That were getting pretty bad in my kitchen. Wonder if it’s just going to take a little longer since they were so bad. I have never battled ants like this before! So glad it’s working so far.

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 9, 2015 at 3:06 pm (9 years ago)

        Great to hear it’s working! If you need to, add more borax!

        Reply
        • Roger
          April 9, 2015 at 5:59 pm (9 years ago)

          Actually, the ideal situation is for the ants to make it back to their nest after feeding on the borax/boric acid, and the queen(s) will be fed the solution by the ants coming back ‘home’. A 1-2% solution works best for this purpose. Killing the little pests before they can leave the cotton ball is selling this little homebrew short.

          Reply
          • Geri
            April 10, 2015 at 7:05 am (9 years ago)

            Roger, what exactly do you mean by a “1-2%” solution? I would like to try this because killing the queen makes sense.

          • Georgia W.
            April 10, 2015 at 9:41 am (9 years ago)

            I don’t mess with mixing up stuff. I just buy a small bottle of Terro and use it. My kids also loved it. We would put a few tiny drops on a kitchen counter and keep close watch on it. The kids loved watching the ants come and carry the food away in orderly lines. They would carry it back to their nest and that caused the death of the whole group.

            However, I do not try to destroy ants outdoors as they have a proper function in this world. I just use it when they invade my home. I have never had them in my car. Maybe it isn’t clean enough for them to enter. Ha. Ha.

        • DeVonna
          April 10, 2015 at 8:09 am (9 years ago)

          My inlaws swear by borax, sugar and a lil milk to make a paste they put it in a lid that way the ants carry it back to the queen. If it starts to get hard than you just add more milk. As for outside I swear by sulpha granules, you have to usually get at a feed store, I cover my whole yard starting at the house and going out. This gets rid of everything even moles. I promise I do it every year and I learned it from an old farmer that always did used it. It is not harmful to animals or you. You will see them all over your yard and watering or the rain will soak them in the ground. I started useing it when the moles was tearing up my pool and was amazed that it contolled my ants also.

          Reply
          • Georgia W.
            April 10, 2015 at 9:44 am (9 years ago)

            I heard of a new way to get rid of moles. The only disadvantage is that it doesn’t kill them, it just sends them to your neighbors. My daughter and her husband used this a lot. It is “used” cat litter. Most bugs and animals can’t stand the smell and move far away.

          • A.J.
            April 10, 2015 at 5:39 pm (9 years ago)

            The only problem with that is then you have used cat litter all over your lawn. And last time I checked humans didn’t like that smell either.

      • Carol
        July 20, 2015 at 7:40 pm (9 years ago)

        Yes it may take a few days… The ants seem to have a vast network of tunnels and just go elsewhere…. But keep putting down cotton balls as you see a run of ants. I had them indoors, outdoors. In the basement, and at one time or another, they invaded every room.. I did not use the foil etc. just put the soaked cotton balls every where I could.. Maybe took two weeks but one day I just did not see any…. Keeping my fingers crossed and cotton balls ready for battle, just in case !!!

        Reply
    • Karen
      July 6, 2015 at 1:30 pm (9 years ago)

      What type of sugar do you use in your homemade ant killer? Regular table sugar or icing sugar?

      Reply
      • Carol
        July 20, 2015 at 7:44 pm (9 years ago)

        Regular

        Reply
  3. John Smith
    March 27, 2015 at 7:39 am (9 years ago)

    Great article and great tip. Maybe I won’t have to buy the expensive poison anymore or use gasoline.

    JS

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 28, 2015 at 8:39 pm (9 years ago)

      Thanks John! I just talked to my dad on the phone yesterday and he said,” You know if you REALLY wanna get em… Just gas em.” It does work I’ll give you that, but then you have to waste that pricey gasoline! That’s why I love this… Cheap-O-Rama.

      Reply
      • Londa
        April 7, 2015 at 9:22 pm (9 years ago)

        Gas is so harmful to the environment Stays in ground like oil .

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 9, 2015 at 3:06 pm (9 years ago)

          Thanks! That’s why I recommend borax.

          Reply
        • Mel
          May 21, 2018 at 11:56 pm (6 years ago)

          I thought gasoline just evaporated. I knew a guy who put it on his weeds to kill them. He killed ants with it too.

          Reply
  4. Julie
    March 30, 2015 at 2:15 am (9 years ago)

    i love this idea and can not wait to try it!! Last summer was awful with ants but I will be ready now!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 30, 2015 at 3:39 pm (9 years ago)

      Thanks! That’s what I say… get them now before they get bad! I’ve already got my batch ready to go, just in case a couple ants get brave 🙂

      Reply
      • Bobby k
        April 3, 2015 at 4:25 am (9 years ago)

        How often do you have to swap the cotton balls out? Like, the mix lasts for … Blank amount of time … Then I should put out new.

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 3, 2015 at 9:09 am (9 years ago)

          Well… the ant killer takes care of your ants in 24 hours, so you can clean up the cotton ball then. However if you see more ants a few months from now just put out a fresh cotton ball. The ant killer last for a long time in a jar… like at least a year.

          Reply
  5. Paula
    March 30, 2015 at 1:53 pm (9 years ago)

    Loved your article. I have been battling with ants in my kitchen for a couple of years now. I am going to try this. I have tried everything but blow the house up to get rid of them.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 30, 2015 at 3:37 pm (9 years ago)

      Since it’s your kitchen, I would definitely put a little extra borax in your recipe… I hate having ants when I’m cooking!

      Reply
      • stephanie
        April 10, 2015 at 1:59 am (9 years ago)

        Do you have ants in your kitchen? Can you use borax for ant hills outside?

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 13, 2015 at 9:53 pm (9 years ago)

          I don’t have ants in my kitchen… but I know several people who have had them and got rid of them with this. You can use the borax solution outside… but I’ve heard the more effective method is using dry borax and dry sugar mixture… mix in equal parts and sprinkle around the ant hill. hope this helps!

          Reply
  6. Carol Lonas
    March 30, 2015 at 6:43 pm (9 years ago)

    Well Im going to try this…….. get back with you. The ants have taken over my kitchen sink…………..

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 30, 2015 at 7:40 pm (9 years ago)

      Yes! Let us know how it goes! Show those ants who’s boss!

      Reply
  7. Judy Pacifico
    March 30, 2015 at 8:19 pm (9 years ago)

    Need to know how safe is this? I have a cat & a 3 yr.old niece. Have to be careful what I use.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 6:33 am (9 years ago)

      http://wellnessmama.com/26407/borax-safe/ this is a great article that I used to help me understand how safe Borax is. It is a salt of boric acid, so from what I understand it has a low toxicity if ingested. I have a 20 month old who eats almost anything, so I usually will put it out at nap time or if I put it in the back yard, we play in the front yard. For a cat I’m not sure, I don’t have a pet. I would say the same thing though, just time it if you can so your cat is otherwise occupied. Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Jan
        July 25, 2016 at 2:40 pm (8 years ago)

        No need to buy hamster balls, just use the plastic “clamshell” containers that you buy strawberries or blueberries in. Tape them shut if you’re worried that they might pop open. The ants move in & out freely through the air slots, the flat bottom means they stay put, and kids & pets can’t get at the cotton balls.

        Reply
      • Juli Page Morgan
        April 1, 2015 at 5:30 pm (9 years ago)

        A hamster ball! What a great idea! I’ve used this ant-annihilation recipe for a while now, and my cats have never seemed interested in the cotton balls. But you never know, right? I’m going to go get a couple of hamster balls tomorrow!

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 2, 2015 at 9:14 am (9 years ago)

          Great advice! Thanks!

          Reply
        • paul
          March 7, 2016 at 8:46 am (8 years ago)

          yeh good thinking, cats dont like balls hey, ha ha

          Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 2, 2015 at 9:29 am (9 years ago)

        What a wonderful idea! Thank you!

        Reply
  8. Cheryl Brame
    March 30, 2015 at 8:59 pm (9 years ago)

    Does this kill them, or, as I have read before, let them take it back to the nest and feed the queen so she dies and then the ants go away? Or do I just throw the cotton balls away when they are full of ants? My mother in law has a huge problem in the kitchen and bathroom (? strange, I know). She just paid an exterminator a phenomenal amt. of money and it seems she has about 3 times more ants than before he sprayed! Help!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 6:38 am (9 years ago)

      That is actually a really great question. I have read that they actually take it back to their nest and it kills them there. I actually thought that this didn’t work the first time I used it because I only saw about 1 or 2 dead ants, but the next think I knew, they were just gone. It make since what you said about the queen, but I don’t know for sure. All I do know is that it saved my car from being taken over by ants. I’ve also put it on the onside of the house where I see ants crawling under the cement or into a crack in the wall. It helped in those situations as well. Hope this helps some! Thanks for your wonderful question!

      Reply
    • Mandy H
      April 1, 2015 at 4:10 am (9 years ago)

      Great questions Cheryl! I have the same questions. I am living in Africa and the ants come in each area of the house. In particular the kitchen. I just bought cotton balls to try this method. Thanks in advance Katie for answering Cheryl’s questions! God Bless.

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 1, 2015 at 8:42 am (9 years ago)

        WOW, Africa! Thanks for reading my post! I hate ants in the kitchen! I think this should definitely help your ants… however if you have an ant infestation, this might not do the job completely. Just put a cotton ball where ever you see them coming in and see what happens! Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
        • Pam Myracle
          April 1, 2015 at 5:04 pm (9 years ago)

          Does this work on fire ants as well as sweet eating ants?

          Reply
        • Jack H
          April 1, 2015 at 7:56 pm (9 years ago)

          I also had ants in my kitchen. I had a friend tell me about an ALL natural non toxic bug killer. Since most of the bug killers out there have chemicals in them and are poisonous. It was not cheap but I haven’t seen any ants or any other bugs in my house. This product does work. Since it worked so well I became a distributor. If you would like to order my website is safebugkiller.com

          Reply
          • Katie Short
            April 2, 2015 at 9:28 am (9 years ago)

            Great tip! Thanks!

  9. Micki Bryan
    March 31, 2015 at 6:59 am (9 years ago)

    this really works! My kitchen was invaded last year and we could not figure out where they were coming from (new house). I put this out in a couple of locations in my kitchen in bottle caps and while I never saw any ants around it they went away and were never seen again. I left it out for a few days but after that never had to use it again!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:35 am (9 years ago)

      Great! Nice to have another first hand testimony! Same for us… we just bought a new house last may and never had to deal with ants before. Talk about a life saver!

      Reply
  10. m
    March 31, 2015 at 7:29 am (9 years ago)

    FYI- if using in your house, don’t be surprised if at first you see an increase in ant activity. Because the first ones are going to take it back to the nest and tell their friends to come taste this cotton ball. But eventually you will see them decrease in numbers and then just one or two every so often.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:36 am (9 years ago)

      Great tip! I’ve only been using it outside, so great to hear what to expect if using inside your house! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Eliesa
    March 31, 2015 at 8:27 am (9 years ago)

    i just whipped up a batch and I’m going to try it outside… I’ll let you know if it works out there. If it does I’ll be so excited . We have five acres of land – that’s a whole lot of ant piles! Crossing my fingers that it will help 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:38 am (9 years ago)

      WOW! That’s a lot of land and a lot of ants, haha! You may personally keep the borax company working for generations 🙂 Let us know how it goes!

      Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 11:05 am (9 years ago)

      I just learned a great tip from a sweet old lady. If they borax doesn’t work for the ant piles… put grits on them. NOT THE INSTANT GRITS… just plain old make from scratch ones. Apparently this takes care of hard to kill piles. Just a thought because you have so many!

      Reply
      • Vicki
        April 1, 2015 at 10:07 pm (9 years ago)

        I have also had great success with plain uncooked grits. Sprinkle them in the area where you see ants and soon you’ll have no more ants. Nothing to mix and you definitely don’t have to worry about your kids or pets.

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 2, 2015 at 9:21 am (9 years ago)

          Great! Thanks for letting us know grits really works!

          Reply
      • christie f
        April 12, 2015 at 10:01 pm (9 years ago)

        Hi, Katie! I am definitely going to try your idea for killing ants. The funny thing is, though, when it comes to the article about using grits to kill anthill ants,the photo in the article is of INSTANT grits. I know you say you used the non-instant, right? Thanks! Christie F.

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 13, 2015 at 9:51 pm (9 years ago)

          I have been told to only use real grits… not instant.

          Reply
  12. Kelli
    March 31, 2015 at 9:56 am (9 years ago)

    Don’t kill too many ants around the perimeter of your house-they keep the termites away!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 11:52 am (9 years ago)

      Thanks, great advice!

      Reply
  13. Barbara
    March 31, 2015 at 11:22 am (9 years ago)

    I have to try this. I had so many ants last year, could not keep up with them, I stayed indoors :(. I’m taking over my yard! lol I would love to know of any gut healing recipes, tips you may have. My immune system is shot, keep getting ill and I know if I could just cure my gut. Thanks for any help.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 11:56 am (9 years ago)

      Hey Barbara! I hope this ant killer allows you to spend more time outside! IT’s rough not getting to enjoy the beautiful weather!… or where I am, Alabama, the intense heat :). I would love to share some gut healing recipes! My husband has ulcerative colitis and we work very hard to keep his tum-tum feeling right. I am working on a yogurt recipe right now that is great for building up good bacteria in your stomach… and helps keep your immune system STRONG! If you find me on facebook, I can talk to you more about it!

      Reply
      • Peggy Kays
        April 15, 2015 at 12:01 pm (9 years ago)

        I would also like your gut healing recipes. I had a bad car accident and I believe all the “stuff” that was given me while in the hospital messes up my tummy for I never had a problem before. I have to take a Vitamin B‑12 injection every 2 week for the pills won’t do any good. I do not like taking medicine so look for natural cures. I am going to try the black olives to see if this will help. I am going to try your ant control method if the ants come back to my house. Thanks.

        Reply
      • Candy
        February 5, 2017 at 1:08 am (7 years ago)

        Hi Katie, my husband has been getting pains on the left side of his abdomen for 3 years now and I wonder if it could be ulcerative colitis. He doesn’t believe in doctors so I’m trying to find other means to identify his problem. Can you share the symptoms your husband has with ulcerative colitis please?

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          February 5, 2017 at 1:31 pm (7 years ago)

          HI there, I emailed you! I hope you get it!

          Reply
          • Candy
            February 7, 2017 at 6:53 am (7 years ago)

            Got it! Thanks heaps!

    • Lisa
      April 10, 2015 at 5:54 am (9 years ago)

      If you are having gut problems, eat 5 to 10 canned black olives everyday. Fermentation takes place on the outside of the olive, which provides the needed bacteria to balance the candida level in your stomach.

      If you have ant problems in your house, pour lots of salt where they are entering your house. Ants will not cross a salt line. I pour the boiling water from my pasta in ant holes in the yard, they do not like boiling water. The boiling water is also a great way to kill weeds in your sidewalk cracks.

      Reply
  14. Randy
    March 31, 2015 at 12:52 pm (9 years ago)

    I must play Devil’s advocate and ask. What food items are left in your car to attracts them in the first place? I lived N.W. Montana and had ants in my yard and I never once had ants in any of my cars, even when my kids were little and it was a veritable ant buffet in my car with dropped/spilled food.

    I have one one instance had a line of ants in my home up there, but they were up high and I wanted to see what the draw was. It seems that there was a lollipop in an upper cupboard. As an experiment, I allowed them to continue eating it.

    After about a week, the ants were gone and so was the candy off of the stick. Completely clean, as if it had never been dipped in candy. I never saw them again.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 2:30 pm (9 years ago)

      Well, I have two children, a toddler and a 4 month old… so when we go places it is snacks and crumbs galore in the back seat. We never had a problem with ants until we moved in to a house… at our old apt complex ants never got in our car. I think they were just hungry and lookin! Interesting experiment, sounds like something my dad would do. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Jessica
    March 31, 2015 at 1:13 pm (9 years ago)

    I just did this. The key is you have to resist the urge to KILL the ants when you see them crawling all over the cotton balls. They have to get in on them and then carry the mixture “back home” to kill the rest. I also soaked paper towels and placed them on a paper plate on the counter top. This solution is sticky and will make a mess if you let it dry and harden onto your floor or counter. In the end, I did call Terminix. I just couldn’t deal with then any longer. BUT I have to say this treatment of Borax and Sugar worked better than any traps or sprays I found.

    Reply
  16. Katie Short
    March 31, 2015 at 2:31 pm (9 years ago)

    Great point! Let them enjoy the sugar while they think it’s JUST sugar. Borax always wins in the end! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Linda
    March 31, 2015 at 5:25 pm (9 years ago)

    Will this work on fire ants?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:54 pm (9 years ago)

      To be honest I’m not really sure. I think so! Borax is a natural pesticide, and all ants love sugar… so it’s worth a try!! Let me know for sure!

      Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 11:08 am (9 years ago)

      I just learned that fire ant piles can be killed with regular grits! NOT INSTANT GRITS. Just pour it on and they eat it and explode… good bye ants!

      Reply
  18. Linda
    March 31, 2015 at 5:27 pm (9 years ago)

    Our little city in south Ga must have been built on a fire ant bed(farm), with this warmer weather they already built numerous and large beds!

    Reply
  19. Loye
    March 31, 2015 at 5:50 pm (9 years ago)

    does this work with fire ants? That’s our big problem here in Texas.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:55 pm (9 years ago)

      To be honest I’m not really sure. I think so! Borax is a natural pesticide, and all ants love sugar… so it’s worth a try!! Let me know for sure!

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 1, 2015 at 11:09 am (9 years ago)

        I just learned that fire ant piles can be killed with regular grits! NOT INSTANT GRITS. Just pour it on and they eat it and explode… good bye ants!

        Reply
      • Patricia Ridpath
        April 1, 2015 at 12:26 pm (9 years ago)

        Dry boric acid works on the big water bugs and roaches. They track through it and take it back to their nest. Kills the whole colony.

        Reply
    • Vicki
      April 5, 2015 at 12:43 pm (9 years ago)

      I had harvester ants (also known as fire ants) in a crack in my driveway for years. I finally got rid of them with diatomaceous earth. It took several treatments but they are finally gone. You can get it at the hardware store. Also kills cockroaches.

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 5, 2015 at 5:42 pm (9 years ago)

        WOW, I’ve never heard of that before! What is it about the diatomaceous earth that gets rid of them?

        Reply
        • Jeb
          April 5, 2015 at 9:27 pm (9 years ago)

          It’s a very fine silica that kills them by dehydration. They must therefore crawl through it. This also kills cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, fleas; basically all insects with an exoskeleton. You can purchase food grade diatomaceous earth.

          Reply
          • Katie Short
            April 6, 2015 at 2:48 pm (9 years ago)

            WOW! I never knew this, I’ll have to tell my hubby asap! Thanks for the wonderful tips!

          • Nana
            April 9, 2015 at 9:22 pm (9 years ago)

            I have used the diatomaceous earth for the fleas in my yard. I also put it on my pets last year because we had them so bad. This stuff really works, even on ants….good bye!!!!!
            I found the diatomaceous earth at Tractor Supply in our area. I still have some left for this year. The only draw back is if the ground is wet or say it rains after it has been applied you will have to re-apply the next day. But it really does work. The grits also works for the ants outside. I have used that trick as well. Homemade and safe pesticides are the best, when they work.

          • Katie Short
            April 10, 2015 at 9:19 am (9 years ago)

            Great info nana! thanks!

      • Lanelle
        April 12, 2015 at 7:12 pm (9 years ago)

        We have a miserable fire ant problem in our neighborhood in San Antonio, TX. Neighbors use Amdro, etc. which just seems to make them meaner and bigger! I have found that 3 Tbsp. Orange Oil in l gal. water works great. I also add some molasses(to help build microbes in the soil). Or I buy a Mound Drench (4-6 oz. in 1 gal. water) which combines Orange Oil, Molasses, & Compost Tea. Fire Ants mess up the soil for planting, so the addition of the molasses and compost tea smell wonderful and help restore the damaged soil the mound caused. I actually eliminated a 10′ x 20′ mound in two applications using a pump up sprayer to inject in the mound gradually. The orange oil melts their exoskeleton. I use (not pool grade) but feed grade diatomaceous earth for crawling insects of non-ant sort. I have been told that this substance has sharp edges that kill the insects. I occasionally find a big water bug (giant roach) dead here and there. I NEVER have used chemicals because I have observed older friends who use them in the yard & in the house seem to develop fatal or debilitating nerve diseases. And vets tell us that chemical treated lawns cause such things as cancer in cats and dogs who move around outside. Best wishes for a bug-free summer with only butterflies and bees to pollinate your lovely flowers.

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 13, 2015 at 9:50 pm (9 years ago)

          I’ve never heard of using orange oil. So interesting, where do you buy it?

          Reply
  20. Doris
    March 31, 2015 at 7:39 pm (9 years ago)

    How long does the killer solution last? Since the recipe makes 2 cups and a few cotton balls won’t absorb a lot, I am wondering how long the mixture stays useable.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 31, 2015 at 8:36 pm (9 years ago)

      I still have my solution from last summer and have already used it this spring. It still works… so at least a year!

      Reply
  21. Shirley Lowry
    March 31, 2015 at 11:07 pm (9 years ago)

    thank you, thank you. I was on my hands and knees at 11:30 last night with a rag washing the baseboards in my kitchen, etc. with vinegar to try and kill those pesky ants. That isn’t an easy chore for a 79 year old to do either, so yout remedy will be much better on my knees and back. Thank you again for posting your tip for getting tried of those rascal,!’,

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:00 am (9 years ago)

      You poor thing! I am so glad this will be so much better for you! Show those ants who’s boss!

      Reply
  22. terri
    April 1, 2015 at 5:54 am (9 years ago)

    ive used this recipe for a couple of years when the warmer weather brings the ants. The sugar at tracks the ants and the borax does not digest and kills the ants upon ingestion. It’s the cheapest and best solution I’ve found. I have 2 cats and they have never been interested in the cotton balls

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:01 am (9 years ago)

      What great information! Someone earlier was asking about their cat and if it was safe. Good to know they will pretty much stay away from it! 🙂

      Reply
  23. Lanna C
    April 1, 2015 at 7:00 am (9 years ago)

    Love this article, my son is highly allergic to ants and we’re constantly having huge mounds in are yard. We treat and they move, do you have any experience in actually putting this solution in your yard? Maybe in a sprayer? Thanks for the advise

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:03 am (9 years ago)

      Great question, I actually have never put it in a sprayer… but that is definitely an idea! I have a feeling that wouldn’t work as well. It might be easier to just soak several cotton balls and just walk around your yard dropping them on ant hills. I hate your poor baby is allergic! I hope this helps some!

      Reply
  24. Kelly Gray
    April 1, 2015 at 7:27 am (9 years ago)

    Does this work on ant beds. I am from Alabama and we already have ant beds forming all over my yard.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:09 am (9 years ago)

      Girl, I’m with ya. I’m in Alabama too. I have had limited experience with ant beds, but I think my friend has used it on beds. I would recommend soaking a few cotton balls and just walking around dropping those borax bombs on the hills. Let me know if it works for ya!

      Reply
  25. Dawn R
    April 1, 2015 at 7:46 am (9 years ago)

    Well nuts! When my hubs sent me this I got all excited thinking it was going to say move!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:09 am (9 years ago)

      HAHAAH, that’s plan B. Don’t let those ants win!

      Reply
  26. Charlotte
    April 1, 2015 at 8:19 am (9 years ago)

    Do you know if this will work on Fire Ants?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 8:44 am (9 years ago)

      Great questions! I think it should! Fire ants like sugar and Borax is capable of killing fire ants,… so I think so! Let me know how it goes because a lot of people are asking this same questions!

      Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 11:07 am (9 years ago)

      I just learned that fire ant piles can be killed with regular grits! NOT INSTANT GRITS. Just pour it on and they eat it and explode… good bye ants!

      Reply
  27. Mindy
    April 1, 2015 at 9:45 am (9 years ago)

    I’m excited to try this. Do the ants take the cotton ball down into their nest?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 11:00 am (9 years ago)

      No, they just carry the yummy yet killer sugar down. It’s genius! 🙂

      Reply
  28. angie
    April 1, 2015 at 10:39 am (9 years ago)

    I already have them trying to take over my bathroom I will be going to get the stuff today to start getting rid of them

    Reply
  29. Valerie
    April 1, 2015 at 10:41 am (9 years ago)

    I have two cats at home…Will this mixture affect my cats??

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 11:03 am (9 years ago)

      Well, I’ve heard from other users that their cats general stay away from it… maybe they can smell the borax and just don’t touch it. But, I couldn’t promise that your cat might not get curious. This stuff is very low on the toxic scale, so they should be okay… but maybe set it out when they aren’t around 🙂

      Reply
    • Karanna
      April 4, 2015 at 5:29 am (9 years ago)

      I saw in another question that it’s toxic to pets. They mentioned a great way around it is to put the cotton balls into a hamster ball.

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 5, 2015 at 5:40 pm (9 years ago)

        Saw that too! Great suggestion!

        Reply
  30. pattiemelt
    April 1, 2015 at 12:57 pm (9 years ago)

    I use a simpler method – plain ol’ cornmeal. Sprinkle on their trail or put a ring of it around an ant hill. Like the grits somebody else mentioned, cornmeal works for all kinds of ants where sugar only attracts sweet-eating ants.

    Reply
  31. August
    April 1, 2015 at 2:17 pm (9 years ago)

    Will this work for fire ants, do you think? Because that’s what we have to deal with.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 3:47 pm (9 years ago)

      For fire ants I would recommend using grits. Not instant grits! Just classic make from scratch kind. I haven’t used this method, but a friend has. I have only used the borax killer with sugar ants! Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Ruthie Wilson
        April 4, 2015 at 9:34 am (9 years ago)

        What do you mean, “using grits” for fire ants – how? Do I just sprinkle the grits in their area?

        Reply
        • Katie Short
          April 4, 2015 at 7:09 pm (9 years ago)

          YES! I just sprinkle dry grits on a mound and the fire ants take them in to feed to their larva… the larva can’t digest them and the ants die off. This method does take about 5 or 6 days, but I have heard from MANY great sources that it is very very effective.

          Reply
  32. Carol Young
    April 1, 2015 at 3:28 pm (9 years ago)

    Sounds good. I will try this since ant season will be starting soon here in NH. What do you have for getting rid of mice, too, that isn’t poisonous to anything that might eat the mice after the mice have eaten and are dying or have died>>> (sorry – question mark key doesn’t work) And cheap, too… Thanks.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 1, 2015 at 3:49 pm (9 years ago)

      Sorry… I haven’t ever had mice before. Maybe a mouse trap? A mouse killing cat? 🙂 Not sure, but I’ll ask around for you!

      Reply
    • GMom
      April 5, 2015 at 9:03 am (9 years ago)

      mint &/or a good cat (I use both). Mint doesn’t kill, just keeps them away. The cat is the killer, but she likes to give me her kill as a present, yuk(lol). Heard that catnip works also for mice, it is of the mint family & a treat for your cat. We are pretty much rodent free & now we will see our cat coming home from an outing carrying something in her mouth, U guessed it- a mouse or rat! (I don’t like using poisons- but decon rat poison does work, but u need to be VERY VERY careful)

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 5, 2015 at 5:40 pm (9 years ago)

        VERY helpful! Thanks for your tips!

        Reply
      • Sheryl
        April 6, 2016 at 8:44 am (8 years ago)

        I agree with mint! I have it on only one side of my house, but have never had a rodent in the house in the thirteen years I’ve lived there. Also had some around the last house I lived in. Same story. Heard this from my grandmother.

        Reply
  33. Sarah Perreault
    April 1, 2015 at 4:03 pm (9 years ago)

    I can’t wait to try this. We have 5 kids, so there’s always something left to feast on. Borax also works for lice. Sprinkle it on the carpet and let it set and then vacuum it up after it sets for 24 hours. Just be sure and empty the vacuum when done. It’s amazing everything kids can bring home.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 9:23 am (9 years ago)

      WOW! I didn’t know this! Thanks for the tip! With 5 sweet babies, you gotta stay on top of it I imagine! 🙂

      Reply
  34. Miz Tish
    April 2, 2015 at 9:01 am (9 years ago)

    I live in a development of four-plex Condos, in SW Florida. We have our share of “Sweet Eating” and “Fire Ants.”
    My next door neighbor was having serious issues with the “Sweet Eating” ants. Her and her hubby were contracting an expensive ‘Pest Control’ outfit for relief.
    Being a naturally inquisitive person, when I saw the ‘Service Man’ outside applying the ‘Bait’ to trees, bushes, window sills, etc. I approached him as a curious, possible customer >>>(to get information, as I would never pay $$ hundreds of dollars every couple of months to treat and retreat).
    He was squirting a thick, clear, liquid gel at places where he detected ant trails. He TOLD ME that the ants eat some of the poison laced gel, run back to the nest to ‘Feed’ the ‘Queen’… And, NOTIFY all that he found a great food source!!
    Word spreads, they run and feed, carry the mouthful back to their nest, until they die from the poison. Within 1-2 days, they are all ‘Dead & Gone.’
    Should they reappear, it’s a new colony discovered ‘You’ !! So, don’t despair or worry that it didn’t work. It’s a ‘No Fail’ recipe. They are just a NEW camp. Repeat your procedure. Why this is sooo important to me? >>> (All my left wall is connected to her right wall… creating a ‘common wall’)… so these fellas crawl into and thru walls, infesting a route to the ‘Food’ source… Well, these lil buggers found their way to my place. My children are grown and out of the house. I’m pretty much ‘Crumb’ free. But, one drop of anything… even my trash can, that is so clean you could eat out of it, well— there they are, scavenging away at microscopic tidbits!! Jeeze, Louise!!
    I read up in an old timey cookbook and found your same recipe. Made some and set it out. ‘THEY’ set off a siren, EVERYONE showed up and ate… ran home, fed the Queen. The next day I was ready for a continued battle… By Golly, there was NOT an ant to fight. I couldn’t believe it!! That FAST. Gone!!
    I had ‘Jar-ed’ up the majority of this magic sauce. So, I spilt it with my neighbor. Explained all this to her and hope she tries it, rather than spend all that hard earned money on exterminators.
    I’m one Happy Homeowner. (Ant Free)

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 9:26 am (9 years ago)

      WOW! A true testimonial! I can’t believe people spend that much money either, I think they just don’t know how much they are wasting they moo-lah! We gotta spread the word about Borax! Than you so much for your story! So glad you are ANT free!

      Reply
  35. Chasidy
    April 2, 2015 at 10:53 am (9 years ago)

    We use this recipe every summer. Except we don’t mix it with water. We use equal parts borax and sugar and sprinkle the white powder around the ant hills. Works like a charm!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 1:03 pm (9 years ago)

      I love this idea! Great alternative!

      Reply
  36. paulaj
    April 2, 2015 at 12:07 pm (9 years ago)

    I have been told that borax is toxic. now I’m wondering. I have used Walt o’Meal.

    Reply
  37. Delores Kauffman
    April 2, 2015 at 1:28 pm (9 years ago)

    Does this work for Fire Ants too?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 9:07 am (9 years ago)

      Yes, but a great recommendation from others has been real grits! NOT THE INSTANT KIND! Just sprinkle it on and watch those fire ants attack… it a takes a couple days, but those ants are gone for good!

      Reply
      • JW
        July 16, 2017 at 4:14 pm (7 years ago)

        That’s an old wives tale.

        Reply
  38. Wilma brown
    April 2, 2015 at 2:08 pm (9 years ago)

    To kill hundred of ants at one time, this works for fire ants as well, buy the cheapest dishwasher liquid and take the bottle and make a circle with the liquid around the complete ant bed, approx 3 inches from the bed all the way around the ant bed With the liquid make two complete circles around the bed. Do not leave an opening so they can get out, After the circle, take a stick and punch several holes in the bed a d pour some liquid in the stick holes. They can’t run out because of the circle you made. Within 30 minutes- all the ants are dead. It really works and no mixing or etc. Check it out on a ant bed in your yard.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 3:33 pm (9 years ago)

      SO INTERESTING! Thanks for the big tip!

      Reply
  39. Lisa
    April 2, 2015 at 2:59 pm (9 years ago)

    how long do the ants stay away when you do this? I bake cakes for people in my home and I am ALWAYS scared that one day I will be giving an ant cake 🙁

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 3:32 pm (9 years ago)

      I put this solution in my car where my toddler continually,… even now… drops foods for ants to eat, but I have STILL not seen a single ant. I don’t know how long it lasts…so all I can say is, a long time! So hopefully this will help protect those yummy cakes! Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

      Reply
  40. Beth
    April 2, 2015 at 3:54 pm (9 years ago)

    so does this work outside on those awful ant hills ??????

    Reply
  41. Beth
    April 2, 2015 at 3:54 pm (9 years ago)

    so does this work on those awful ant hills outside ?????

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 9:06 am (9 years ago)

      Yes, but a great recommendation from others has been real grits! NOT THE INSTANT KIND! Just sprinkle it on and watch those fire ants attack… it a takes a couple days, but those ants are gone for good!

      Reply
  42. Chris
    April 2, 2015 at 4:41 pm (9 years ago)

    I know this works. I found a very old recipe from my husbands grandmother to mix borax 1/2 and 1/2 with icing sugar (confectioners sugar) and sprinkle on the lawn to get rid of them. We had them one time and they were like flying ants they were everywhere! We sprinkled the lawn and by morning they were gone!

    Reply
    • Michelle
      April 3, 2015 at 8:37 am (9 years ago)

      Chris,
      do you just use this recipe on the anthills directly, or sprinkle on the entire lawn? One would need a crud load of borax & sugar to do the entire lawn!

      Reply
      • Chris
        April 18, 2015 at 3:03 pm (9 years ago)

        we had a small lawn area to cover but yes it was that entire area.

        Reply
  43. Wende
    April 2, 2015 at 7:01 pm (9 years ago)

    Ants are my arch nemesis! I just bought some ant killer and sprayed the outside of my house only to have ants inside the next day.

    I cant wait to make this and pour it around my house! I have just remodeled the entire inside of my house and working on an in home bakery. I DONT NEED ANTS!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 2, 2015 at 7:43 pm (9 years ago)

      NO ONE needs ants! I hear ya sister! Good luck! I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

      Reply
  44. Kelly
    April 2, 2015 at 9:02 pm (9 years ago)

    Hi, Katie. I have several bird feeders in my yard. My biggest problem with my hummingbird feeders is the ants. I was wondering if this mixture would be safe to use around my feeders? I have ground feeding birds as well. I had heard Peppermint will keep ants out of the house. I mix one bottle of peppermint flavoring with 22 oz of water and spray the poles, so far this seems to be working. I also plant peppermint plants at the base of my feeders and outside my kitchen.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 9:03 am (9 years ago)

      Wow, well it sounds like that might be all you need then! If those peppermint pants ever fail, stick a cotton ball or two at the base with this borax mixture… that should help a lot too. I’ve also had TONS of people recommend grits for fire ants. NOT INSTANT grits, the good old fashioned made from scratch kind! That will kill fire ants. Good luck and keep those birdies fed!

      Reply
  45. Susan
    April 3, 2015 at 6:10 am (9 years ago)

    Hi Katie, growing up on organic farm we never used anything but natural pest control. My grandfather would put boric acid in the window sills and around the foundation of the house for ant and spider and mice control. It worked great but did have to be reapplied as the rain could wash it away. Of course, natural boric acid is toxic but we never lost a pet or ingested it as kids. Only a thin line right up against the foundation behind the bushes and he did put it on ant hills as well. Never put it near grandmothers flower garden since peonies need ants to bloom! Everything old is new again!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 9:01 am (9 years ago)

      GREAT ADVICE! I swear, I’m learning more from the people who are reading this post than I ever thought was possible with Borax! Thank you so much for commenting!

      Reply
  46. Michelle
    April 3, 2015 at 8:33 am (9 years ago)

    I don’t have ants in my car or in my home, but all the growing anthills outside is another story! Can I just spray this recipe in my yard or do I need to use the cotton balls?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 8:59 am (9 years ago)

      Well if they are in your yard, I would recommend the grits method… pour real grits… NOT INSTANT GRITS. The ants will attack them! GIve it a few days and those ants will be GONE-ZO.

      Reply
  47. Julia
    April 3, 2015 at 9:34 am (9 years ago)

    Does this work on fire ants? or just sugar ants?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 10:39 am (9 years ago)

      I’ve heard mixed reviews about fire ants… but a great recommendation from others has been real grits! NOT THE INSTANT KIND! Just sprinkle it on and watch those fire ants attack… it a takes a couple days, but those ants are gone for good. GOOD LUCK!

      Reply
  48. Gary
    April 3, 2015 at 10:56 am (9 years ago)

    If you mix Borax and sugar with banana they will take it back to there nest and feed it to there young and you wont have to deal with them ever again.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 11:56 am (9 years ago)

      WOW! Great idea! Thanks!

      Reply
  49. Carmen
    April 3, 2015 at 10:57 am (9 years ago)

    I’m sure it works! I’ve always mixed borax with icing sugar and sprinkled it where they were seen. They were all over my couch and found their way to my coffee table, my laptop, etc. Then I realized some pop had spilled in my pop fridge, which I had cleaned out, but hadn’t realized it got underneath the fridge, and that’s why they’d come in. Now, no more ants! 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 3, 2015 at 11:56 am (9 years ago)

      So glad to hear to taught those ants a lesson!

      Reply
  50. Tanith
    April 3, 2015 at 3:19 pm (9 years ago)

    I live in Cyprus and as soon as the weather warms up, in come the ants! Baking powder seems to help redirect the ants – they won’t go over it – but they just turn up somewhere else. I am going to try this instead – if I can find Borax here that is! – Thanks for the recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 4, 2015 at 7:04 pm (9 years ago)

      I hope you can find some! I bet it would be worth ordering though. It definitely would last you a long time!

      Reply
    • Geri
      April 10, 2015 at 7:53 am (9 years ago)

      Tanith, you can find Borax in the laundry aisle. A brand name is 20 Mule Team Borax. It has a lot of other uses that they list on the box.

      Reply
  51. Ron Boto
    April 3, 2015 at 5:01 pm (9 years ago)

    When I looked at the picture further down your article, I thought I was looking at a Hostess Snowball and immediately told myself “I’m not going to sacrifice a Snowball to ants!” But, that’s just an old guy being nuts.

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 7:00 pm (9 years ago)

      HAHAHA, I wouldn’t insult Hostess snacks by feeding it to ants. 🙂

      Reply
  52. Brandy
    April 3, 2015 at 5:32 pm (9 years ago)

    Do you think you could put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the yard? We have them really bad all over our yard.

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:59 pm (9 years ago)

      I don’t know if that would be as effective. I would just mix the borax powder with sugar ( NO WATER) and sprinkle it all over your yard. That would definitely help some!

      Reply
  53. Nicki
    April 3, 2015 at 6:41 pm (9 years ago)

    I just made some of the ant stuff. I’ve tried allot of home made remedies that didn’t work. Willing to try this! Thanks

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:58 pm (9 years ago)

      Can’t wait to hear how it goes!!!

      Reply
  54. Sophie Bai Lei
    April 3, 2015 at 9:32 pm (9 years ago)

    Nor sure, but don’t think this will attract fire ants. …they feed on protein not sugar.

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:55 pm (9 years ago)

      Good point! I recommend real grits for fire ants, NOT INSTANT. Takes a few days, but it will take care of those fire ant monsters! 🙂

      Reply
  55. David Gorham
    April 3, 2015 at 11:20 pm (9 years ago)

    Can I mix the sugar and Borax and put in a sprayer to put on front yard?

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:54 pm (9 years ago)

      I haven’t tried this. But if you mixed up dry borax with dry sugar and shake it out on to your front lawn that should do really well!

      Reply
  56. Saskia
    April 4, 2015 at 12:21 am (9 years ago)

    Love this article, and really need to try. But I never saw Borax in de shops here in Europe … it probably has another name … any idea ?

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:53 pm (9 years ago)

      If they did sell it, it would be in the laundry aisle. I have no idea what it would be called! You could probably order some online! It would last FOREVER!

      Reply
      • Geri
        April 10, 2015 at 7:56 am (9 years ago)

        A brand name is 20 Mule Team Borax, it’s in the laundry aisle.

        Reply
  57. Linda
    April 4, 2015 at 3:39 pm (9 years ago)

    I had ants in my kitchen. We followed there trail to the driveway. There were several ant hills crawling with ants going up the side and inside my house. Someone told me about Borax and sugar. I mixed it up dry put it in a jar with holes poked in top and sprinkled the ant hills and kitchen counters. Have not had ants since.

    Reply
    • John Smith
      April 4, 2015 at 6:52 pm (9 years ago)

      WOW! I love that! So glad it worked for you!

      Reply
  58. Alison
    April 5, 2015 at 6:00 am (9 years ago)

    Do you know if this solution works on fire ants? I am going to try it. I have them everywhere in my yard.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 5, 2015 at 5:22 pm (9 years ago)

      I don’t think this is as effective as using grits. You would pour real grits on the mound ( NOT INSTANT GRITS)… They immediately take them in to their home. Takes a few more days (I’ve heard 5 or 6), but this method DEFINITELY works. 🙂

      Reply
  59. Rhonda
    April 5, 2015 at 9:30 am (9 years ago)

    I read different pages on this and some suggested if you find the ants or termites going into the walls to drill holes in the walls and pour the solution in the holes. I thought about that and who wants a bunch of huge holes in their walls. A person could fill a meat injector syringe with the solution and drill the smallest of holes and the inject it into the walls. Doing this will only cause a nail sized hole which can easily be filled with toothpaste and painted over. The ants and termites will build nests in the walls I know for fact from remodeling our house and it can make them almost impossible to get rid of.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 5, 2015 at 5:20 pm (9 years ago)

      This is such an interesting thought! Let me know if you try this! I’d be curious to know if it works!

      Reply
  60. Ellen
    April 5, 2015 at 1:33 pm (9 years ago)

    As a mother (of two daughters, college and HS senior) working full-time for the past ten years, the best part of Katie Short’s article is in her bio where she states she has “…a husband who has gifted her with the joy of staying home.” THAT is truly a gift.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 5, 2015 at 5:15 pm (9 years ago)

      That is so sweet! Thank you for your very generous and kind words 🙂

      Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 5, 2015 at 5:46 pm (9 years ago)

      I may have just read this out loud to my husband. 🙂

      Reply
      • Ellen
        April 8, 2015 at 6:28 pm (9 years ago)

        Please do.

        Reply
        • Ellen
          April 9, 2015 at 12:39 pm (9 years ago)

          My white cotton balls were completely black with ants within 20-30 min. Within two hours, the cotton balls were nearly white due to the ants’ departure. Thank you Katie for this most inexpensive and effective ant reduction solution. FYI-Terro used to be my go-to ant killer (approx. $5/small bottle). It was effective but expensive. Guess what is the main ingredient in Terro? Borax.

          Reply
          • Katie Short
            April 9, 2015 at 3:10 pm (9 years ago)

            That is so funny, thanks for letting us know how it works for you! So glad to know you were showin’ those ants who’s BOSS! Enjoy the rest of your spring/summer ant free!

  61. JOANN KUHL
    April 5, 2015 at 7:09 pm (9 years ago)

    Going to try this next time i go visit my daughter. She gets ants really bad in her kitchen.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 1:11 pm (9 years ago)

      Your daughter will forever thank you!

      Reply
  62. linda
    April 6, 2015 at 11:35 am (9 years ago)

    love it!!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 1:11 pm (9 years ago)

      🙂

      Reply
  63. Angie
    April 6, 2015 at 11:59 am (9 years ago)

    FYI: I have heard not to put anything on or directly next to the ant mounds themselves because once they find their home has been disturbed in any way they will just pack up and move, giving the appearance they have died or disappeared. I don’t know if it’s true for all species, but it’s something to keep in mind. I’m going to sit some soaked cotton balls a few feet away from the mounds and place cotton balls as close as possible to the point of entry inside my house so they don’t have to come all the way inside to access it.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 1:12 pm (9 years ago)

      Excellent advice! I’ll remember this!

      Reply
  64. Angie
    April 6, 2015 at 12:06 pm (9 years ago)

    I truly hate ants! Aside from sitting on a fire ant pile as a toddler, my first inside encounter with ants was as a new, first time mom, after an all night breastfeeding session. I awoke to myself and my bed covered in ants trying for a session of their own! Just recently, we found a nest of ants in our SUV. Apparently they pulled a large crumb of food inside our emergency kit in the trunk. The nest was complete with a queen and ant larvae. They must die!!!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 1:13 pm (9 years ago)

      I hate ants in the car!!!! Life ruiner. Trust me this will solve your problem!

      Reply
  65. Verna Collins
    April 6, 2015 at 12:40 pm (9 years ago)

    This really works. I even put some cotton balls outside the door where they were coming in.Didn’t take very long, no ants!!!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 1:16 pm (9 years ago)

      Yea!!! So glad to hear! Now you have the power to save your friends and family from ants!… And of course boast wildly about how cheap and easy it was.

      Reply
  66. Kim
    April 6, 2015 at 7:22 pm (9 years ago)

    This is the ant solution we have used for years. It works because the worker ants carry the poison back to the queen and feeds it to her. When you kill the queen, you kill the colony.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 6, 2015 at 9:09 pm (9 years ago)

      First hand testimony! Love it! Thanks!

      Reply
  67. Tori Aul
    April 7, 2015 at 9:24 am (9 years ago)

    I just came across this today. Very timely, as I just dealt with ants ruining my breakfast this morning. I will have to give this a try!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 8, 2015 at 12:28 pm (9 years ago)

      Oh no! That is horrible… Let us know how this works out for you!

      Reply
  68. Sandy Bailey
    April 7, 2015 at 8:14 pm (9 years ago)

    thank you will sure try this

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 8, 2015 at 12:29 pm (9 years ago)

      Great! So glad this helps!

      Reply
  69. Elyse
    April 7, 2015 at 11:22 pm (9 years ago)

    I read this post and shared it on my Transforming Drops Facebook page! I’ve been looking through some more posts and am really enjoying all you have to share! Gonna have to try this if ants visit this year.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 8, 2015 at 12:30 pm (9 years ago)

      WOW! Thanks for the share! Hope this works well for you! It is a staple at my house 🙂

      Reply
  70. Sue
    April 8, 2015 at 12:11 am (9 years ago)

    You’ll never get rid of them if you don’t find the main nest and get rid of the queen, you can pour this mixture right over and around the main nest but you’ve got to get rid of the head honcho or they will keep coming back.

    Reply
    • kbabs
      April 8, 2015 at 6:04 am (9 years ago)

      Have you tried this method yourself? Many people on here have and supposedly the ants bring it back to the queen to eat just like they naturally do, which kills the queen. I mean it’s explained numerous times. I probably would try it myself before saying it doesn’t do what many people are clearly saying it does.

      I realllly hope it works!

      Reply
  71. kbabs
    April 8, 2015 at 5:55 am (9 years ago)

    Just curious as to what the string is used for in your photo… around the top of your solution?

    Thanks & cannot wait to try!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 8, 2015 at 12:27 pm (9 years ago)

      It’s used to make my jar more fancy. Even ant killer can be fancy :)… it kills the ants better. Can’t wait to hear how this goes for you!

      Reply
  72. Lynnette
    April 8, 2015 at 8:10 pm (9 years ago)

    This will not work for protein ants. (We got both sugar and protein ants last year.) But it is easy to get them too. just mix 1 teaspoon borax with a teaspoon and a half peanut butter tuck under the sink where the babies can,t get it on a piece of paper and soon you will be free of the protein ants. It works because the worker ants carry it home to the queen and the rest of the colony effectively killing the whole kitandcabbodle.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 9, 2015 at 6:47 am (9 years ago)

      Great idea! I’ll tell my husband this 🙂

      Reply
  73. Cairn
    April 8, 2015 at 9:46 pm (9 years ago)

    I have used this and it works great!!!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 9, 2015 at 6:47 am (9 years ago)

      So glad to hear! Thanks for telling us!

      Reply
    • Cathy
      April 9, 2015 at 7:04 pm (9 years ago)

      Terro is not safe if you have pets

      Reply
      • Katie Short
        April 10, 2015 at 9:14 am (9 years ago)

        I’ve heard about Terro, but don’t know much about it. Thanks for the tip! IF it is cheaper than this method I may check it out!

        Reply
    • Terry
      April 18, 2015 at 4:44 pm (9 years ago)

      I found this comment interesting … it seem’s this lady had been a Terro user as well …
      Ellen
      April 9, 2015 at 12:39 pm (1 week ago)
      My white cotton balls were completely black with ants within 20-30 min. Within two hours, the cotton balls were nearly white due to the ants’ departure. Thank you Katie for this most inexpensive and effective ant reduction solution. FYI-Terro used to be my go-to ant killer (approx. $5/small bottle). It was effective but expensive. Guess what is the main ingredient in Terro? Borax.

      Reply
  74. CATRYNA
    April 10, 2015 at 7:15 am (9 years ago)

    We have been using this solution for decades and it is tried and true. But, be aware that it works on most insects, including bees. We found that out much to our horror, when our hive of bees was decimated.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 10, 2015 at 9:13 am (9 years ago)

      Thanks Catryna! Sorry you decimated your bees, but I’m glad you’ve had success with this for DECADES!

      Reply
  75. Jill Grieve
    April 10, 2015 at 12:14 pm (9 years ago)

    Is this dangerous for pets?

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:20 am (9 years ago)

      Well, you definitely don’t want your pet to eat it, but it will not seriously injure your pet. Borax has a low toxicity if ingested.

      Reply
  76. eddy
    April 10, 2015 at 12:56 pm (9 years ago)

    I use Jiffy mix ,a type of corn bread mix, its already sweet and ijust shake it out of the box where ever I see ants, I have no ants now, they take it to the nest , they can’t digest it, and they all die.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:21 am (9 years ago)

      ooooo, never that of that! Great idea!

      Reply
      • gina
        June 7, 2016 at 10:07 pm (8 years ago)

        i tried it it actually work it is so good i give it to my mother she loves it *

        Reply
  77. Lori
    April 10, 2015 at 3:25 pm (9 years ago)

    Last year my yard was infested with fire ants, tried this and it killed some, but it was so bad, I ended up spraying. I wonder if I sprayed this if it would work.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:19 am (9 years ago)

      Good question! Maybe try the powered version (mix dry borax with sugar) and sprinkle it around… OR try the grits version! Pour grits ( NOT THE INSTANT KID) around the nest, not on the nest, and let the ants eat them. THis takes several days, but it does kill the ants. 🙂

      Reply
  78. Teresa
    April 11, 2015 at 12:26 am (9 years ago)

    Years ago I moved into an old apartment infested with roaches, gurr…. mom gave me this recipe and I now swear by it and it works for any bug that like sweet. Mix boric acid and powdered sugar 50/50. Put a couple tablespoons in old jar lids and place in back of drawers, shelves, under sinks, under shelf liner etc. Put it anywhere, cracks in window sills, behind counter backsplashes etc. The bugs eat the sweet and the boric acid dehydrated them or blows them up since they can’t fart to release gas. All I know is it works for me and I havn’t seen a bug in years around here, except the occasional spider or cricket maybe. I don’t use much now, just a lid under sinks, storage closet corners hidden, and back of shelves or drawers we are seldom in that stay closed up. Spring, for ants I do use it in window sills or small cracks if I see them but they are gone fast after I use it.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:18 am (9 years ago)

      I love this, i’ll have to try this! We are always trying to way out whether we should sign up for a bug spray plan for our house. Definitely going to try your idea first. LOVE IT!

      Reply
  79. Anne
    April 11, 2015 at 5:58 pm (9 years ago)

    I found this recipe online several years ago and it saved my sanity! I make a batch every summer. I poured 2 litres of it over an entire 8″ high ant hill that appeared right next to my driveway. Poof – no more ants. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:17 am (9 years ago)

      Oh my gosh! That is quite the batch and the ant hill! I’ve never made a batch that big, i’ll have to try that!

      Reply
  80. Walter VanSlyke
    April 12, 2015 at 11:19 am (9 years ago)

    I have just one question. Does it kill the ants, or does it cause them to move their nest to another location? Email me the answer.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:15 am (9 years ago)

      It kills them! BYE BYE ANTS!

      Reply
  81. Stacey Wiseman
    April 12, 2015 at 2:45 pm (9 years ago)

    I’ve just made my first batch…My question is can the remaining solution that’s left in the jar be saved for another day or is it no good once it cools? Can’t wait till tomorrow to find my ants gone!

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 8:15 am (9 years ago)

      Absolutely save it! I’ve had mine for almost a year and it is still good! We just put some out this week!

      Reply
      • Stacey Wiseman
        April 14, 2015 at 7:07 am (9 years ago)

        Thanks!!

        Reply
  82. Nona
    April 13, 2015 at 9:03 am (9 years ago)

    Thank you so much for this post! My son is highly allergic to ants. One bite and he is miserable!! He mostly gets bites on his feet or legs, then his whole foot and ankle swells and he is limping for days. And it’s not just fire ants. I’m hoping this will solve at least half the issue. I HATE keeping him inside 🙁 will the grits REALLY work? I’m desperate and can’t afford. to try 20 different DIY remedies. Thanks again!

    Reply
  83. Karen
    April 13, 2015 at 10:37 am (9 years ago)

    I’ve used a borax/sugar combo for years. It works great! There are new ants every year and it usually just takes one application and I’m done! My recipe has been equal parts borax powdered soap and sugar. I just sprinkle around the base of my house where the ants are. The ants are attracted to the sugar and they take it along with the borax to their nest which kills the ants in the nest as well.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 9:42 pm (9 years ago)

      I haven’t tried the dried form yet, but I keep hearing how it works! May have to check it out soon!

      Reply
  84. Marilyn
    April 13, 2015 at 8:29 pm (9 years ago)

    From the National Pesticide Information Center: What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to boric acid?

    Boric acid is low in toxicity if eaten or if it contacts skin. However, in the form of borax, it can be corrosive to the eye. Borax can also be irritating to the skin. People who have eaten boric acid have had nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, and diarrhea. Diarrhea and vomit may have a blue-green color. Eating extreme amounts has resulted in a red, “boiled lobster” like skin rash, followed by skin loss. People who breathed in borax had a dry mouth, nose, and throat. Coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, and nose bleeds have also been reported. Infants are more sensitive to pesticide exposures. Some infants that ate large amounts of boric acid also had nervous system effects. These include abnormal postures, convulsions, confusion, and coma.

    Boric acid affects animals in a similar way. If eaten, signs of poisoning in animals can start within 2 hours. See the fact sheet on Pets and Pesticide Use for more information.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 13, 2015 at 9:41 pm (9 years ago)

      Very informative… thank you!

      Reply
  85. Haggard
    April 14, 2015 at 11:30 pm (9 years ago)

    I did not read all the comments. Peppermint oil works well also. They will move right on out when you spray that stuff around. Mix a little in a small spray bottle of water, shake and spray.

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      April 15, 2015 at 7:03 am (9 years ago)

      interesting! I bet your yard smells awesome too. 🙂

      Reply
  86. wendy
    April 17, 2015 at 2:41 pm (9 years ago)

    this combo works amazing imo! although I didn’t know about the cotton balls, I used lids from jars to put the mixture in an placed under furniture. I was in the same boat in a little log cabin for a year, pregnant and we were invaded with 3 sizes of ants and some were falling off the roof in the middle of the night! shudder LOL We used this as well as white vinegar all the way around the foundation outside and I also used white table salt as room barriers so they wouldn’t cross over. (I also know now DE will work too) but it worked for us! Also one time in the Bahamas in our little tiny house we had thousands of little ones…white vinegar gluggled around the house did the trick. Reapply sometimes after a few weeks if it rains for too many days in a row. 🙂

    Reply
  87. w as yne
    April 19, 2015 at 8:01 pm (9 years ago)

    Help, Bats any solutions they come and nest in the archway of my home every year

    Reply
  88. August
    April 28, 2015 at 8:20 pm (9 years ago)

    Question: How do you store it? On the shelf, in the fridge…

    Reply
  89. Stacy
    April 29, 2015 at 1:10 pm (9 years ago)

    I have carpenter ants in my kitchen. We live in the woods so we are constantly fighting that battle of the bugs. They are mostly interested in the garbage can under my kitchen sink. Bug spray does little to help so I was excited to find this! I set the cotton balls out last night in our garbage can and it was like a feeding frenzy!! It took everything in me to fight the temptation to kill them right there but I am hoping some made it back to their nest to share. I haven’t seen any yet today but tonight will be the test. They usually come out around dinner time. *fingers crossed* Thank you for this tip!!

    Reply
  90. Thomas
    May 10, 2015 at 9:32 am (9 years ago)

    Talc powder is effective in killing the Queen in most ant types. I have also had success with yeast. Best recipe I have meets bot sugar and grease hunting aunts, mix talc and yeast with peanut butter and molasses, put on tin foil squares everywhere you see ants. You will be horrified after the first overnight as they will be covered, do not kill ants let them take the food back to the nest. The yeast will explode them, the talc scratches their intestines killing them slower but needed to get the Queen. They will drag the dead to the nest and eat them spreading the talc/yeast, Borax uses the same principle and can be used instead

    Reply
  91. Addison Renee
    June 23, 2015 at 8:53 am (9 years ago)

    Thank you. Ants have completely claimed my porch and patio furniture. I have tried all sorts of things to get rid of them. I will try this for sure!

    Reply
  92. Ann
    July 5, 2015 at 9:10 am (9 years ago)

    Made the formula and they came and went. However, 2 days later, I’m seeing random ants thru out the house. not a lot, maybe 3-5/room. before they were just in the kitchen. Are these just leftovers? any suggestions?

    Reply
  93. John
    July 6, 2015 at 9:48 am (9 years ago)

    There is a much easier way to kill ants. Instead of the simple syrup, boiling, adding Borax and using cotton balls, head on down to Home Depot or other home improvement or local drug chain and buy a product called Terro. Six traps in a box. Simply snip off the end of a trap, place it near the ants and they will all be gone in two or three days maximum. The traps contain the same mixture, Borax and simple syrup. No mess, no fuss; pick up the used traps and throw in the trash. I slip my used traps into a plastic sandwich bag for safety.

    Reply
    • Ann
      July 6, 2015 at 3:06 pm (9 years ago)

      Assuming both methods are equally effective, how come I still have ants? Although today they are significantly less and the few that are around are not looking too chipper. So, i guess it takes more than 1 day to kill the nest.

      Reply
  94. MD
    July 20, 2015 at 8:45 am (9 years ago)

    I mixed 6 Tablespoons sugar and 1 Tablespoon borox, then added just enough water to make it hold together, like a thick syrup, and put in a cool whip container, punched holes around top on container and covered with lid. I had many CARPENTER ANTS in my house. This erradicated them! It DOES work on them too.

    Reply
  95. Nora
    November 6, 2015 at 3:22 am (8 years ago)

    I have a terrible termite problem in the garden . Do any of you have a solution?

    Reply
  96. paul
    March 7, 2016 at 8:56 am (8 years ago)

    i am in australia and we have tiny house ants here, they do seem to love anything sweet though, im wondering if it will work with them

    Reply
    • Katie Short
      March 8, 2016 at 12:59 pm (8 years ago)

      In my opinion, if they love sweet stuff, it should work!

      Reply
  97. Noodle
    May 14, 2016 at 10:04 pm (8 years ago)

    1 gram of borax can kill a small child. It is not safe to ingest, even in small amounts. This is not a “safe” product for killing most bugs, no matter how many bloggers tell you otherwise.

    Reply
  98. prudence schmidth
    May 17, 2016 at 5:36 pm (8 years ago)

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  99. Tabitha Ray
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