Can i kill ants with borax

By this time they have already established colonies and you are suddenly faced with a literal invasion. Ants get into your house through doors, windows, gaps in the foundation, and through utility lines among other spaces. Getting rid of ants may seem like an impossible task but borax might just be that special weapon that you need to control your ant infestation once and for all.

Borax, also known as disodium tetraborate, sodium tetraborate or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral often found in arid areas, specifically in saline lakes, playas, and hot springs. Borax is a boron compound and appears naturally where seasonal lakes evaporate repeatedly. This mineral may also be extracted synthetically from boron compounds. Borax is a low-toxicity compound if used properly and in the correct measure. The terms Borax and Boric acid are often used interchangeably and although both these substances are boron compounds, there are a few differences between the two minerals that are worthy of note.

Borax refers to the natural mineral that is collected from evaporated deposits or mined from the ground. When the borax is mixed with other natural minerals such as colemanite or boracites, the resulting compound is boric acid. Borax is, therefore, a salt of boric acid. Both borax and boric acid may be used interchangeably for killing ants. In fact, it is advisable that you substitute borax for boric acid if you notice that the ants are not attracted to the borax bait.

Studies show that some ant species are more likely to reject borax baits than boric acid baits and vice-versa. Note that boric acid, although generally safe when used in the right amount and when handled properly, is slightly more toxic than borax so exercise the appropriate caution when using this product. Borax has relatively low toxicity to humans and animals but the same cannot be said for ants. The mineral affects the digestive system of ants once ingested, and causes them to die eventually.

Borax is a slow-acting agent which is why it is so effective for ant control. The worker ants carry the poison back to the nest where it is ingested by other members of the colony including the queen. This method effectively eliminates the entire ant colony rather than only the ants that come into contact with the poison. The compound has to be mixed with bait which is what attracts the ant in the first place.

Think of it as preparing a delicious, poisoned feast for your unwanted guests. Some ants prefer sugar in which case sugar-water is a great option. Other ants prefer proteins in which case peanut butter is your go-to more on this later. Ants that consume the bait may begin to die in as little as hours. The amount of time it takes to eliminate the entire colony depends on a number of factors including the effectiveness of your bait, bait placement, and the size of the colony among other factors.

DIY borax mixes are cheap and easy to make but may not be as effective at attracting ants as store-bought solutions. Terro-PCO is a liquid borate bait that instantly attracts and kills ants and their colonies.

Terro-PCO is easy to use, has no unpleasant odors, may be used indoors and outdoors, and comes ready to use in pre-filled bait station. Why DoMyOwn? A more sure-fire way of getting rid of ants at home is to use store-bought ant traps such as the one above. Some of the reasons to choose store-bought baits over DIY borax mixes include:. Getting your borax mixture right is difficult and takes a lot of experimenting. To demonstrate this point, experts believe that the optimal concentration of liquid borate in a sugar-water solution is 0.

Additionally, the recommended amount of borate in ant bait targeting Argentine ants is 5. Store-bought ant baits typically have the optimal bait and borax combination which takes out the headache of constantly refining and experimenting with your homemade baits.

Keeping your ant bait in open containers allows the ant easy access to the poisoned bait but that also means that your children and pets can also get to the substance. Keep borax and borax baits away from children and pets.

Store-bought baits typically come in self-contained housing that is pet and childproof while still allowing the tiny ants access to the bait. The self-contained housing also means less mess and unsightly containers all around the house when using these baits. Borax may be mildly toxic but it is still not a substance that you want to handle unnecessarily. Store-bought baits generally come in ready-to-use containers where you only need to open and place the bait without touching any toxic substance.

Side effects of acute borax exposure include skin rash, vomiting, mouth infection, nausea, and respiratory problems. Keep in mind that borax is also an herbicide so you want to be careful about using it outdoors.

Rainwater can drain borax into the soil and plants and kill them. Store-bought outdoor baits are a much safer bet and usually have these considerations built into their use. The good news is that all ant species have the same basic digestive system.

That means that borax can be an effective ant killer regardless of the type of ant you have. The main challenge will be to entice the little pests to consume and share the borax poison. Keep in mind that various ant species have different feeding habits and food preferences. A single species of ant also has different nutritional needs depending on the season and may change its food preference mid-way into you setting up the ant traps.

It is for these reasons that you may have to experiment with various kinds of home-made borax ant baits until you find one that the ants will actually take. For this ant bait, mix one teaspoon of peanut butter and two teaspoons of borax. Blend the ingredients thoroughly and place in bottle caps or other open containers.

A variety of baits will make sure you eliminate the entire colony. You can use a small plastic container, plastic lid, paper plate, or cotton ball. The only important part is to make sure the ants can easily get in and out of your bait holder.

One recipe you can try calls for a half cup of sugar, 1. Another recipe to try, calls for three parts sugar for every one part borax. Blend these two ingredients together until you have no more lumps. Next, add enough water to turn the mixture into a thick paste. For the above example, about one-quarter cup of water will suffice. For the solid borax ant recipe, you want to use the same 1-to-3 ratio mentioned in the liquid ant bait recipe.

You can use the solid and liquids baits inside and outside, but if you use them in your garden, you need to make sure you put the mixture in a lid or other type of plastic container. Did this summary help you?

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Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Gather your supplies. You will be making a liquid solution using borax, sugar, and water, and then soaking cotton balls into this solution.

Pour the sugar and borax into the jar. The borax is what will kill the ants, and the sugar is what will attract them to the borax. Ants don't see borax as a food source, so they won't come near it—the sugar will be an effective bait.

Close the jar and shake it. You are doing this to mix the borax and sugar together. Open the jar and add the water. You can use any temperature water, but warm water will help the sugar and borax dissolve better. The water will turn the borax and sugar into a liquid solution, which will make it easier for you to dip the cotton balls into. Mix everything with a spoon, fork, or stick. Keep stirring until all of the sugar and borax are dissolved—or at least most of it.

Soak cotton balls in the solution. How many cotton balls you use will depend on how bad the ant infestation is. If you have any of the solution left over, you can save it simply by putting the lid back on the jar and storing it in a cool, dry place. Start setting out the soaked cotton balls. Focus on the ant trails; you want to place the cotton ball right onto the trail itself.

If you can find where the ants are coming from, you can set the soaked cotton balls near there. This will help them find the poison even sooner. If you don't want to get your floors or window ledges dirty and sticky, you can place the soaked cotton ball in a small container first, and then set the container out.

You can also use a shallow dish or a jar lid. Whatever container you chose to use, make sure that you don't use it for food purposes again. Borax is very toxic to humans and pets as well. Consider blocking the ant nest.

If you have located the hole where the ants are coming from, you can seal it with some epoxy putty or sealing paste. This will prevent the ants from coming back. Do this after you have killed all of the ants, and not before. Method 2.