Best Yard Treatment For Ants

1. Diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide)

Diatomaceous earth (DE, for short) is a type of silica dust made from the pulverized, fossilized remains of ancient aquatic organisms called diatoms.

DE is not poisonous. Instead, it kills ants and other pests by pulling oil from their skeletons and drying them out. To kill ants with DE, just sprinkle the powder any place you see ants entering or moving through your home.

Pros: Effective, natural, safe for pets and people

Cons: Can be messy, pets may track DE dust throughout the house, DE can be a skin and respiratory irritant, requires reapplication 

2. Detergents

Household detergents, like hand soap, glass cleaner, or liquid detergent, can deter ants from entering your home. Remember: ants have poor eyesight, and they rely on the scented pheromone trails they leave behind to navigate the world.

Fortunately, household detergent removes these trails and helps keep ants out. For best results, mix detergent with water and scrub the surface with soapy water. You can also use store-bought glass cleaner the same way.

Pros: Easy, safe and non-toxic

Cons: Requires manual application and regular re-application

3. Pepper

Ants rely on their sense of smell to navigate the world, and they find the scent of pepper irritating. To deter them from entering your home, sprinkle ground black or red pepper around your baseboards and behind appliances.

Pros: Affordable, safe

Cons: Can be an irritant for kids and pets, may be messy, requires regular re-application

4. Essential Oils

Peppermint, cinnamon leaf, lemon, neem, eucalyptus, thyme oil, lemongrass oil, tea tree oil are natural ant repellants that can go a long way toward keeping ants out of your house. For best results, mix a few drops of essential oil into 2 cups of water and spray the mixture around the baseboards, windows, and doors of your home.

Pros: Affordable, easy, safe for children

Cons: Can be irritating to pets, especially cats

5. White vinegar

If you see ants in your home, mix up a solution of 50-50 vinegar and water and wipe the ants up with it. This kills existing ants and repels future ants by leaving a lingering scent of vinegar that works as a natural ant repellant.

Pros: Easy, affordable, effective

Cons: May not be safe for all surfaces, leaves behind a vinegar smell

6. Baking soda (or borax)

Ants and baking soda don’t mix. In fact, Baking soda and borax will both kill ants upon ingestion. For best results, mix equal parts baking soda or borax for ants and confectioner’s sugar and place it into a shallow container where ants can reach it.

Pros: Effective, easy

Cons: May attract kids or pets and can be toxic for both

7. Chalk

Chalk contains calcium carbonate. When placed in a thick line, calcium carbonate can confuse an ant’s scent trail, making it more difficult for them to pick up the scent of other ants and confuse the pests.

For best results, draw a thick, heavy line of chalk around the areas you’d like to protect, such as a picnic table or barbeque.

Pros: Affordable, easy

Cons: Not a long-term solution (will only keep ants away for a while), must be reapplied after rain or watering. 

8. Oranges or lemons

Citrus fruits, specifically orange or lemon rinds, contain an extract known as d-limonene, which is toxic to ants. Instead of throwing out those orange peels, keep them and turn them into a homemade ant repellent. Here’s how:

Dump discarded orange peels into a gallon jar. For best results, fill the jar halfway with peels and fill the rest of the container with water. Seal the jar and place it in a dark place for 3-5 days until the water is colored.

Strain the liquid, dump it back into the jar, and add a teaspoon of molasses and a single squirt of dish soap. Mix the liquid well, place it in a spray bottle, and spray it directly on ants when you see them.

The citrus oil will kill the ants on contact. You can also use this orange oil extract to eliminate ant trails, so be sure to spray it anywhere you’ve noticed ant activity.

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, non-toxic for kids, pets, and other animals

Cons: Can create a sticky residue, can be time-consuming to make

9. Salt

Salt can be an effective, natural ant killer if you use it correctly. For best results, mix a cup of Epsom salt into a spray bottle of water and spray it directly on ants whenever you see them.

The salt will kill the ants through dehydration without harming non-target species.

Pros: Epsom salt is safe to handle and won’t harm kids, pets, or other animals

Cons: You’ll need to reapply the salt regularly to make a dent in ant populations. This method only works if you spray it directly on ants. 

10. Cornstarch

Cornstarch, which you probably have in your kitchen already, is an effective ant-killer. You can either pour cornstarch over an entire group of ants and dump water on top or cover the ants with cornstarch and vacuum them up.

If you choose the first option, you’ll need to wipe up the dead ants and cornstarch and dispose of them. If you choose the second option, make sure to dispose of the contents of your vacuum canister immediately.

Pros: Effective, non-toxic, fast

Cons: Can be messy, requires more cleanup than other methods

11. Boric acid

Boric acid will kill worker ants and the colony’s queen within three weeks of exposure. To use it effectively, make a solution containing ½ teaspoon of boric acid, eight teaspoons of sugar, and 1 cup of warm water.

Stir the mixture until the boric acid is dissolved. Saturate cotton balls in the solution and place them anywhere you’ve noticed ant activity.

Pros: Affordable, effective

Cons: Boric acid can be dangerous for kids and pets, so the solution and cotton balls must be kept out of their reach

3 Conventional Methods To Get Rid Of Ants In The House

If you’re looking for conventional ways to get rid of ants, these five are the most common:

1. Ant baits

Ant baits are small, covered pods that you place in areas the ants have been trafficking. The pods contain concealed poison, which the ants access and carry back to their colony. When ants in the colony consume the poison, it kills them.

Pros: Effective, affordable

Cons: Can be dangerous for kids and pets, requires regular checking and replacement

2. Ant traps

Ant traps work quite a lot like baits, except that they trap ants and do not allow them to leave. These traps may also contain poison, which kills ants rapidly.

Pros: Affordable, effective

Cons: Must check the traps regularly and dispose of dead ants 

3. Ant spray

Ant spray is available for both indoor and outdoor use. It kills ants on contact and can make quick work of an ant problem.

Pros: Effective, fast-acting

Cons: Contains toxins and is not safe for use around kids or pets, kills ants on contact, which means it is not a permanent solution

How To Get Rid Of Ants Outside The House

We’ve talked about getting rid of ants indoors, but maybe you’re wondering how to get rid of ants in your garden without killing plants. Here are our top tips:

1. Boiling water

Boiling water is an easy, effective way to kill ants immediately. If you see ants emerging from a crack in the concrete or a hole in the ground, pour boiling water into the area. This will kill many of the ants within it. Just make sure you’re not pouring boiling water on your plants or their roots since this will kill them, as well.

Pros: Effective, safe, easy

Cons: Requires regular re-application

2. Barrier sprays

Outdoor barrier sprays can be applied along the foundation line of your home. These sprays kill ants on contact and provide long-acting ant prevention. You can purchase them at your local home and garden store or hire a pest management company like Smith’s to provide professional-grade sprays.

Pros: Effective, long-lasting

Cons: Requires regular re-application, toxic, not safe for kids, pets, or other animals, may kill beneficial insects, as well

3. Ant granules

Ant granules work like deconstructed bait stations. The granules are placed around your home’s exteriors, where ants consume them and die on contact.

Pros: Effective, affordable, DIY-friendly

Cons: Toxic, dangerous for kids and pets, requires re-application

If you’re looking for a way to kill ants, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve got all the answers you need to know about this pesky problem. We’ll tell you what kind of ants you’re dealing with, how to spot them and their nests, and how to get rid of them once and for all.

You’ll also learn about the best ways to prevent ants from coming back, so that even if they do find their way into your home again, it won’t be an issue.