While ants may not be a problem to some people, others it can be nuisance. If you have an infestation of ants in your household, it can really be hard controlling and getting rid of them especially if it is your first time encountering this. How do you get rid of ants at home with borax? Is it effective to get rid of ants with borax and other best commercial products?
When ants invade your home, you should take immediate control and deal with them. Ants have a tendency of reproducing rapidly establishing large colonies within a couple of days. Ants in large number have the potential of causing structural and economical damage.
Acting quick ensures that ants are controlled and damage is minimized or completely prevented. One of the best way to deal with ants is eliminating their colonies before they cause havoc in your house or yard. There are a number of options to deal with ants ranging from natural home remedies and commercial products, which can be found in the market. Borax is one of the best and economical when dealing with ants.
How do you get rid of ants with borax? Borax also known as sodium borate is an effective commercially used ant killer that gets rid of ants fast and effectively. You can also buy commercial ant control products based on borax ant baits, traps, granules and many more. There are several DIY borax homemade recipe ant killer.
This article has provided facts on how to control and eliminate ants using borax including methods for preparing natural borax ant killer from home or kitchen. The post has recommendation on commercial ant killers based on borax. Read more…
What is Borax?
Naturally, borax is an alkaline mineral found in nature. It is a compound of boron also known as sodium borate. Other terms to define borax include sodium tetraborate or disodium tetraborate. It is found in arid regions such as beach, saline lakes and hot springs. Borax can collected by mining for commercial purposes mainly from Southwest United States, Searles Lakes and the areas where lakes evaporate seasonally.
Borax compound is commonly found in cleaning products such as detergents, soaps, toothpaste and other cleaning products. Other than insecticidal purposes, you can use borax for removing fungi, in cosmetic and for maintaining flowers.
Too much exposure to borax is not considered safe. It may cause irritation on the skin or eye. When using borax, it is highly advisable to use masks and other personal protective equipment. Always keep borax away from your kids and pets to avoid any serious health risk.
Does Borax Kill Ants?
Although borax has a low toxic level, it can be lethal for a number of ants’ species. It is one of the best product to deal an infestation of ants. NOTE: ants are not attracted to borax, you have to add some bait to attract the ants to eat the borax. The baits can either be liquid or solids. Choose the baits depending on the types of ants you are dealing with.
To make borax effective in killing the ants, you have to make sure you know the types of ants you are dealing with. This make the borax poison effective. Ants are categorized into groups according to the type of foods they eat. For example, sugar ants tend to love sugar mostly carbs while grease ants will opt for foods that have oils and fats mostly proteins. This way, you will have to prepare a series of borax either liquid or solid baits.
How Does Borax Kill Ants?
Borax is one of the fatal weapon for eliminating ants. The method use will determine how borax kills the ants, for example, to eradicate ant infestation you can use either ant baiting or liquid insecticide. Baits are easy to use, just apply the ant baits and the ants will take the baits to their nests where other ants will feed on the bait. This is how the entire colony will die and your problem will be solved just like that.
Ant baiting is a slow –acting process but eventually the entire ant colony will be eliminated. If the queen survives, it means a new colony will be re- established. Place several baits to target the queen.
If you opt to use the direct treatment, as in with the liquid borax insecticide or borax powder, well and good. This method too can also help to eradicate ant infestation. When you apply borax directly on the ants, it damages their exoskeleton causing them to dry which eventually leads to their death.
How Long Does it Take for Borax to Kill Ants?
Honestly, the time it takes for borax to kill and eradicate ants depends upon on the level of infestation and the method you apply when dealing with the ants. A smaller infestation will definitely take less than or approximately a week.
When you have a larger infestation, it may take a longer time. You may need to apply several baits in all the entry points and near the habitat of the ants. Within a couple of weeks, you will see positive results.
Is Borax Safe for Pets – Cats & Dogs?
As pointed out earlier, borax has low toxicity level. But note, direct contact can cause harms to your pets such as dogs and pets. It can cause breathing or coughing problems. Make sure you keep your pets away once you begin treatment of borax. At human levels, too much exposure to borax can lead to skin or eye irritation.
Does Borax Kill Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are known to cause structural damage at home especially on wooden structures. The ants tend to build their shelters in wood and damp places. Borax is toxic in nature and kills nearly all the ants’ species. Borax will definitely kill carpenter ants. Carpenter ants tend to dig tunnels in wooden structures and the damage can be quite significant.
Apply borax in wooden structures to get rid of carpenter ants’ infestation in your house or lawn. You can use borax traps, baits or liquid insecticides.
Does Borax Damage your Lawn?
Borax is mostly used to get rid of ant infestation in homes or backyards? Always remember that borax can at times be toxic for plants if you don’t properly apply the borax correctly. To apply borax safely either solid or liquid whether inside or outside, make sure to use a lid or container. Take precaution when handling it. It can cause irritation to your eyes or skin. Don’t place the borax on the ground such that it is in contact with the plants, it can cause damage to your plants since it can also act as a natural herbicide.
Borax vs Boric Acid for Ants –Differences
Some people find it hard to differentiate between borax and boric acid. Borax is many time confused with boric acid but the two are not really the same. Borax is the salt of boric acid. Like mentioned, borax is a natural mineral collected through mining or basically from evaporate lake deposits.
Boric acid or hydrogen borate is prepared by combining borax with some mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid. Note: both borax and boric acid can be use as insecticide for killing ants. Always read the guidelines before using either of them. Although the two appear similar, boric acid is slightly more toxic than borax powder.
Where Do I Get Borax for Ants?
Borax can be purchased commercially from online shopping sites of any store that sells borax and other pest control insecticide. It is affordable. Borax mostly come in form of white soft crystals. You can either make borax insecticide in liquid or sprinkle it directly on the ants.
List of Ants that Borax Kills
Almost all types of ant species can be killed by borax. Other than just ants, you can use borax to kill pest such as bugs, cockroaches, rats and among others. Here is the list of ant species that borax can kill:
- Pavement ants
- Ghost ants
- Fire ants
- Crazy ants
- Pharaoh ants
- Odorous house ants
- Acrobat ants
- Carpenter ants
- Mound ants
- Little black ants
- Sugar ants.
How to Get Rid of Ants with Borax
Getting rid of ants with borax should be easy and effective. But first, the best approach to prevent an invasion of ants is to keep the ants out of your house or deal with them as soon as you notice them coming into your house or yard.
A large colonies of ant can cause havoc not just in your house but also in your lawn. Here is how to get of ants with borax:
1. Identify The Type Of Ants You Are Dealing With
This is key. Knowing what type of ant species you are dealing with will not only save you time but also money. Borax being one of the most used ant killers, it will help to get rid of ants. You need to add some baits to attract the ants. While some ant species prefer sugar or carbs others prefer fats or protein.
To effectively get rid of ants, carefully inspect the types of ant species and their food preference. Only then you can go to the next stage which is baiting.
2. Ant Baiting
This the second and the most vital stage after inspection of the type of ant species you are dealing with. You may need a container, lid or cotton balls. The process involves placing the cotton balls, lid or container in strategic point to lure the ants.
3. Applying The Borax
This stage requires you to locate the ant trails and placing the baits at the access points and near their nests. Borax is efficient in nearly all most type of ants. Prepare several liquid and solid baits. Be keen to check which ant baits works for you best. Placing both liquid and solid ant baits makes sure that no ant will survive the bait.
Homemade Borax Ant Killer Recipe – DIY Borax Ant Trap
You can use borax to prepare some of the best ant killer bait. The following are some of the recipe to make home, DIY ant killer with borax.
1. Sugar –Borax Liquid Ant Bait
In this case, sugar is added onto borax to attract ants that like sugar. Here’s how to make it at home:
- Mix 1.5 – 2 cups of sugar with a cup of warm water
- Add 1 tablespoon of borax
- Mix all the ingredients to dissolve
- Put the mixture in a container
- Soak cotton balls in the solution
- Place the bait near the nest and all entry points of the ants. You can change the bait once it dries out
- Repeat the procedure for excellent results.
2. Sugar- Borax Solid Ant Bait
Here is how to make a sugar solid ant bait with borax at home.
Mix 2 parts of sugar with 1 part of borax
- Sprinkle the sugar and the borax powder near the ant trail and their nest
- Spread the mixture evenly on the infested area including the ants’ entry point
- Do not touch the borax with your bare hands, instead wear gloves while applying the bait
3. Honey and Borax Bait
Honey is used to lure the ants that love sugar. But once they consume the honey mixed borax, the ants will in no time die and if by any chance they carry it to the nest, this will mark the end of the entire colony. Your problem would have been solved effectively.
Here is to make honey and borax ant killer bait:
- Take ½ cup of honey and mix with ¼ cup of borax
- Add 2 tablespoon of warm water
- Mix the two evenly to make a gel out of it
- Put the fine gel on a lid
- Place it near the ant trail and their nest
- Replace it after it dries out
- Repeat the procedure a couple of times in a day
4. Peanut Butter & Borax Ant Killer Bait
This bait of peanut butter and borax targets the greasy or protein ants.
Here’s how to make a recipe of peanut butter and borax ant killer bait:
- Take 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
- Add 2 tablespoon of borax
- Mix to make a fine paste
- Put the bait near the ant trails and their nest
Best Boras Ant Killers Products
Here are some of the best commercial borax ant killers products that we’ve recommended for you.
1. Harris Borax Liquid Ant Killer
This one of the best liquid ant killer found on the market both in online and stores near you. It is effective in getting rid of ants. It has been laced with sugar to attract all types of ants that love sugar. Borax is the active ingredient to kill the ants. You can use it for both indoor and outdoor purpose.
2. TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Killer
This ant killer comes with 12 pre-filled stations. It is ready to use and one of the effective ant killer bait in the market. You can use it for almost all types of ants. It is made in a as way that it doesn’t dry out. Again borax is the active ingredient. Use six bait stations at a time to ensure you target most of the ants.
3. Harris Ant Killer Liquid Borax
This ant killer bait comes with 9 baits tray in each pack. It is effective in killing all types of ants. Again, borax is the active ingredient.
Conclusion
Borax is one of the most commonly used ant killer bait in households. It is not only cheap but the most effective in getting rid of ants. It can be applied to treat ants in both indoor and outdoor ant invasion. Take precaution when handling borax, it can cause skin and eye irritation. When you use to get rid of ants in your lawn, do not apply it directly, otherwise it can cause damage to your plants.
There are quite a number of ant killers sold commercially that uses borax as an active ingredient to get rid of ants. In the post, we have showed how to use borax and combine it with homemade ant bait. Although borax has a low toxicity level, when you use it to kill ants the results are amazing. GOODLUCK!
