Ants can be a major pest in late summer as they are foraging for food and preparing for the colder months, which often makes them bold enough to enter people’s homes.
However, rather than buying a bug spray filled with harmful chemicals, there is a very simple and natural way to keep ants away for good.
If you look online there are many home remedies to deter ants such as white vinegar, mint or cinnamon, but these are often short-term solutions as the smell will simply irritate them.
Jason Tan, a pest specialist from Empire Pest Control, has shared that the best way to stop ants from coming back is baking powder as it will kill them.
He said: “Baking soda is a great way to get rid of ants because it essentially dehydrates them, leading to their death. It also works for anthills and other anthills that you may have in your yard or garden.
“Baking soda does not leave behind any dangerous residue after being used, so it can be effective without leaving a lasting impact on the environment around you!”
How does baking powder kill ants?
Baking powder is alkaline, and when ants consume baking powder it comes into contact with the acidic environment inside an ant’s stomach, which will produce carbon dioxide gas.
Unlike humans, ants cannot pass gas so the build-up causes pressure which will lead to their death.
It can also absorb moisture from an ant’s body to dehydrate them and block the breathing spores in their exoskeletons.
Baking powder is highly effective are getting rid of large amounts of ants and is a natural way to kill them without using poisonous sprays which could harm any pets or children in your home.
How to get rid of ants using baking powder
You will need:
Method:
All you need to do is place equal parts baking powder and sugar in a bowl, then mix it together.
Sprinkle the mixture around doors or areas where there has been a lot of ant activity. The ants will eat the baking powder-laced sugar and bring it back to their colony, which will eventually kill them.
The sugar will act as a bait to attract the ants while baking soda will kill them. You can also mix baking soda with honey or syrup but it may be messier to clean up afterwards.
Baking soda is safe to use in the gardens but it can also dehydrate plants, so be careful if using it near grass or flowerbeds.
This simple homemade solution is a natural, cheap and safe way to get rid of ants without having to use harsh chemicals around the home.
