The Problem with Conventional Ant Remedies
Before diving into the trick, it’s important to understand why many conventional ant remedies often fail or offer only temporary relief. The problem lies in the nature of ant colonies. When you see ants inside your home, you’re only witnessing the tip of the iceberg. The real issue lies in the colony, often hidden away in walls, under floors, or outside the home. Killing the ants you see may temporarily reduce the problem, but unless you target the colony itself, they’ll keep coming back.
Many store-bought ant traps and sprays are designed to kill on contact. While this might make you feel like you’re solving the problem, you’re actually just eliminating the worker ants that venture out to find food. The queen and the rest of the colony remain untouched, continuing to breed and send out more workers.
The Trick: Borax and Sugar Solution
My aunt’s trick is both simple and effective. It uses a common household item, borax, combined with sugar to create a potent but safe ant killer. Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral that is often used in cleaning products. When ingested by ants, it disrupts their digestive system and eventually kills them. The key to this method’s success lies in the sugar, which acts as a bait to lure the ants to the borax.
Here’s how you can do it:
What You’ll Need:
Borax: Available at most grocery stores in the laundry aisle.
Granulated Sugar: Regular table sugar works perfectly.Water: To dissolve the mixture.
Cotton Balls or Small Pieces of Cardboard: To place the bait around your home.
A Small Container: For mixing.
Instructions: