If you’ve ever walked into your kitchen and found a trail of ants marching across your countertops, you know how frustrating it can be. Ant infestations are a common nuisance, especially during warmer months, and while pest control services are an option, they can be expensive and involve chemicals you don’t want near your food.
Fortunately, my dad—a DIY genius—showed me a simple trick that costs next to nothing, uses basic household ingredients, and works like magic. After trying it once, I haven’t seen ants in my kitchen since. Here’s the method, step-by-step.
What You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon of borax (found in most cleaning aisles or online)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1/4 cup of warm water
- Cotton balls or a bottle cap
- A small dish or shallow container
🧪 Why It Works
This mixture is both irresistible and deadly to ants:
- Sugar attracts them—it’s the bait.
- Borax (a natural mineral) is toxic to ants, but they don’t realize it.
- They carry the mixture back to the colony, eventually wiping it out from the inside.
It’s safe to use around the house if kept away from pets and children.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix the ingredients: Combine borax, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved.
- Soak a cotton ball or pour a small amount into a bottle cap or shallow lid.
- Place the bait where you’ve seen ants (along the wall, near trash bins, behind appliances, or along windowsills).
- Wait: At first, you’ll see more ants as they’re attracted to the mixture. This is good—it means the bait is working.
- Give it 24–72 hours. The ant population will begin to disappear as the poison spreads throughout the colony.
✅ Why This Works Better Than Store-Bought Traps
- It’s cheap
- It uses no harsh chemicals like commercial sprays
- It targets the entire colony, not just the visible ants
- You can customize the placement easily around the kitchen
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix the ingredients: Combine borax, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar and borax are dissolved.
- Soak a cotton ball or pour a small amount into a bottle cap or shallow lid.
- Place the bait where you’ve seen ants (along the wall, near trash bins, behind appliances, or along windowsills).
- Wait: At first, you’ll see more ants as they’re attracted to the mixture. This is good—it means the bait is working.
- Give it 24–72 hours. The ant population will begin to disappear as the poison spreads throughout the colony.
✅ Why This Works Better Than Store-Bought Traps
- It’s cheap
- It uses no harsh chemicals like commercial sprays
- It targets the entire colony, not just the visible ants
- You can customize the placement easily around the kitchen
Safety Tips
- Label the mixture if left out
- Keep out of reach of children and pets
- Avoid placing directly on food surfaces
🧼 Bonus Tip: Prevent Future Infestations
Once the ants are gone, keep them away by:
- Wiping counters regularly
- Sealing food containers tightly
- Fixing water leaks or spills quickly
- Using cinnamon, lemon juice, or vinegar as natural repellents along common entry points
Final Thoughts
This simple hack has saved me dozens of dollars and a lot of frustration. It’s proof that you don’t need fancy gadgets or chemicals to take back your kitchen from ants. Sometimes, dad really does know best.
Want me to turn this into a social media post or short infographic?
