I've been looking for a good non-toxic formula for killing the many sugar ants we get around our house. This is the easiest thing in the world and a great way to get your kids to help. Just give them a spray bottle of this stuff and let them loose on the ants/ant hills. It is completely safe and when you add peppermint oil to the mix, you mess up the ants' pheromone trail. Apparently they hate peppermint! It is safe to use on ornamental plants, but it may cause discoloration. Also, I've heard that if you find an ant hill/nest, you can pour boiling water on it and it will kill them. Another non-toxic idea is to sprinkle Borax (super cheap) anywhere you don't want ants. It will oxidize the ants. Be careful, though, because I don't know what it would do to ornamental plants or your lawn.
Homemade, Non-Toxic Ant Killer/Deterrent Recipe:
In a 16 oz spray bottle, fill half way with water. Add 3 Tbl liquid dishwashing detergent, or an enviromentally friendly liquid soap. Then add 4 tsp. peppermint oil. Shake well and spray!
Talk about easy! The soap kills the ants, the peppermint oil acts as a deterrent. If you don't want to kill the ants, just deter them, then omit the liquid soap and spray wherever you might think they might be coming in the house.
16 comments:
I will tell my sister she has had ants for years in her house. My sister in law in cal. uses the detergent water but I don't think she knows about the peppermint. Man I hope it will get rid of everyones ants.
Love you Jackie. Sorry I missed jess' party I would of loved to have seen everyone. I took 4 naps that day. & a big one the next day. I am feeling so good though.
Nice! I'll definately be trying that one out!
Candy,
I hope this works for your sis!
We missed you at the Luau. So glad you don't have to have the lung transplant and that you are feeling better. Hope to see you at scrapbook camp!
Can I use this around my basil plants? they are infested with ants!
I spray around my plants. Just wash your basil really good before you eat it, to make sure all the soap is off.
I'm SO glad I checked your blog tonight! Your name will be blessed, in our home, for sure if this works on our totally determined, seemingly indestructible army of ever-encroaching ants :) TY for sharing-I am so excited to try it!!
Blessings, Aimee
PS: Actually your name is already blessed by this fellow NWer!
Great post, Jack! I'm glad you have found something that works for you. So far we have never had an ant problem here. Mice every now and then, but not ants. Any natural ways to get rid of mice?
Stacie,
The most natural way I've found to keep mice out is find where they are coming in and stuff steel wool around the hole.
This. Worked. Wonders.
Thank you so much for the recipe! No more sugar ants in this house!
Yeah!!!
I have a cat who likes to get into everything so I use 1/2 tsp sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp yeast. Put it in a small dish (I use an old jar lid).
Place it where you see the ants coming in. They are attracted to the stuff. You'll see them in the lid, some alive some dead, and after a while you will see no ants on your counters.
I've heard of using the honeypot method but haven't tried it myself. I'll have to give it a whirl now that I've heard someone having good results with it. Thanks for leaving your comment :) Blessings!
I just got an infestation of ants in my kitchen & did a search for a non toxic ant killer deterrent.
I found your post. I don't have the peppermint oil on hand to deter them, so I just did soapy water & they are keeling over! Thanks for the hint.
Now to find their source of entry! That may be another mystery.
Yes, the soapy water alone will kill them and finding the source of entry is key, too. So glad you found this useful! Thanks :)
cucmber peels will kill and repeal ants I put then under my sink where they were coming in and now nothing all gone
Yeah!!!
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