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How to Kill Ants Using Household Products
How to Kill Ants Using Household Products. Ants in the home, lawn and garden are a nuisance. If you have fire ants, they bite. In order to get rid of a colony ants for good, you must kill the queen. Commercial baits are designed to do just that. However, there are a few home remedies that you can try first. If one does not work effectively, try...
Ants in the home, lawn and garden are a nuisance. If you have fire ants, they bite. In order to get rid of a colony ants for good, you must kill the queen. Commercial baits are designed to do just that. However, there are a few home remedies that you can try first. If one does not work effectively, try another. Keep in mind that many home remedies only kill a few ants and deter the rest, not kill the colony.
Things You'll Need
Vinegar
Spray bottle
Dish detergent
Baby powder
Cayenne pepper
Black pepper
Cinnamon
Step 1
Mix equal parts of water and white or apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray on the ants to kill them and then along areas where ants travel to prevent them from coming back. Reapply as necessary, often every two or three days. Pour this mixture also over the top of anthills. Vinegar does not kill fire ants, according to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Step 2
Pour hot water on anthills. Use 3 gallons to get deep into the colony. Do not pour on plants or grass since hot water can kill them. Hot water is 60 percent effective in successfully getting rid of a fire ant colony. Repeat if they relocate.
Step 3
Pour 3 gallons of soapy water over anthills. Like the hot water, you may have to reapply if the ant colony relocates. This method is 60 to 70 percent effective on fire ants.
Step 4
Kill a few ants and keep them at bay with other home remedies, such as sprinkling them and the areas they frequent with scented baby powder, cayenne, black pepper or cinnamon. Reapply as necessary to keep the ants out of your home. Outdoors, sprinkle these remedies across doorways, other ant entrances and around the perimeter of your home.
