Sugar ants are a real nuisance and hard to get rid of. We've fought them off and on for the last 4 years. I've even posted on here before (as have many others) about using a solution of Boraxo/boric acid mixed with sugar for them to take back to the nest. Unfortunately, I have found that this is usually a temporary fix, as they just keep coming back. I've even heard they'll build nests in your walls.
To get rid of them on a more permanent basis, you're going to have to treat outside around your house too. The summer before last, we had a real problem with them. We'd get rid of them, but they'd be back in a few weeks in another area of the house. Finally, I bought a bag of insecticide granules and sprinkled it completely around the foundation of the house out to about a foot away, making sure to get it right up against the foundation too. To easily sprinkle, put the granules in an empty Pringles-type container and poke holes in the lid. Be sure to read the directions on the insecticide to see if you need to wet it afterwards.
I also continued to "feed" the little monsters in the house. Also, doing as I usually do, I kept a spray bottle of soapy water on the kitchen counter to spray any I saw. Within days, they were completely gone and never came back the rest of the year!
This spring, we didn't treat around the house and as soon as it warmed up, here they came. By mid-summer, they came back with a vengeance. I'd never seen it so bad! I'd spray, kill, and wipe ants away every time I'd go in the kitchen, but when I went back in, there'd be more. At one point, I sprayed more than 50 ants on the counter and 15 minutes later, there were more than 50 more, for hours! They spread from one counter to the other and into my stove. It was a nightmare!
And no, my kitchen was not dirty and I had everything in plastic. We've had a major drought here and they were coming in for water (one year we even had them build a nest in the dishwasher).
It took me a month to remember that we hadn't sprinkled around the house; they were coming in through the foundation. I was outside at midnight with a flashlight and my insecticide taking care of it! Within days they were almost all gone and within a week we didn't see another ant and haven't seen one in months!
This spring, I'm going to be shaking my can as soon as it stops snowing!
By Judy = Oklahoma from OK
No need for poisons. They are a danger to you, your pets and harmless critters. Better 20 mule team Borax solution that kills queen ants is about 10% 20 MT in squeeze bottle with Karo syrup. Warm a few seconds to dissolve. Squirt in cracks and areas where pets will not lick.
This solution will not kill your pets but enough eaten and they will have a sore tummy. Worker ants will carry sweet solution back to nest. Queens will die. nest will die. queens can produce many more queens in the 20 years they live. When you see the workers eating, let them continue for a few days. Poof - nests are dead.
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We have been battling sugar ants all month long. We started noticing them coming into the house late in February, when the spring rains started.
Very finely ground (espresso fine) caffeinated coffee, before brewing, works wonders on killing and eliminating ants. Apparently their systems cannot handle the caffeine and they die.
I mixed an equal amount of sugar and dry Boric Acid powder and place the mixture in a secure place; safe from children and pets. The ants carry it into their homes, and it kills the queen ant.Keep this mixture away from animals and kids.
With warmer weather here, a lot of us are going through the annual invasion of ants into our homes. Trying different means of eradication helps you find what works best for you.
Sprinkle ground cinnamon along cracks, windowsills, or wherever you find the ants. It doesn't take much, and it makes your house smell good while getting rid of the ants.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How can I get rid of sugar ants that have been appearing on my body? I usually see one at a time 4 or 5 times daily. Are there any soaps or solutions to apply?
By charlie from Pompano Beach, FL
We use Neem shampoo and soap for our body. Works for all kinds of different critters, bugs. We also use it on our dogs. As far as getting the bugs to stay out. We do NOT use chemicals what so ever and have had great luck with cinnamon and diatomaceous earth. I even put that stuff in the couch to keep out the kissing bugs, works great!
Short of calling an exterminator for sugar ants, boric acid or even 20 Mule Team Borax laundry powder mixed with Karo syrup can be used to eliminate the ants. Take care to keep the mixture away from areas accessible to children and pets. This is a page about getting rid of sugar ants in the kitchen.
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I have these small beige ants in my pantry. They are about 1/8" long.
I have what I was told are sugar ants. I have put all foodstuff in jars, etc. Now I found out they are in my carpeting in the living room.
