How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants

Do you have a sweet tooth? Or do any of your family members share the same habit with you? If so, you are most likely to prepare many sweet dishes at home. But one thing that you are most likely to face when you put sugar openly in the kitchen is that it attracts a lot of ants. So, how to get rid of sugar ants? There are some simple things to do for that. But before you need to understand a few things about sugar ants.

What causes sugar ants?

Sugar ants often come when food is present openly around your kitchen are dining area. So, make sure all the dishes are properly washed before you put them away. You also need to avoid dropping any sticky substances on the ground or spilling liquids on the surfaces where ants can get to them.

Finally, if possible, don’t try to drop any sugar near windowsills or doorways. These areas are very common to attract ants compared to other places.

Where do sugar ants live in a home?

Generally, sugar ants get attracted to areas where they can easily find food. One of the common places for ants to look for food is your kitchen. You may often notice them around dishes and sinks because these are their preferable sources of water. You may even find them close to syrup spills or sweet candy, as they probably love sweets.

Can sugar ants harm humans?

In many cases, sugar ants cannot harm humans because they generally do not sting or bite. They can be a problem though. It is because their consistent eating can attract other insects who may cause more threats, like cockroaches. Otherwise, sugar ants don’t even carry any diseases that they can pass on to humans. But you still do not want them around while working in your kitchen.

Can sugar ants go away themselves?

Sugar ants cannot go away themselves. You may need professional help to find a long-lasting solution to this issue. We have shared a few techniques to help you keep the sugar ants away. Just check out these techniques, as these are quite helpful to keep these intruders at bay.

How to eliminate sugar ants from your home?

Enough of wondering – about how to get rid of sugar ants. Now it’s time to imply the given methods to eliminate ants from your house. Here are a few methods to do so:

1. Eliminating their food source and habitat

Make sure sugar ants do not get any food sources. This will certainly reduce their numbers in your house. Meanwhile, it will improve the success rate of getting rid of these ants with effective home remedies to prevent any problem even before it begins. Always keep food sealed tightly in containers. The food crumbs must be cleaned immediately and also dispose of the garbage every other day or every day (if possible).

Ants may get attracted to pet and bird food too. So, keep pet bowls cleaned and away from open areas after your pets are done eating. Even eliminate the rooted wood and damp spots if necessary, as they offer ants a great habitat to nest, invade, and live in.

2. Blend glass cleaner and liquid detergent

Mix liquid detergent with glass cleaner or any dish soap. Then, spray it directly on the sugar ants or surfaces where they originate or come from. Wipe down the areas thoroughly after spraying. Also, leave a slight residue to prevent ants from entering again. If the smell of glass cleaner is very strong for you, mix plain hand soap in water and spray it.

3. White vinegar

Even white vinegar is great for killing sugar ants while repelling them. You can form a mixture of vinegar and water in a 50:50 ratio and can spray it directly over the ants for killing them. Also, spray the mixture into the ant holes. The diluted vinegar is great for cleaning surfaces, including countertops and flooring around your house to repel sugar ants. It will prevent them from getting into your house. Ants can smell vinegar even after it dries. So, it is a great disinfectant to repel ants, as well as other insects.

4. Lemon eucalyptus oil

Lemon eucalyptus oil is derived from the lemon eucalyptus trees, which is a natural bug repellent. You can use a cotton ball and dip it in undiluted oil. After that, place it in areas where sugar ants often come from. The strong smell of this oil will prevent ants from entering your house. Make sure to change the cotton ball after a few days.

5. Boiling water

You may even consider pouring boiling water into sugar ant holes and around your home to immediately and effectively kill sugar ants. Anthills look small, but their colonies underneath are wide. So, pouring boiling water just once will not kill all the ants. So, you need to repeat this procedure along with other methods to eliminate ants.

6. Essential oils

Tea tree, peppermint, neem, and cinnamon essential oils are some natural insect repellents. You can add ten to twenty drops of essential tea tree oil, peppermint oil, neem oil, or cinnamon oil to mix with two cups of water. After that, spray this mixture around your home and let it air dry. It is an effective remedy to eliminate mosquitoes as well.

7. Boric acid

Boric acid is like a poison to kill sugar ants, including the queen within just three weeks of exposure. The boric acid works by eroding their stomachs and outer shells. This solution consists of half a teaspoon of boric acid, a warm cup of water, and eight teaspoons of sugar. Stir all the ingredients until dissolved thoroughly. Now, dip cotton balls in this solution and place them around the houses, particularly in areas where ants are seen.

You may even pour this solution on the anthills. It is easy to set an ant trap using boric acid mixed with something sweet, like corn syrup or maple syrup. The sweet syrup will attract sugar ants and this trap will further kill the unwanted ants. But make sure to keep pets and kids away from boric acid. Also, wear gloves before working with boric acid to protect your hands.

Conclusion

These are some easy methods to get rid of sugar ants in your house. If any of these methods don’t work, you can call the professionals for help. The experts are aware of all the accurate methods to eliminate sugar ants from your home.