The only thing worse than an ant in your kitchen is a whole bunch of ants. As those who’ve dealt with kitchen ant infestations are all too painfully aware, it’s almost tempting to just up and move instead of dealing with a long, cumbersome battle to get rid of every last one. But before you start arming yourself with pricey ant repellants or scoping out local real estate listings, know that there’s a less stressful method worth trying out. You can whip up your own ant killer right at home, and there’s a good chance you already have what you need. And, no, we’re not talking about coffee grounds, which you can use as an additional pest control hack. We mean baking soda and regular powdered sugar.
The best part? This homemade ant killer isn’t harmful to humans and isn’t going to contaminate your kitchen with chemicals. It’s super simple, too: Get a few clean jar lids, and fill them with a thin layer of equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar mixed together. Use about ½ to ¾ tablespoon of each, and less if your lids are on the smaller side. Sugar attracts ants, while baking soda leads to their demise. Refresh (clean out and rebuild) the traps every few days.
The amount of time it takes to catch all the ants in your kitchen depends on how bad the situation is and how long it’s been going on. No method is guaranteed to totally free you from an infestation (without tackling the colony source, that is). However, you should notice a significant reduction in live ants within a week. Even after they appear to be all gone, consider keeping the traps going for another week or two to be sure.
More tips to get rid of kitchen ants for good
While you probably already know this, keeping your kitchen as clean as possible will help keep ants and other pests from invading the space. Keep all surfaces free of food spills or crumbs (think anything ants may seek out). In addition to wiping down surfaces regularly, store food in airtight containers and take out the trash daily. If you’ve previously struggled with ant infestations in your kitchen, you can also try wiping counters with vinegar or lemon juice — both disrupt ant trails. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is another natural substance that can stop ants; sprinkle it wherever you see them congregating.
It’s also a good idea to get down on your hands and knees and get inside the mind of an ant. Move trash cans and furniture, searching for spots in your kitchen you may easily forget to clean. Look for moisture spots and potential leaks to fix, as these also attract ants. Seal up cracks and entry points around windows, doors, and baseboards — anywhere ants could potentially get in. Yes, it can be a lot, but it all helps.
Still, the most important thing you can do is continue to keep the space clean. It’s crucial to clean up after every time you use your kitchen, not just once a day, as food residue can harden and become more difficult to remove. Since cleaning your kitchen after you cook is daunting, you can make things easier on yourself by tidying up as you go (before you’re even done cooking). Remember; as annoying as regular cleaning can be, it’s nothing compared to fighting off a whole ant infestation.
