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(Sung to the tune of The Ants Go Marching One by One)
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah,
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants came into my kitchen one day,
With thoughts to carry our food away.
And I took them ALL DOWN . . . TO THE GROUND.
Yes I did. . .by myself,
without Terro.
I'm crazy, you say? Yep, I am. But I was crazier when we had ants that wouldn't go away. We spent probably $30 in spray, ant bait stations and other gadgets from the store and nothing was working. They were on my kitchen counters every day and every day I told my husband, "We need to do something about these ants!" He kept telling me, "We've tried everything!"
When I was little, I remember the liquid Terro that my mom would use when we'd get ants at home. We couldn't find it anywhere in the stores. I knew we could order some online, but I wasn't about to have to wait for that (even with Amazon Prime shipping). I looked up the ingredients online to find out the active ingredient in the liquid Terro. It was Borax. That's when I decided to make my own DIY Ant Bait.
Here's what you'll need:
Ingredients & Materials
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons Borax
1 cup warm water
Cotton balls
Pieces of aluminum foil
Tape
Mix all the ingredients together until they're well-combined. Dip two cotton balls in the mixture and set them on a piece of aluminum foil taped down to a flat surface. Two pieces of tape are sufficient. The ants just need an entry point onto the foil.
Now sit back and watch the magic begin - here they come. Sorry for the horrible photos. Ants are difficult to photograph, folks. Especially in low light conditions. They started coming to the bait in the evening.
And. . .they kept coming. It took them a few hours after I put the solution out for them to find it. But when they did, I noticed a considerable difference in the number of ants the next morning. I saw one. And after that, they were gone. No lie. This stuff worked.
Just a note about the Borax, as with any insect killer, etc. please keep the solution away from children and pets. Borax can be harmful. I placed my solution on my kitchen counter far enough back so the kids couldn't reach it. Just be smart with where you place it. I was so impressed with this bait! It will be my new "go-to" solution for any future visits from ants. If you're having a problem with ants, I hope you try it, too!
DIY Ant Bait
Materials
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons Borax
- 1 cup warm water
- Cotton balls
- aluminum foil
- Tape
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together until they're well-combined.
- Dip two cotton balls in the mixture and set them on a piece of aluminum foil taped down to a flat surface. Two pieces of tape are sufficient.
Notes
- Proportion and Mixing: Ensure the correct proportion of ingredients by accurately measuring 1 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of borax, and 1 cup of warm water. Thoroughly mix these ingredients together until they are well combined. Proper mixing ensures that the bait solution is effective in attracting and eliminating ants.
- Placement and Accessibility: Dip two cotton balls into the bait mixture to saturate them adequately. Place these baited cotton balls on a piece of aluminum foil taped down to a flat surface. Ensure that the aluminum foil provides a stable platform for the cotton balls and that it is securely taped down to prevent movement. Placing the bait in areas where ants are commonly seen ensures its accessibility for them to discover and consume it.
- Safety Precautions: Borax can be harmful if ingested, so it's essential to take precautions when using it in DIY ant bait. Keep the bait solution out of the reach of children and pets. Additionally, consider placing the bait in areas inaccessible to pets or wildlife to prevent unintended exposure. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling borax or any bait mixture to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with the eyes.
Sam
Ok, I set this up this afternoon and when I came back tonight, they are STREAMING! Did you see an uptick in traffic before they disappeared? They seem to be originating from the outlet... Should I take the plate off and vacuum them out?!
Sara
They're streaming because they're coming to eat the bait. That's a good thing! It means that it's working. After they eat the bait they should go back to their nest and die. I would give it a day or two and see if they trail off before removing the plate. Let the bait do what it's supposed to do!! Good luck!
Mary Ann
Thank you! It's finally warmed up and I expect the ants to be moving in soon. Not this time! This bait will be the No Vacancy sign!
Sara
Go get 'em, Mary Ann! 🙂