How To Get Rid Of Sugar Ants In Home

Why use natural methods? It is safer for your pets and children and better for your health and environment.

1. Peppermint Oil

Sugar ants stay away from the potent smell of peppermint oil because it affects their ability to smell sugary treats. You can create a spray by diluting the oil with water and spraying the solutions in ant-prone areas.

Reapply the solution frequently to sustain your ant control efforts. Or you could soak cotton balls with the oil and place them near entry points such as windows and doors. With this method, you will clear out the ants and have a fragrant home.

2. Planting Ant Repelling Plants

Why settle for a pest control service when you can have a botanical bouncer? Introducing the VIPs (Very Insect-Repelling Plants) of your garden club.

• Lavender: The calming scent of lavender is pleasant to humans but disliked by sweet ants. 
• Rosemary: You might love the somewhat astringent smell of rosemary, but ants will avoid it at all costs.
• Garlic: A garlic plant takes a toll on the ants and provides a steady supply of fresh garlic.
• Basil: Ants will run the other way the moment they detect the smell of fresh basil.

3. Boiling Water

If you are wondering how can you get rid of sugar ants in the simplest way possible, use boiling water. You should use boiling water when you want to destroy an ant nest.

For that, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Once the water boils, carefully pour it directly into the entrance of the ant nest. 

Just be careful not to pour it on your plants or feet- plants do not like hot baths, and neither do your toes!

4. Diatomaceous Earth

Do not be fooled by the flour-like texture of diatomaceous earth (DE). It looks like glass shards under a microscope and dehydrates and kills ants. To use, identify high ant-traffic areas and lightly sprinkle the flour-like powder along ant trails and near entry points. 

If you have respiratory conditions like asthma or emphysema, you should employ other methods in the list, as breathing in large quantities of DE causes breathing and respiratory distress. 

5. Coffee Grounds

You can use your leftover coffee grounds to grow healthy plants and deter ants. Coffee affects ants in the same way as peppermint oil.

After making your morning coffee, sprinkle the grounds along the perimeter of your home, especially near entryways and a thin layer in garden beds where you see ants.

 You can replace the grounds every morning after you make your coffee. Be mindful, though, as coffee can stain surfaces.

If you do not mind a little DIY, here are some concoctions you can make with common household items to be done with the ants. 

6. Soap & Water

Sugar ant control methods like soap and water solutions are as simple as they get. You have everything you need and even your teen can make the solution.

Just mix dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle, and shake it well. Then, spray it on the ants. The solution will suffocate the ants to death. 

7. Vinegar Solution

When ants build a nest in woody areas of your home, it causes a musty odor. Luckily, vinegar targets both the ants and the odor. Its pungent odor makes it an excellent DIY vinegar ant repellent. 

Dilute the vinegar with equal parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on ant trails and between baseboards when ants might be hiding.  

A word of caution- do not mix vinegar with other cleaning chemicals like ammonia and bleach. You might come across such a suggestion, but it is perilous.

8. Citrus Peel Spray

Spraying lemon juice can send ants packing! The acidity in the citrus fruits messes up their scent trails, which are their version of GPS. Without directions, they are like tiny, confused tourists in a big city. 

For the spray, chop up citrus peels and simmer in water for 15 minutes. Let the solution cool and strain it into a spray bottle. Then, spray the concoction along their usual routes and entry points and watch the ants run for the hills—or at least, the nearest picnic.

9. Borax and Sugar Mixture

Borax looks very similar to diatomaceous earth, so ensure you grab the product when making the mixture. For the mixture, create a paste by mixing borax and sugar at a ratio of 1:3. Place this paste on paper and then in areas where you have spotted the ants. 

Ants will carry this sweet paste back to their colony to feed the rest of the ants, including the queen. And once the queen is no more, the entire colony is destroyed. Remember to keep it away from your pets, though. 

You can choose from four different types of baits. All of them contain active ingredients in varying concentrations. Each type offers advantages depending on the location and extent of the ant infestation.

10. Liquid Ant Baits

Liquid ant baits contain a sweet liquid laced with potent active ingredients that could kill the queen. They come in a spill-resistant container with a tab that has to be snapped off before use.

11. Gel Ant Baits

Gel baits come in a syringe applicator and can be applied on ant trails. Do not use the gel in areas where children and pets frequent. Follow the instruction manual for proper use.

12. Powder Ant Baits

These baits are suitable for areas where liquids or gels may not be practical, such as outdoors or over large ground areas. However, it might get on unintended areas and surfaces since the powder is loose.

13. Solid Ant Baits

Available in forms like granules, blocks, or small discs infused with active ingredients. Granules are particularly effective as ants can easily carry them back to the nest, similar to transporting food.

If you want to buy one, here are some recommendations from professionals according to CNN.

14. Seal Entry Points

These sneaky entry points are like VIP lanes for ants seeking a new hangout spot in your cozy abode. Grab your trusty caulk gun and weatherstripping materials—it is time for a DIY ant-proof makeover! Seal off these access points with precision, leaving no gap unchecked.

Think of it as giving your home a protective shield against unwanted intrusions. Caulk works wonders for sealing hairline cracks ants love to sneak through. Meanwhile, weatherstripping ensures that even the smallest openings are tightly sealed.

15. Clean Surfaces

Stray crumbs and leftover food can turn your kitchen into a five-star buffet for ants! Sweeping the floors regularly helps eliminate any temptations for sugar ants down below. Sticky residues from syrups, soft drinks, jellies, and jams are particularly attractive to ants.

So, use a warm washcloth and kitchen cleaner to scrub away these spots until your kitchen shines. And do not forget about the trash—securely tie up your rubbish and take it out regularly to prevent ants from exploring for leftovers. These simple steps will help keep your kitchen ant-free and your snacks safe!

16. Store Food Properly

To thwart their plans, groceries stored in their original flimsy packaging should be tossed aside for an ant-proof upgrade. Think of it as a home renovation project for your pantry.  Transfer these treats into tightly sealed plastic containers that ants cannot chew through.

This practice keeps the bugs out and prevents unwanted ant dance parties in your kitchen cabinets. Remember, a clean jar is a happy jar—make sure to wipe down sticky residues and tighten those lids to keep your sweets safe from ant reconnaissance missions.

17. Do Not Leave Out Pet Food

You might have to clean up your pet food bowl and area frequently if you are determined to eradicate ants. Ants are attracted to pet food because they contain sugar and protein. They carry the pet food back to their colonies to feed the rest.

If you have to leave out pet food because you are working and cannot feed your pet on time, then you can try:

• Shallow dishes that ants find difficult to cross
• Pet food dishes designed to resist ants, like ones with ant guards and moat barriers.
• Placing the pet food dishes on stands and trays- basically, anything elevated so that ants cannot climb to the food source.

Learning about the causes of sugar ants can help you better understand how to get rid of sugar ants in the home. Many things attract ants in your home and some of them include:

Warm Weather: Ants search for moisture and cool conditions inside your home. 

Nest Nearby: An ant nest outside or inside your home alerts nearby ants of food sources.

A Food Source: The sugar ants have smelled a food source.

Monsoon Season: Rainy weather ruins the nest, so they look for dry places to rebuild their homes. 

If you notice ants in your home all of a sudden, observe for a day or two. If the ants and their activity bother you, use ant baits to draw out the ants from their hiding places and observe whether their activity dies down.

As much as you might be determined to remove sugar ants in the house by yourself, there are times when you might need help from a professional. But do not treat this as a defeat.

You are just handling the problem efficiently and effectively. Besides, not everyone has the time to employ these sugar ant control methods on the regular, which most methods require. 

So instead of stressing, let someone else take care of your problem and relax. However, if you have noticed or experienced some of these signs, it is wiser to invest in professional extermination services:

• You tried everything but were unsuccessful.
• You notice ant hills or nests outside your home or in your yard.
• You realize the ant infestation is severe. They are in every corner of your house.
• You notice structural damage on your properties.
• You experience allergic reactions like swelling, hives, abdominal pain, and chest tightening. 
• You hear faint scratching or moving sounds inside your walls.

If you have noticed or experienced any of these signs, it is better to hire an exterminator to help you stop any issues before they progress too far.

There are many benefits of hiring a professional. They can give you access to non-commercial treatment products and methods for treating ants. Additionally, the professionals are licensed with the necessary skills and experience to find issues and treat them. 

They will also be able to identify potential problem areas and add a treatment in advance before issues occur. Most exterminators utilize Integrated Pest Management techniques to keep you, your family, and your homes safe and free from toxic treatments. 

This treatment plan saves you time and money in the long run since you do not have to deal with the infestation yourself, allowing you to avoid the potentially high costs of damages and treating severe infestations.

Exterminators charge $150 for a one-time treatment on average.  

Unfortunately, one-time treatment might be ineffective, so you could spend between $80 to $500 for a single treatment session. These rates are not fixed and depend on geographic location and the extent of the infestation. 

Ongoing treatments or maintenance services come with monthly recurring fees, but it is money well spent since an ant-free home provides peace of mind. If you opt for treatments every three months, you might pay between $400 and $480 or as high as $1,400.

Do note that these charges also depend on the type of ants in your home, the size of your home, the extermination method, and accessibility to the infestation area.