Black ants don't take long to find food once you store them. You've probably kept a bowl of fruit overnight and found it swarmed with ants the next morning. Once you've identified the problem, you can kill the ants with spray or bait, use everyday objects to repel them, and do a number of things to prevent their return. See step 1 to learn how.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Bait and Spray
Step 1. Purchase an over-the-counter ant bait
This option is a very effective option for killing ants. Ants will be attracted to this bait, which is a mixture of poison and sweet food. The ants will eat this bait and take it to their nest and the entire colony will also be exposed to the same poison. In a generation or two, the ants will die.
- If you use bait, make sure that there are no small children or pets in the vicinity of the bait.
- These baits are sold freely at material stores.
Step 2. Place the trap in the area where the ants attack
Follow the instructions on the package to set up the trap, and sprinkle the bait around tables, corners of the room, or anywhere else where there are a lot of ants. If possible, set a trap in front of the anthill.
Different ant traps require you to make different preparations. Some traps require you to put a few drops of bait on a piece of cardboard, and keep the cardboard around the house. Other types of traps just require you to unwrap and save
Step 3. Wait a few days for the trap to work
Traps take longer than sprays and other ant-killing methods, but traps are much more effective. Within a few days, the ants will take the bait to their nest and poison their colony. While waiting, make sure your house is clear of food sources so that the ants only eat the bait, not crumbs or sticky food residue in your kitchen.
Step 4. Try spraying with pesticides
If you want to be absolutely sure the ants are dead, spray some pesticide as well. Purchase a pesticide at the store, mix according to the instructions, store in a sprayer, and spray the affected area. You can also spray it around the perimeter of your house to keep ants from getting in.
- Make sure children and pets do not go near the area being sprayed, as they can get sick if they ingest the pesticide.
- You can also purchase an aerosol spray to spray directly on the ants. Aerosol sprays are usually room-friendly formulas that can be used in the kitchen. Spray wherever the ants live, and in the holes where the ants are.
- This option usually kills the ants right away, so don't forget to sweep up the dead ants and dispose of them properly. If you spray in an area where children or pets pass, make sure you wipe and clean the area being sprayed so that no one gets sick from the spray.
Method 2 of 3: Get Rid Of The Natural Way
Step 1. Use diatomaceous earth
This soil is natural and safe to use around humans and pets, but deadly to ants and other reptiles. This soil is made of crushed fossils and will cut the skulls of insects as they pass through. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the corner of the room, under the sink, near the window, or in other areas where ants often pass.
- Once a week or two, replace the diatomaceous earth with a new one.
- This soil is less effective in damp areas, as it loses sharpness when exposed to moisture.
Step 2. Use baking soda to clean the carpet
If you find ants on your carpet, sprinkle the carpet with baking soda, leave it for a while, and clean it up. You can also sprinkle some cornstarch and clean it with a vacuum cleaner before vacuuming up the ants. The cornstarch in the vacuum cleaner will kill the ants.
Step 3. Use essential oils
Several types of essential oils work as insect repellent. You can make your own spray by adding 10 drops of essential oil to a glass of water, and adding it to the spray. Spray this mixture around your house to keep ants away. Try these oils:
- Eucalyptus (don't use if you have a cat).
- Tea tree oil
- lavender
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Windex
Step 4. Use boric acid that may be available in the laundry room
This household solution can also be a very powerful insecticide. Spray boric acid in corners of the room and around the perimeter of the room. Ants and other insects will die after passing through it.
Step 5. Try cinnamon powder
If you don't have another repellent, try sprinkling cinnamon powder around the ants. Ants do not like fine powder and strong odors. Even though cinnamon powder doesn't kill ants, they won't come back.
Method 3 of 3: Repel Ants
Step 1. Keep the floor and table clean
Sweep, mop, and vacuum your floors to remove any crumbs that might be there. Every time you finish eating, wipe your table to remove any leftovers. Ants will be attracted to any spilled food, no matter how small, so make sure you clean your food containers so that the ants don't come back.
Step 2. Keep food away from ants
Make sure you don't leave your food out too long -- otherwise, the ants will notice your food is stored and come over to it. If you have a problem with ants, you will need to take extra measures to ensure your food is tightly packed. These foods should not be left where the ants can reach them:
- Maple syrup
- Juice
- Sugar
- Cake crumbs
- Fruits with thin skins, such as strawberries.
Step 3. Protect your doors and windows
Can ants enter the house easily? Check door and window locks to prevent ants from getting in. Use putty and a wrench to work up gaps under your doors and on the edges of your windows. Also check the house from the outside to find holes that ants can enter.
Tips
- Use lime, cinnamon, baby powder or black pepper to repel ants
- Use an orange-based ant repellent to protect your home from the scent followed by black ants to prevent your home from being attacked again.
- Maintain an ant-free environment by eliminating their food source
- Hire a professional if you don't feel comfortable killing ants yourself. A professional insect controller can also give you additional advice based on your situation.
Warning
- Keep ant poison products in their original packaging so you can easily identify them, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
- Be careful when using ant poison. Do not let poison get on food, drink, or water sources.
