I was at my wits end trying to get rid of ants – I even called in a pest guy twice, but a DIY spray finally worked
IF you’ve spotted one ant in your home, chances are there are more nearby.
One homeowner revealed the DIY mixture they use to repel the insects from their space.
Commenting on a Reddit post, user SphericalDarkness shared the three-ingredient hack to help a renter who said they were “at wits end” with an ant problem.
The original poster explained that they had hired a pest control expert on two occasions to no avail.
“We’ve had ants come into the house every summer and it was difficult to get rid of them, nothing really worked,” the commenter related.
Using three household items, they explained how to create a “really simple solution.”
They mixed together an all-natural laundry booster powder with sugar and water.
“The mixture has to be just right so it’s not too runny or too thick,” the Redditor advised.
“And if there’s too much [laundry booster] in there, the ants won’t like it.”
They recommended leaving the homemade mixture in the path of the pests.
“Place it on a small sheet of aluminium foil and leave it where ants walk,” the Reddit user wrote.
“They will take the poison back to their nest and slowly destroy it as a result.”
They revealed that they haven’t had an ant problem for years since discovering the hack.
“Of course, please take caution when handling the [laundry booster] and make absolutely sure no kids or pets can get to it,” they warned.
It should also be noted that the sugar in the solution is used to initially attract ants.
If you notice an increase in the creepy crawlies along the area where you placed the mixture, this is a sign it is working.
Powdered laundry booster, which often consists of sodium borate, is lethal to ants.
Why do ants come inside the house?
WITH the whole of the world to explore, it can be frustrating to see ants make their way into your home.
Fabulous’ Associate Editor, Rebecca Miller, is a gardening enthusiast, and she explains why the pesky critters like to come inside.
“When ants are outside, in the garden, I don’t consider them to be a pest. In fact, ants play a vital role in the ecosystem, so finding them crawling around your outdoor space should be celebrated.
“Ants aerate and fertilise the soil, as well as control other pest populations by preying on plant-eating insects.
“But they can be a nuisance when they get into your home, and they can encourage other pests like aphids to join them.
“As for why these annoying insects want to come inside your home, ants may try to find their way into your home in search of food and water.
“They aren’t fussy when it comes to what foods they are attracted to. Any fruit, crumbs, or pet food left out can encourage them inside.
“So remember to clean up any food spills, sweep the floor for crumbs regularly, and give your backdoor and windows a quick wipe down and tidy to deter them.”
The experts at StaySafe.org reported on the pest control qualities of the ingredient.
They described how the substance “interferes with the ant’s metabolic processes and disrupts its digestive system.”
“When ants ingest [laundry boosters], it reacts with their stomach acid, releasing boric acid, which is toxic to them,” they explained.
“Boric acid affects the ant’s ability to digest food properly, leading to starvation and eventual death.”
Given the slow-acting nature of the ingredient, it is ideal for baiting and allows worker ants time to carry it back to the colony.
“It spreads to other ants, including the queen, effectively eradicating the entire ant colony over time,” the pest pros said.