How to Get Rid of Small Ants &Prevent Infestations

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How to Get Rid of Small Ants &
Prevent Infestations

Having a tiny ant infestation in your
home or garden can be frustrating,.
especially if you don't know how to get
rid of them. Luckily, there are a ton of
easy, at-home methods to kill and deter
ants. In this article, we'll teach you
everything you need to know about how
to get rid of and prevent tiny ants. Plus,
learn when to call a pest control
specialist, the different types of ants you
may be dealing with, and answers to
other common questions about tiny ants.

Ways to Get Rid of Tiny Ants

Use a commercial ant bait trap, Borax, or
diatomaceous earth to effectively kill tiny
ants. To repel ants, try natural deterrents
like vinegar, essential oils, or coffee
grounds. Seal any cracks and crevices
around your home to prevent future
infestations.

Use ant bait.

Commercial ant bait traps are one of
the most effective ways to get rid of tiny
ants. The ants are attracted to the bait
and secrete pheromones that

encourage more ants to eat the bait,
which is laced with insecticide. They
will then take the bait back to their
colony, which should eliminate the

infestation relatively quickly.
• There are many different kinds of
bait traps. For example, some are
sugar-based, grease-based, and
protein-based and are designed to
target different types of ants
Consider getting one of each if
you're not sure which would work
best.

lf the ants aren't taking the bait, try
using a different type or relocating
the bait to a more active area,
• When using bait, all other food
competition must be removed from
the area, so remove any food
products or trash.

Poison ants with boric acid.

Boric acid, or Borax, is a cleaning
chemical that is poisonous to ants but
non-toxic to humans. Make a Borax bait
by mixing one part corn syrup (or any
sweet, sticky substance) with one part
Borax. Spread the mixture on an index
card and place the card in an area with
a lot of ant activity. The little ants will
bring the sweet, poisonous mixture
back to their colony, and it will slowly
eliminate the ants.

• Consider setting this bait at night,
as ants tend to hunt for food during
the night hours

• Alternatively, mix 1 part Borax with 3
parts powdered sugar and place the
mixture in a small container (like a
bottle cap, spoon, etc.)

• If you have children or pets who
could get into the Borax, try mixing
1 cup (236 ml) of warm water, 1/2
cup (100 g) of sugar, and 3 tbsp
(100 g) of Borax. Soak cotton balls
in the mixture and set them out inshallow dishes near known ant entry points.

Pour boiling water on ant hills.

If you are able to follow an ant trail back to a nest or anthill, consider pouring salty boiling water down the hill opening. This will likely cause part of the colony to cave in and will kill a large number of ants. It may take many containers of water, however, and could damage the surrounding vegetation.
Because ant colonies are large and complex, this method likely won’t kill all of the ants. Be sure to treat every ant hole you see to eliminate as many as possible.
Mixing dish soap with water and pouring it over the ant hills also works.

Ants come into your home for two main reasons: to find food to bring back to the colony and to seek shelter from cold weather conditions. Ants could enter your home from many different areas, so be sure to check around window cracks, door entryways, lighting fixtures, and other possible entrances.