Tips on eliminating sugar ants in your home

Are you having a problem with sugar ants’ infestation in your home? Those small insects that crawl in their hundreds at night and feed on bread crumbs and any other small food items? You will find them on countertops and on some furniture at home. Most often, some people without a second thought would rush to the nearest drug store and buy an insecticide.

However, the world is going green, and everybody would like an environment free of chemical exposure. If you have small kids or pets at home, you surely would like them to live in a safe environment. With exposure to all kinds of chemicals, you can be sure that danger looms everywhere.

With that in mind, let us talk about how to get rid of sugar (tiny) ants naturally in your home using natural homes. It’s not only a safe method but gives you the confidence that everyone at home is safe and secure. Without further delay, let’s jump straight into the topic below.

Natural ways to eliminate sugar ants at home

We are all in agreement that chemical exposure is not ideal in our homes. Right? Yes, but before we look at the remedies, it’s essential to get to know what they are and their feeding habits.

What are sugar ants?

Sugar ants are tiny black insects found in several areas of the world. They like feeding on sugary items such as scraps and sweets. They also feed on fats, plants pollen, and much more. They live in colonies and carry their food to the nest to feed the queen and other ants. These live inside homes and outside homes.

Before eradicating these small nuisances, you need to locate them and follow their trail. It’s crucial to find their nest, which is an excellent point to start. After finding the trail or entry, decide on whether you’ll eliminate using natural methods or chemicals. Here are the remedies to get rid of sugar ants naturally.

Use of vinegar

Vinegar is the first method of getting rid of sugar ants’ manifestation. It’s safe and mild and will not affect your loved ones. The first step is to mix vinegar with water and put the mixture in a spray bottle.

The advantage of vinegar is that it has a naturally occurring compound known as acetic acid, which gets rids of scent in an ant trail. Therefore, ants will not find their way back to the nest. By use of the spray bottle, sprinkle the solution on the entry points or along with the board. Also, sprinkle anywhere there is a trail.

They will eventually die and you can sweep off the dead ants. To get the best out of this method, spray during the day when ants the ants are active.

Use of coffee

Do you love coffee? Did you know that your favorite cup can eradicate sugar ants in your home? Well, ants loathe the smell of coffee. In fact, the acidity will burn them within minutes. Spread some coffee around your home and where there are visible traces of sugar ants. Also, you can mix with water and spray the mixture on the ant trail.

Use garlic or bay leaves

Fresh garlic has a strong smell that will hey rid of sugar ants. The smell keeps away the ants, throwing them off their trail. You can hang some garlic around the home, place some inside the shelves and baseboards. Similarly, bay leaves will keep sugar ants at bay. Use them on countertops and shelves.

Use a home-made repellent

You don’t have to go running to the stores to get the latest chemical to kill sugar ants. You can make an insect repellent at home using natural compounds.

For you to make this solution, you need some lavender essential oil or peppermint. Mix either with some water in a spray bottle. Next spray around the kitchen and on the pantry drawers and shelves. Repeat this procedure every day.

Make a sugar-ant home-made trap

That’s right, and you can lure these insects right into their dungeon. Here, you can mix honey or some syrup in a cup. They will come in their hundreds, and the bait will attract them. Once they come, strike, and spray with any natural solution discussed above. Wipe off the dead ants with a wet cloth.

Use organic compounds

There are some organic products you can buy from your nearest stores. For example, the orange guard is a useful sugar ants’ killer, yet it doesn’t contain chemicals. It also has a toxic compound that keeps off these ants, ultimately from your compound.

Use diatomaceous earth

You can sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the ant trails. It’s a white powdery substance that is safe to use and is non-toxic. It doesn’t affect humans or pets but will kill sugar ants instantly. Repeat the procedure every day, and within one month, your home will be free of ants.

How to prevent constant infestation of sugar ants

Getting rid of ants either by the natural or chemical method, may not be a permanent solution. Prevention methods will prevent the consistent manifestation of ants.

Always keep the countertops clean every night before you go to bed. You can use a cleaner that can sanitize the tabletops so that ants will not find anything to feed on. Secondly, you can set baits to attract ants then get rid of them.

Remove the ant nests, and they will stay away from your compound. You can flush it with water or use hot water. Also, you can use baking soda to eliminate the entire colony. Ant nests resemble a hill of soil, and therefore they are easy to spot.

Conclusion

Sugar ants can be a nuisance if they invade your home. For you to entirely get rid of them, it’s essential to keep your kitchen clean by wiping off any food remains especially sugar and bread crumbs. Also, natural methods are cheap and will not lead to exposure to chemicals. Your family must stay safe all the time. We hope that this discussion has been fruitful, and now you can get rid of sugar ants easily.