How to Get Rid of Tiny Black Ants in the House

Ant season is here again! You've arrived on this page because you are trying to figure out how to get rid of tiny black ants in your house. The most common types to invade homes include black, carpenter, pharaoh, odorous and sugar ants. Identifying the species that you are up against is usually helpful. However, It can be difficult for someone untrained in entomology to determine the slight difference between these tiny insects. Luckily the method I will be teaching today does not require any dangerous chemicals. We will be using natural remedies that are modified to work on almost every species. It is finally time to get rid of ants for good!

What is Attracting Ants in the First Place?

Like all living things on God’s green earth, ants are in search of food, water and shelter. This is why your kitchen and bathroom are prime targets. Getting rid of tiny black ants in your house will be an easier project if you can eliminate the sources of food or water that is allowing them to thrive. Colonies will spread rapidly so it is important to get rid of them fast.

Observe their patterns. Where are their trails located? Which areas of the house do they prefer? How are they getting into your kitchen in the first place?
Eliminate freestanding water. Something as little as a wet napkin on the counter can sustain hundreds of ants. Wipe your sinks down regularly and inspect pipes for condensation and leaks. If you see heavy condensation, you need to increase air circulation in that area.
Apply caulk to all crevices they are using to enter and travel through your house. You’ll need to inspect the inside and outside of your property. The best way to get rid of tiny black ants is to keep them out of your house in the first place!

Step 1: How to Kill Ants and Eliminate the Nest

If it isn't broke, there is no need to fix it! Using baits to kill ant colonies is an effective method that has passed the test of time. However, you may want to skip this step if you have small children or pets. Borax is a natural solution but exposure to it can be harmful for some humans and animals. Baits are a little tricky because different species of tiny black ants have different preferences for food. Additionally, insects in different life cycles stages will also eat entirely different substances. Adults only eat liquids while larvae eat solids. In order to get rid of the entire colony, it is important to have both forms. That is why all-in-one baits will never solve your problem. The trick is to prepare 3 simple little bait stations to make sure you kill every black ant in your house.

Directions: Apply the baits at different spots along ant trails. You will not see an immediate decrease in the infestation. Things will probably get worse before they get better. This is a good because we want as many of these tiny workers to take the borax back to their nest. This is a long term solution that is very effective for getting rid of black ants in your kitchen.

Protein based bait: Create a mixture of 75% peanut butter and 25% borax.
Liquid sugar bait: Warm about 1 cup of honey or syrup in the microwave. Mix in about a quarter cup of borax.
Solid sugar bait: Add 3 parts powdered sugar to 1 part borax.

Step 2: My Favorite Way to Repel and Eliminate Ants for Good

Once you've given the baits about 1 week to work their magic, it’s time to kill the rest of the stragglers. I have actually skipped the borax altogether on many occasions and just used this portion of the treatment. Essential oils are they key to getting rid of black ants in your house. These insects are just as sensitive to certain essential oils as they are toxic insecticides. Almost any essential oil will work but I find a combination of tea tree and peppermint oil to be the most effective. These oils also have many other health and beauty applications to it is always nice to have a small bottle of each around the house. They are inexpensive and 100% natural.

This will provide a powerful repellent. You can even use this spray to instantly kill insects around your kitchen.This is my favorite home remedy for getting rid of tiny black ants in my house. It can also be applied to the outside of you home to deter any new ones from entering. Pay special attention to crevices around the foundation, windows, doors, pipe penetrations and vents. You will need to reapply every few weeks or after a heavy rain. Watch this quick YouTube video for step-by-step instructions about how to keep ants out for good using essential oils.

Add 6-8 ounces of water to a spray bottle.
Add ½ tsp of cayenne pepper powder.
Combine 15 drops of peppermint oil and 15 drops of tea tree oil.
Spray trails, crevices and other high traffic areas. For heavier application, I like to douse a cotton ball and stuff it near the source of the trail.
Here is an awesome resource if you need more details and instructions about using essential oils to get rid of black ants.

Step 3: Give me a High Five!

I have a great deal of respect for anyone that is courageous enough to ditch the toxic insecticides in favor of a natural solution. The truth is that these remedies work just as well as the chemicals used by exterminators. The only difference is that you are not exposing yourself, your family or your pets to dangerous side effects.

If you found any of this information to be helpful, please do me a BIG favor and share this article on your favorite social network. I really enjoy helping people solve their pest control problems. Your support is very important to me. It is what allows me to continue doing what I love.

If you have any question or comments, please leave them below. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks again for reading my guide about how to get rid of tiny black ants in your house. I wish you and your family the best of luck!