Fix That Ant Problem

Last year the ants were outside and I left them alone. They weren't bothering me, so I didn't bother them.

This year they've found a way into my kitchen, so that's it - THEY HAVE TO GO!

I've bought some of the commercial "ant traps". They've got rid of some of the ants, but not all, so now to try the home remedy.

Step 1: Get Your Supplies

For your ant trap mixture you will need:

Icing sugar
Borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate) - NOT Borax Substitute
Plastic pots with lids - I'm using yoghurt pots, but any tub with a lid will do.
Scissors
Spoon
Hot water

Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Borax is known to kill ants, but you need a mixture that will attract ants, and not too strong to kill them straight away. You need them to take it back to their nest.

So what works for me is a ratio of 3 to 1.

3 spoonfuls of icing sugar to 1 spoonful or Borax. Since this is easy to work out you can scale up or scale down as necessary.

Step 3: Add Hot Water

Now add 6 spoonfuls of hot water and mix so you get a fairly runny mixture.

Step 4: Make Your Yoghurt Pot Trap

Cut two "doors" into your yoghurt pot. I'm cutting a hole out of each side of the pot fairly near the bottom, so the ants can get in but any other animals / pets can't.

Step 5: Add Mixture to Trap

Add a couple of spoonfuls of Borax / icing sugar mixture to the bottom of your pot and then put the lid on.

Step 6: Position Your Trap

Position your trap where you know there are ants. Outside you'll need a rock on top to stop it blowing away.

Step 7: Wait for Your Ant Customers

It won't be too long before your ants will find the sugary borax mix.

Refrain from killing them on the spot. You want them to take the mix back to their nest and the queen.