Commercial pesticides can pose serious risks to your health and the environment. But if you're trying to get rid of ants, you may think you have no other choice than to use these dangerous products. However, that's not the case. Using a few simple ingredients you have at home, you can make your own pesticide, one that's safe, effective and inexpensive. Does this Spark an idea?
Dishwashing Liquid
Whether those pesky ants are crawling outside or inside your home, you probably have a powerful pesticide already at your disposal. Dishwashing liquid can act like a powerful pesticide that kills ants and insects that reject its taste. It won't harm plants or foliage outside and is safe for most surfaces inside your home.
For ant infestation outside, take 1 cup of canola or vegetable cooking oil and combine with 1 tbsp.of liquid dishwashing detergent. Then, add 2½ tsp. of the mixture to 1 cup of water and pour into a spray bottle. Use the spray on the underside of foliage or plants swarming with ants or other insects. This spray also works well with eggs and other stages of development for ants and insects.
Garlic/Hot Pepper
This is another effective method for killing ants inside or outside your home. Both garlic and hot peppers give off a strong scent that repels ants or worse; the antiseptic properties paralyze their nervous system, killing them on the spot. However, this mixture needs to be prepared 24 hours before using it. Take ½ cup of hot peppers and ½ cup of garlic gloves and combine with 2 cups of water. Substitute onions, instead of garlic, if you wish. Pour the mixture in a glass jar and set near a window that has direct sunlight for a day. Then, strain and pour the liquid into a spray bottle.
Boric Acid
This natural substance comes from the Mojave Desert in California. In powder form, you can use boric acid to kill or repel ants and other insects, without worrying about the toxic chemicals that can harm humans. The properties of boric acid can attack the nervous system of ants and other insects, causing their bodies to disintegrate. Mainly, because of a a chemical called propylene glycol, boric acid has the ability to seep into wood, concrete, trailing the insects and providing lasting protection. You can use boric acid on some of the most persistent ants, such as carpenter ants and pharaoh ants, too.
Combine 1 tbsp. of boric acid and 1 tsp. of sugar with 4 oz. of water in a bowl. Then, thoroughly soak several cotton balls with the mixture and place them in the path where ants seem to migrate. Cotton balls must be kept constantly moist to be continually effective.
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