Does Borax Actually Kill Ants? A Pest Pro Weighs In on How to Make It Effective

• Borax is a common, affordable item that’s used to clean or deodorize items and remove pesky pests.
• It can be mixed with a sugary substance to create a DIY formula to disrupt ants’ digestive systems and kill colonies.
• Vinegar and other essential oils like peppermint and tea tree are natural alternatives to deter ants quickly as well.

If your home has been overrun by ants and you’re wondering whether borax is a viable solution to remove these pests, keep reading. Here, one pest control expert highlights the benefits of using borax to kill ants and shares tips for how to most effectively use the substance to your advantage.

What Is Borax?

Borax is a white, powdery substance that occurs naturally and is otherwise known as sodium borate. Borax can be used for a number of different household tasks and projects ,but is most commonly used to clean or deodorize items or remove pests, Ed Dolshun, the technical director at Catchmaster, explains. While borax is a household staple for many, it is important to store it safely and out of the way of young children.

“While it is a natural chemical, borax can be toxic if consumed in large quantities,” Dolshun says. “Thus, it’s very important to handle with care if your household has pets or children.”

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Can You Use Borax to Get Rid of Ants?

When it comes to getting rid of ants, Borax is an effective tool in that it disrupts ants’ digestive systems by damaging their exoskeletons, Dolshun explains. Since borax is easy to purchase, it is a go-to, affordable, DIY pest control solution for many, he adds.

How to Use Borax to Get Rid of Ants

In order to most effectively use borax to get rid of ants in your home, consider mixing it with some sugary bait, Dolshun suggests.

“As ants are attracted to sweet substances, mixing borax with sugary bait will increase the chances that ants consume the substance and carry it back to their colony,” he says.

Dolshun recommends mixing one and a half tablespoons of borax with a half cup of sugar, honey, or syrup, along with one and a half cups of warm water, and then stirring the substances together until they are dissolved. He then advises pouring the solution on pieces of cardboard or cotton balls and placing these near ant trails or entry points in your home.

“If applied properly, you’ll see ants crowd the bait and carry it back to their colony,” he says, adding that it may take 24 hours to a few days for the solution to be effective.

Since it’s slow-acting and designed to wipe out entire colonies rather than individual ants, Dolshun explains that the colony size and amount of bait will determine how quickly the formula takes effect.

Do note that borax will not kill every type of ant—it may not be effective in getting rid of carpenter or fire ants due to their different feeding habits from regular ants, which may cause them to resist the temptation of sugar, Dolshun notes.

Alternative Methods for Getting Rid of Ants

Borax is by no means the only method for killing ants. A number of other substances can be effective in doing so, including vinegar, essential oils, and more.

If you wish to use vinegar, Dolshun advises mixing together equal parts water and vinegar and spraying the solution along ant trails or entry points.

“It will disrupt their pheromone trails and deter ants from returning to the spot,” he says.

As for essential oils, opt to spray peppermint, tea tree, and citrus oil in ant-heavy areas—these strong smells will repel ants, Dolshun explains. Lastly, diatomaceous earth, a natural powder consisting of fossilized algae is another possible substance to consider due to the way it dehydrates ants, he adds.

Of course, calling in a professional exterminator is always a final solution if DIY methods fail, Dolshun notes.

Baking soda is one method that is less effective than borax and, therefore, should be avoided.

“Baking soda reacts with the acid in ants’ stomachs and is more effective when combined with an acidic component such as vinegar,” Dolshun says.