Most people don’t notice that they have an ant problem in their home until a large colony has formed. These pests hibernate during winter and make a grand appearance when the weather is warmer. When you notice them, the ants have already set up an ant nest, turning into a colony and causing an infestation in or around your home. At this point, you’re left wondering how to get rid of ants.
Some ways ants find their way into your home are through doors, windows, gaps in the foundation, and through utility lines. Getting rid of ants may seem like an impossible task, but a borax solution is a special weapon that controls ant infestations once and for all.
In this article, I’ll explain what borax is and how it kills ants. I’ll also compare borax to other ant traps and discuss its many uses, helping you understand how to use borax to solve your ant problems.
If you prefer having a professional handle your ant infestation, I recommend getting a quote from the following exterminators:
What Is Borax?
Borax, also known as disodium tetraborate, sodium tetraborate or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral often found in arid areas, specifically in saline lakes, playas, and hot springs.
Borax is a boron compound and appears naturally where seasonal lakes evaporate repeatedly. The mineral is mined commercially in Searles Lake, California and in the Southwestern United States. This mineral may also be extracted synthetically from boron compounds.
Borax is a low-toxicity compound if used properly and in the correct measure.
Borax Vs. Boric Acid
People often use the terms borax and boric acid interchangeably. Although both substances are boron compounds, there are a few notable differences between the two minerals.
Borax refers to the natural mineral collected from evaporated deposits or mined from the ground. When you mix borax with other natural minerals like colemanite or boracites, you get boric acid. Therefore, borax is a salt of boric acid.
You can use both borax and boric acid interchangeably for killing ants. In fact, if you notice that ants are not attracted to the borax bait, you should substitute borax with boric acid. Studies show that some ant species are more likely to reject borax baits than boric acid baits and vice versa.
Note that boric acid is generally safe when used in the right amount and handled properly. It is slightly more toxic than borax so use caution when handling this product.
How Borax Kills Ants
Borax has relatively low toxicity to humans and animals, but the same cannot be said for ants. The mineral affects the digestive system of ants once ingested, and causes them to eventually die. Borax is a slow-acting agent, which is why it is such an effective poison for ant control.
The worker ants carry the poison back to the nest, where it is ingested by other members of the colony, including the queen. This method effectively removes the entire ant colony rather than only the ants that come into contact with the poison.
It is worth noting that the ants aren’t attracted to borax on its own. The compound has to be mixed with bait, which is what attracts the ants in the first place. Think of it as preparing a delicious, poisoned feast for your unwanted guests.
If you’re mixing borax with a bait on your own at home, choose the best bait depending on the type of ant you have. Some ants prefer sugar in which case sugar-water is a great option. Other ants prefer proteins in which case peanut butter is your go-to — more on this later.
Ants that consume the bait may begin to die in as little as 24-48 hours. The amount of time it takes to eliminate the entire colony depends on several factors, including the effectiveness of your bait, bait placement, and the size of the colony.
DIY Borax Mixes Vs. Store-Bought Baits Containing Borax
While DIY borax mixes are cheap and easy to make, they often aren’t as effective at attracting ants as store-bought solutions. Making a borax mix is easy, but getting the mixture right can be difficult and hazardous. Companies that sell traps lab-test their bait for maximum ant attraction. When you DIY, it’s easy to use too much borax or too little bait, which doesn’t lure the ants effectively.
Simply put, the best ant baits aren’t the ones you make yourself.
A more reliable way to get rid of ants at home is to use store-bought ant traps like the one above. Some reasons to choose store-bought baits over DIY borax mixes include:
Optimal Bait/Borax Ratio
Getting your borax mixture right is difficult and takes a lot of experimenting. Experts recommend an optimal concentration of liquid borate in a sugar-water solution to be 0.5-1.0%. For ant bait targeting Argentine ants, they suggest 5.4% borate.
Store-bought ant baits typically provide the optimal bait and borax combination, eliminating the need for constant refinement and experimentation with homemade baits.
Self-Contained Housing
Keeping your ant bait in open containers allows ants easy access to the poisoned bait, but it also makes it accessible to your children and pets. While borax is low-toxicity to humans and pets, it is not completely safe to use in the home.
Keep borax and borax baits away from children and pets. Store-bought baits typically come in self-contained housings that are pet- and childproof while still allowing tiny ants access to the bait.
The self-contained housings also reduce mess and eliminate unsightly containers around the house when using these baits.
Less Contact With Active Ingredient
Although borax is mildly toxic, you should avoid handling it unnecessarily. Store-bought baits typically come in ready-to-use containers, so you only need to open and place the bait without touching any toxic substance.
Side effects of acute borax exposure include skin rash, vomiting, mouth infection, nausea, and respiratory problems.
Using Borax Outdoors
Keep in mind that borax is also a herbicide, so you want to be careful about using it outdoors. Rainwater can drain borax into the soil and plants and kill them.
There is also the risk of killing indigenous insects that are beneficial to your garden’s ecosystem when using borax baits indiscriminately. Store-bought outdoor baits are a much safer bet and usually have these considerations built into their use.
How to Make a Borax Ant Killer
Mixing your own borax ant killer is straightforward but challenging to perfect.
Keep in mind that various ant species have different feeding habits and food preferences. A single species of ant also has different nutritional needs. Depending on the season, it may change its food preference mid-way into you setting up the ant traps. It is for these reasons that you may have to experiment with various kinds of home-made borax ant baits until you find one that the ants will take.
Borax and Peanut Butter Bait [for protein feeding ants]
For this ant bait, mix one teaspoon of peanut butter and two teaspoons of borax. Blend the ingredients thoroughly and place in bottle caps or other open containers. You can also add 2 tablespoons of honey to the mixture if the ants do not respond to the initial bait. Protein ants may need sugar in their diet during certain seasons.
Place the baits along ant trails that you have seen for the best effect. This is a great recipe for protein-feeding ants such as odorous house ants, Argentine ants, pharaoh ants, southern fire ant, thief ant, red imported fire ant, and pavement ants, among others.
Borax and Sugar Bait [for sugar-feeding ants]
Mix one cup of water, two cups of sugar, and two tablespoons of borax in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring thoroughly to mix the ingredients.
Allow the mixture to cool. The bait will thicken into a paste when it cools. Put the bait in your open containers or pieces of cardboard/foil and place the baits along ant trails.
This recipe is good for sugar-feeding ants such as big-headed ants, black ants, acrobat ants, ghost ants, crazy ants, white-footed ants, little black ants, cornfield ants, carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants, among others.
Borax and Jam Bait [for sugar feeding ants]
This ant bait is a good alternative to the sugar recipe described above. To make the ant bait, mix a small amount of jam with two tablespoons of borax and combine thoroughly. Put the mixture on a piece of cardboard or open container and wait.
This recipe works well for sugar-feeding ants and can be used together with the sugar and borax bait to give the ants some variety in their diet.
How Borax Compares With Other Ant Traps
Ant traps vary widely in their effectiveness and the active ingredients they contain. When evaluating different ant traps, consider the primary active ingredient in each. Each ingredient targets specific ant species and affects them differently. Understanding these ingredients helps you decide which trap will be most effective for your ant problem. Here are several common active ingredients found in ant traps, along with their properties and effectiveness in controlling different types of ants.
Hydramethylnon
Hydramethylnon is typically used in gel baits and targets a wide range of ants, including fire ants, carpenter ants, and Argentine ants. This ingredient is not extensively absorbed through the skin and has low toxicity to humans. Hydramethylnon interferes with reproduction at moderate doses and is toxic to a developing fetus.
Fipronil
Fipronil has a wide range of uses in various types of ant baits including liquid, gel, and granular baits. Fipronil is not absorbed substantially through the skin but is considered moderately acutely toxic to humans when ingested. Fipronil is toxic to the nervous system.
Avermectin
Avermectin is typically used in granular baits and is effective for controlling carpenter ants, Argentine ants, and fire ants. Avermectin is used in small doses in ants baits (less than 0.01%) and has low acute toxicity to humans. This ingredient is not absorbed through the skin in great amounts but can be toxic to the nervous system and developing fetuses at very low doses.
Fenoxycarb
Fenoxycarb is used in baits specifically targeting fire ants and generally comes in granular form. It is not well absorbed through the skin and has low acute toxicity to humans. This compound is toxic to the liver with long-term exposure.
Cyfluthrin and Permethrin
Keep these two ingredients in mind when you are shopping for ant traps. Cyfluthrin and Permethrin are sometimes used in ant baits but these active ingredients work on contact.
The potent chemicals kill ants almost instantly meaning that the workers do not get a chance to carry the bait to the rest of the colony. Cyfluthrin and Permethrin-based ant baits can be very effective for killing visible ants but are a poor long-term solution since the queens continue to reproduce and add new workers to the clony.
When compared to other ant traps, Borax has several benefits.
Generally speaking, ant baits have low toxicity to humans since the active ingredients are used in small amounts. Of all the active ingredients typically used in these products, borax and borate-based baits are the least toxic.
Borax is not absorbed through the skin and is only toxic when misused or ingested in small amounts daily over a period of months. Borax is a ‘natural’ ant killer and a good alternative for people who are not keen on using potent chemical formulations in their homes.
This mineral is also as effective for exterminating ants as any of the other active ingredients available on the market.
Keep in mind that although mildly toxic, borax should still be handled with care and kept away from children and pets.
Other Uses for Borax at Home
Borax has plenty of uses other than for pest control. A few situations where a box of borax in the home may come in handy include:
Cleaning Your Carpets
Mix a ½ cup of borax per gallon of water and pour the solution into your carpet cleaner’s reservoir tank for extra cleaning power.
Killing Weeds
Borax is a great natural herbicide for those pesky weeds that like to grow in the cracks of your walkways. Sprinkle a little borax on top of the weeds to kill them.
Deodorizing Your Refrigerator
Borax is perfect for removing grime and spills inside the refrigerator. Mix one tablespoon borax and one quart of warm water to make your home-made cleaning solution. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray directly on the stains and wipe with a clean cloth.
Borax also has a deodorizing effect and will get rid of those stale odors.
Removing Rust
To create your rust remover, mix 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of borax. Add a little amount of water to the mixture to create a paste. Use a sponge to apply the paste to the rusted item and scrub to remove the rust. Rinse the item thoroughly after removing the rust.
Uncloging Drains
Mix ½ a cup of borax with two cups of boiling water. Pour the mixture into your drain and wait 15 minutes before running warm water through the drain for one or two minutes. The borax should help to unclog the drain. Repeat the procedure as necessary for stubborn clogs.
Removing Sink Stains
A borax paste may be what you need to get rid of those stubborn sink stains. Mix in one cup of borax with a ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice to create the paste. Rub the paste directly on the stains using a cloth or sponge and rinse with warm water.
All-Purpose Cleaner
A home-made borax all-purpose cleaner is effective for getting rid of stubborn stains, including pencil and crayon markings on walls. To make the cleaner, simply mix two tablespoons of borax with two cups of hot water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake vigorously. Allow the solution to cool and use it to get rid of stubborn stains. This all-purpose cleaner also works well for degreasing countertops and stoves.
Washing Detergent
Pour ½ a cup of borax in your laundry to remove stubborn stains in clothes. The borax also acts as a natural deodorizer, leaving your clothes smelling fresh without any artificial scent.
Borax is also great for pre-treating stained clothes. Simply mix a ½ cup of borax in warm water and soak your stained clothes for at least half an hour before washing.
Borax in Commercial Applications
Borax is used for many commercial applications including:
Household Products
Borax features in many household cleaning and laundry products, including laundry boosters, hand soaps, and tooth bleaching formulas.
Water Softener
Borax is often used for water-softening, including removing both temporary and permanent types of hardness.
Flux
Flux is used in welding to protect the surface of the weld from foreign gasses by preventing oxidation from taking place on the said surface.
Borax is often used in various welding applications. In steel and iron welding, borax is mixed with ammonium chloride and used as a flux. Borax may also be mixed with water and used as a flux when soldering jewelry materials such as silver and gold.
Food Additive
Borax has been used as a food preservative since ancient times. Some countries, such as the United States, Thailand, and China have banned borax as a food additive. Borax may also be used to add a rubbery and/or firm texture to foods such as rice noodles and wheat.
Borax is also used as an ingredient in enamel glazes, as a fire retardant, as a component in ceramics, glass, and pottery, and for making indelible ink, among other commercial applications.
Final Thoughts on Using Borax for Ant Control
For effective ant control using borax, consider starting with store-bought baits tailored to attract and remove ants efficiently. These products are formulated and tested to maximize effectiveness, reducing the trial and error needed with DIY approaches. Place baits strategically along ant trails or near their entry points into your home, making sure that the ants have easy access to the poison.
Monitor the baits regularly to gauge their effectiveness. If you make homemade solutions, first observe which non-toxic baits attract the ants before incorporating borax. This method allows the ants to familiarize themselves with the bait, increasing the chances of them carrying it back to the colony. With patience and persistence, using borax-based baits can be successful in eradicating ant infestations while keeping your household members and pets safe.
Alternatively, if you prefer to hire a professional to get rid of your ant infestation, I recommend using the tool below to find an exterminator near you:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you just sprinkle borax to kill ants?
No, ants will not eat borax unless it is mixed with something they like to eat.
What does borax do to ants?
Borax is toxic to ants and will kill them slowly. Borax does not kill ants immediately. It works by disrupting the digestive system. Worker ants carry it back to the colony, where other ants will eat it and die.
Should you make your own borax mix or buy borax bait?
You can make your own borax mix. Getting your borax mixture right is difficult and takes a lot of experimenting. Experts recommend an optimal concentration of liquid borate in a sugar-water solution to be 0.5-1.0%. For ant bait targeting Argentine ants, they suggest 5.4% borate.
Store-bought ant baits typically provide the optimal bait and borax combination.
