Summertime means warmer weather. A chance to get outside to swim, or just enjoy what nature has to offer. It also means pesky bugs looking for their next meal.

It never fails. After the weather gets warmer and we have a good solid rain, we end up with ants in our kitchen, usually in the cabinet where we keep our snacks and cereal. Until recently, whenever I saw a few of the little buggers, I just smash them with the tip of my finger and wash them down the sink drain. But they just kept coming. Turns out my violent reaction, while satisfying on a certain level, wasn't fixing the problem. I needed to stop them at their source. And unbeknownst to the them, they were going to help me do it, like my personal little soldiers of death (insert maniacal laughter here).

Since the problem was in the kitchen, I didn't want to use any type of pesticide, even one that claims to be safe for kitchen use. So off to the internet I went to see if there was a safer, homemade remedy I could try.

A quick Googling of "Homemade Ant Repellent" brought up a ton of results, many of which used Borax, an all-purpose powder that can be used as a laundry booster and household cleaner whose main ingredient is boric acid, a common ingredient in over-the-counter pesticides.

I learned after looking through several of the results, you can't just pour Borax in a bowl and expect the ants to flock to it. Even if a few were stupid enough to do it, they'd die before they even get back to the nest which puts me back at square one. They needed to be baited into eating it without knowing they're eating it. That's where the sweet, delicious sugar and pancake syrup comes in.

It's important to note that the mix of Borax to sugar is key. Too much Borax will kill the ants before they have a chance to carry out their mission of eradication. There needs to be just enough to carry out the job after they get back to the nest.

Depending on how much you're looking to make, the ratio of sugar to Borax is 3 to 1. If you have a big problem, or multiple spots to cover around the house, you may want to go as much as three cups of sugar to one cup of Borax. Since my issue was isolated to the one spot in the kitchen, I knocked that down to three tablespoons of sugar to one tablespoon of Borax.

Whatever amount you choose, mix the two thoroughly in a bowl, breaking up any clumps, to insure the Borax is well hidden within the sugar. Slowly add warm to hot tap water and mix until you have a thick paste. Add just enough syrup to thin the mixture out to a point where it's spreadable, but not runny.

Homemade Ant Repellent Bait Trap
(Ryan O'Bryan)
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Once mixed, spread a little of the mixture on a small lid or plate and place it wherever you infestation happens to be taking place.

Once the ants sniff out the source, they'll come in droves to get their share and take it back to the nest for their queen and the others to dine on. Honestly, it's a little unsettling to see, but trust me controlling the urge to smash every single one of them will be worth it in the long run.

Ultimately, it took about three to four days for the potion to work, but I knew it was working as each day I saw fewer and fewer ants until finally I didn't see any. I can now put our snacks back in the cabinet and not worry about the kids pouring themselves a bowl full of ant-covered Fruit Loops in the morning.

Ingredients

This list is for making a small batch. For larger batches, adjust amounts accordingly, keeping the 3 to 1 ratio of sugar to Borax.

  • 1 Tablespoon Borax
  • 3 Tablespoons Sugar
  • Hot tap water
  • Pancake Syrup

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, combine sugar and Borax, mixing thoroughly with a fork or whisk to break up any clumps. Add just enough water and mix to form thick paste. Add enough syrup to thin the mixture slightly and make it spreadable. Spread a small amount of mixture on a plastic lid or paper plate and place in the area where you're seeing the ants. Allow three to five days (or longer depending on the severity of the problem) for the trap to do its job.

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