Whether they’ve found their way into your home after a heavy rain or because you missed cleaning up a few crumbs on the counter, ants are a pest that seem to immediately take over your home when they find a way inside. When you discover ants in your home, you want them gone right away. While you’ll find several ways to control ants, if you’re looking for an effective solution, consider using borax.
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The Difference Between Boric Acid and Borax
Image via Flickr by jkirkhart35
Borax and boric acid are related boron compounds, but they are not exactly the same thing. Borax is a sodium borate salt, while boric acid is a different boron-based compound. Both are used in some pesticide products, including ant baits. NPIC explains that boric acid and sodium borate salts are pesticides found in nature and in many products, and borax is one of the most common sodium borate products.
The important takeaway for homeowners is simple: borax and boric acid should both be handled carefully. Even though they are often described as lower-toxicity options, they are still pesticides when used for pest control.
Keep borax baits away from children, pets, food-prep areas, and plants. Always follow product label directions.
How Borax Kills Ants
Borax works best when ants eat it as part of a bait. Boric acid can kill insects by disrupting their stomach and affecting their nervous system. Borax can also irritate skin and eyes and may be harmful if eaten in larger amounts, so it should not be treated as harmless just because it is commonly used in household products.
For ant control, borax should usually be mixed with something ants want to eat, such as sugar water or syrup. Worker ants feed on the bait and carry it back toward the colony. A slow-acting bait gives them time to share it before they die. UC IPM notes that baits are often more effective and safer than sprays when properly used, because they can reach the colony rather than only killing visible foragers.
Why Borax Ant Bait Has to Be Slow-Acting
A common mistake is using too much borax. If the bait is too strong, ants may avoid it, or the worker ants may die before they can carry it back to the colony.
Michigan State University Extension recommends testing what ants are attracted to first, then mixing a small amount of boric acid into the bait. It also warns that too much can make the bait unattractive to ants.
That is why commercial bait stations are often more reliable than homemade mixtures. They are designed to balance attraction, dosage, and safety.
How to Use Borax for Ants Safely
If you use borax for ants, follow these basic safety rules:
- Use bait stations when possible.
Bait stations help keep the mixture contained and reduce exposure to children, pets, and non-target animals. - Place bait near ant trails, not randomly around the house.
Placing baits near ant trails and nest openings will give it a better chance of being found by the ants and much more likely to be consumed/brought back to the colony. - Do not place loose borax powder on counters or floors.
Loose powder increases the chance of accidental contact or ingestion. - Do not spray ants while baiting.
Sprays can kill workers before they carry bait back to the colony. - Remove competing food sources.
Clean up crumbs, spills, grease, pet food, and sugary residue so ants are more likely to take the bait. - Be patient.
Baits are not instant. It can take 5 to 10 days to see fewer ants, and full control may take even longer.
Making Borax Ant Bait
Since all ants’ digestive systems work the same way no matter what species you’re dealing with, borax is an effective killer whether you have sugar ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, or almost any other type of ant in your home. The important thing to keep in mind is that you need a variety of liquid and solid baits.
Although it seems like ants will eat anything in sight, adult ants can’t digest solid foods and only eat liquids. On the other hand, larvae can process solid foods and turn it into a liquid that the queen will then eat. A variety of baits will make sure you eliminate the entire colony.
Liquid Borax Ant Bait Recipes
You’ll find several types of liquid borax ant bait recipes, so it helps to try out different options to see which one works better for the species of ant you’re dealing with. No matter which recipe you use, you’ll need some type of container to hold the bait. You can use a small plastic container, plastic lid, paper plate, or cotton ball. The only important part is to make sure the ants can easily get in and out of your bait holder.
One recipe you can try calls for a half cup of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of borax, and 1.5 cups of warm water. Simply mix all the ingredients together until they’re blended, and place the bait in the trap for the ants to consume.
Another recipe to try, calls for three parts sugar for every one part borax. For example, if you use 1 cup of sugar you’ll need to mix it with one-third cup of borax. Blend these two ingredients together until you have no more lumps. Next, add enough water to turn the mixture into a thick paste. For the above example, about one-quarter cup of water will suffice. Finally, add about one-quarter cup of syrup to the mixture for a thick, sticky substance the ants can’t resist.
Solid Borax Ant Bait Recipe
For the solid borax ant recipe, you want to use the same 1-to-3 ratio mentioned in the liquid ant bait recipe. However, in this case, you’ll want to mix the borax with powdered sugar. As an example, if you use three-quarters of a cup of powdered sugar, you’ll want to combine it with one-quarter of a cup of borax. Then simply stir the ingredients together to make sure they’re completely mixed.
You can use the solid and liquids baits inside and outside, but if you use them in your garden, you need to make sure you put the mixture in a lid or other type of plastic container. Borax is also an herbicide, and it can kill your plants if you pour the mixture directly over them.
Is Borax Safe Around Kids and Pets?
Borax is considered lower in toxicity than many pesticide ingredients when used properly, but it is not harmless. Keep all borax and boric acid baits away from children, pets, food, dishes, and plants.
EPA recommends locking up pesticides, keeping them in their original containers, following label directions, and never putting pesticide products in containers that could be mistaken for food or drinks.
Does Borax Kill Fire Ants?
Borax may kill some fire ants if they consume it, but it should not be presented as the best fire ant control method. Fire ants often prefer oil-based baits, and a simple sugar-and-borax mixture may not attract them well. UC IPM specifically notes that fire ants prefer baits containing oils.
For fire ants, homeowners should be especially careful. Fire ants can sting, and disturbing a mound can cause the colony to swarm. If you have fire ant mounds near your home, play area, or pets, professional treatment is often the safer option.
When Borax Ant Bait May Not Work
Borax ant bait may fail if:
- The ants are not attracted to sweet bait
- The mixture contains too much borax
- The bait dries out
- There are other food sources nearby
- The colony is outdoors and too large for small DIY bait placements
- You are dealing with fire ants, carpenter ants, or another species with different habits
- You are only killing visible ants instead of targeting the colony
Ant preferences can change throughout the year and that offering different bait formulations can improve success.
When to Call a Professional
DIY borax bait can be useful for small ant problems, but recurring infestations usually require proper ant identification and a more complete treatment plan.
Call a pest control professional if:
- Ants keep returning after DIY baiting
- You see ants in multiple rooms
- You suspect carpenter ants
- You have fire ant mounds in your yard
- You have pets or children and want safer bait placement
- You cannot find where ants are entering
A professional can identify the ant species, locate entry points, treat the colony, and help prevent future infestations.
