How to get rid of sugar ants in your house

Are spiders your friend or foe? It often depends on who you ask and what type of spider. But while the answer can be both, most Texas homeowners agree they don’t want spiders taking up residency in their home. What can you do to keep spiders where they belong? Try these natural solutions to make your home a little less accommodating toward your eight-legged friends: 1. Vinegar White vinegar is one of the most powerful natural pesticides, plus it’s safe for kids and pets. Of course, that’s not the case for spiders. The acetic acid content gives vinegar its sour taste and smell, which spiders are sensitive to. To use, put equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray around windows, doors, and the outside of your home. Concentrate your spraying in areas where spiders have been spotted. 2. Cedar Cedar’s lovely woody smell is an added bonus of using it as a spider repellant. Add cedar chips or blocks to your flower beds, or mix cedar essential oil with water to create a cedar spray to use indoors and outdoors. 3. Mint Most pests, including spiders, hate strong smells like mint. You can plant fresh mint in your garden to deter spiders, or add peppermint essential oil to a spray bottle and spray your entryways, rooms, pantries, and anywhere else spiders may be hiding. If you grow your own mint, consider drying some and making your own sachets to store in cabinets and closets. 4. Diatomaceous Earth Made of fossilized algae (called diatoms), diatomaceous earth is an inexpensive and highly effective solution for getting rid of spiders. It’s all natural and non-toxic, which also makes it a good choice to use if you have kids or pets in your home. Mix a tablespoon of food-grade diatomaceous earth powder in a spray bottle with water, shake well to mix, then spray along entryways, in your garden, around your potted plants, or anywhere else where spiders aren’t welcome. 5. Cinnamon Similar to mint, spiders and other pests also loathe the smell of cinnamon. The strong odor is enough to drive them away. You can place dried cinnamon sticks in drawers, cabinets, and closets, burn cinnamon scented candles, or make a spray with water and cinnamon essential oil. 6. Horse Chestnuts Using horse chestnuts (sometimes called conkers) to drive away spiders is often considered an old wives’ tale. But given that horse chestnuts are not edible, it’s thought that they contain some component that’s toxic to spiders. Try placing a few on your windowsill or along baseboards to prevent spiders from visiting those areas. 7. Targeted Pest Control for Spiders At Fresh Pest Control, we provide comprehensive treatments for spiders and other pests that find their way into your home. Our solutions are EPA approved and we’re committed to doing the job right the first time. Contact our team today for a free estimate.

Sugar ants can seem like an endless plague, especially in the Pacific NW. It can be frustrating to understand where these tiny pests come from and what attracts them in the first place!

Although a number of species are commonly known as “sugar ants,” odorous house ants are the common culprit. When crushed, these ants emit an odor that smells of coconut. Odorous house ants can be found throughout the US and are notoriously attracted to sugar substances. Once they gain an entry into your home, it can be very difficult to get rid of them.

PURCOR is here to help! We have a number of home remedies that might be able to nip your sugar ant problem in the bud. If you’re experiencing a serious ant infestation–more than fifty ants on a regular basis or an uncontrolled infestation spreading throughout the house–we recommend professional services.

Home remedies can be effective for initial infestations. Here are our favorite natural ways to get rid of sugar ants!

Coffee, Herbs & Oils to Keep Sugar Ants Away

These are a great way to prevent ant infestations, but they have to be used in the right concentrations, and they must be applied regularly to entry points in order to work.

• Coffee Grounds: Can be used to keep a number of pests away. We recommend only using it outside around entryways–coffee can stain flooring!
• Bay Leaves: Placing a bay leaf in your pantry can go a long way toward deterring sugar ants.
• Pepper: Ants don’t like the overwhelming smell of pepper. This remedy can be difficult to use in large amounts, but can be combined with other methods as a support.
• Cucumber Peels: Sugar ants don’t like the smell of cucumber. Place around entryways, and keep those peels moist to maintain the cucumber aroma!
• Essential Oils: Cinnamon, peppermint, and orange essential oils are a relatively easy way to keep ants at bay. Dilute around 20 drops of oil within 8 ounces of water, and spray along doorways, windowsills, and any other place where ant activity is present!

Homemade Cleaners to Get Rid of Sugar Ants

Odorous ants use a complicated system of pheromones to communicate with each other. By placing trails of different scents, they can alert their nest mates to food resources, the way back to the nest, and even danger! Removing these trails is the best way to make sure these ants don’t continue marching into your home.

• Soap & Water: The easiest way to eliminate a constant trail of ants.
• Vinegar: Its pungent odor is a great deterrent. Vinegar is known for its cleaning properties and ability to eliminate odors. We agree! Dilute the vinegar in water to make sure the vinegar evaporates.

Controlling and Eliminating Sugar Ants with Powders

If you still have trails of ants popping up, it’s time to double down. These powders can kill ants when they are eaten and can also be carried back to the nest, killing nest mates as well. We do recommend using caution with these powders, especially around children and pets.

• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is a food substance that will kill ants if they ingest it. Please use with caution, even if it is food!
• Diatomaceous Earth: Made of fossilized diatoms, diatomaceous earth is a soft type of sedimentary rock. This substance can cause irritation of mucus membranes, lungs, skin, and eyes. If you’re not completely comfortable with this substance, we do not recommend using it.
• Borax: A mineral commonly used in household cleaners, borax is an effective ant killer, when used in shallow dishes around entryways. Borax should never be used within reach of pets or children.

If trying to control and eliminate sugar ants with natural methods isn’t working, it’s time to call in the professionals. At PURCOR, we have plenty of experience eliminating sugar ants from Pacific Northwest homes and businesses. Get your free quote today or give us a call! 

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