My grandpa was a wise man!

My grandpa was a wise man! | September 2, 2024

Ants invading your home can be more than just a nuisance—they can be a real challenge to get rid of, especially if they keep returning. Over the years, I’ve tried everything from store-bought sprays to DIY concoctions, but nothing worked quite as effectively as a simple trick my grandpa taught me.

This method is not only quick, taking just 10 minutes, but it also requires minimal effort and uses common household items. Here’s the secret.

The Problem with Ants

Ants are attracted to food sources, particularly sweet substances. They can detect even the smallest crumbs, leading entire colonies to march into your kitchen or pantry. Once ants find a reliable food source, they leave a pheromone trail, which signals other ants to follow the same path. This is why a small ant problem can quickly turn into a major infestation.

The Simple Trick

My grandpa’s method leverages the ants’ natural instincts against them, and the best part? You probably already have everything you need at home. Here’s how it works:

Ingredients:

Borax (or Boric Acid)
Sugar
Water
Cotton balls or small pieces of cardboard

Instructions:

Prepare the Bait Solution: Mix 1 part Borax with 3 parts sugar. The sugar acts as a bait, luring the ants to the mixture. The Borax, on the other hand, is toxic to ants. When ingested, it disrupts their digestive system, eventually killing them.

Create the Mixture: Add enough water to the sugar and Borax mixture to form a thick syrup. You want the consistency to be slightly runny but not too watery. This allows the ants to easily consume it and carry it back to their colony.

Set the Traps: Soak cotton balls in the mixture or spread it on small pieces of cardboard. Place these traps near ant trails, entry points, or where you’ve noticed the most ant activity.

Wait for 10 Minutes: Within minutes, you’ll start to see ants swarming to the bait. They’ll consume it and carry some back to their nest, unknowingly spreading the Borax throughout the colony.

Let the Magic Happen: The Borax does its work within hours, eliminating the ants both at the bait site and back in the nest. After about 10 minutes, you’ll already notice a significant decrease in ant activity.

Clean Up: Once you’ve noticed the ant activity has ceased, dispose of the used cotton balls or cardboard pieces. Make sure to wipe down the area to remove any remaining residue and prevent new ants from being attracted to the same spot.

Why This Trick Works

The brilliance of this method lies in its simplicity. Ants are naturally attracted to sugar, so they can’t resist the bait. The Borax is slow-acting, which is key—it allows the worker ants to return to their colony with the toxic mixture, effectively wiping out the entire nest.

The Benefits of Grandpa’s Method

Zero Effort: You don’t need to spend hours scrubbing floors or chasing ants with sprays. This method works passively—you set it up and let it do its job.

Safe for Humans and Pets: When used correctly, Borax is safe around humans and pets. Just make sure the traps are placed in areas where pets or children won’t disturb them.

Inexpensive: Compared to store-bought ant traps or exterminator services, this method is incredibly cost-effective. A small box of Borax lasts for years, and sugar is something most people have on hand.

Eco-Friendly: Unlike chemical sprays, this method doesn’t involve harmful toxins that could damage your home’s environment or pose risks to wildlife.