Are you battling against a relentless army of ants? Professional ant control treatments might just help, but while you’re waiting for the next appointment or exterminator visit, you can start fighting back with borax.
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for generations as a cleaning agent, disinfectant, and insecticide.
When it comes to killing ants, borax works in two stages: first by ingesting the powder and then through contact poisoning of other ants.
It typically takes about 1-2 days for borax to fully take effect. It may not be as instant as bleach or other insecticides, but it is a safe and effective way to get rid of ants without having to resort to dangerous chemicals.
How Does Borax Work?
Normally found in various household cleaning and pest control products, borax work as an insecticide. It dehydrates and kills the ants, whether through ingestion or on contact.
And it’s not just the ant that eats the borax will get affected. Whoever the ant shares its food with will also be affected. Borax also interrupts the ant’s exoskeleton, slowly dehydrating it until it’s dead.
Since ants have some characteristics that allow them to share their food with their colony, borax makes it easy to get rid of a whole colony in one fell swoop.
It is important to note that borax does not work immediately. It usually takes about a day or two for the full effects of the solution to become visible.
During this time period, ants will still be scurrying around and trying to find food in your house – so it’s important to keep up with regular cleaning and vacuuming to prevent an infestation from getting worse.
The best way to use borax as pest control is by mixing it with other ingredients such as sugar or honey. Sugar and honey won’t kill the ants or won’t make the poison more effective. Rather, it’s used as bait to lure the ants into taking the borax back with them to their colony.
How Effective is Borax in Killing Ants?
The use of borax to kill ants has been around for a long time and it is still considered one of the most effective ways of eliminating them. Aside from dehydration, borax also disrupts the ant’s digestive system, which is why it is so effective in decimating ant colonies.
The fact that borax works over the course of a few days allow it to spread and affect multiple ants, making it more efficient than some other methods. In most cases, you should start to see results within 24 hours.
Can Ants Become Resistant to Borax?
Since it’s normal for some pests and insects to become resistant to certain chemicals, the same can’t be said when it comes to boric acid. With that being said, no – ants don’t get immune to borax or boric acid.
Their bodies simply aren’t made to withstand it and the effects of borax are still just as strong as when first applied.
Just don’t expect the boric acid to work immediately. As mentioned earlier, it takes about 24-48 hours before the boric acid takes effect.
This is the perfect time for the ant to bring it back to their nest, allowing them to share their food with the entire colony, leading to their death. It is a rather slower way of getting rid of your infestation but a rather effective one.
This is one of the many reasons why different pest control companies and products still include boric acid in their products.
How to Use Borax to Help Solve an Ant Infestation?
To start, simply mix together equal parts of borax and sugar or honey. Unfortunately, you can’t trick the ant into just bringing back the borax alone. It won’t work as they’re not interested in it – that’s why you need to combine it with a sweet ingredient.
Once the mixture is ready, spread it in areas where you suspect ants are entering your home. This could be near windowsills or doorways or even around food sources like door entrances or open waste bins.
It’s important to note that you should avoid using borax near food or areas where kids or pets can come in contact with it. You should also clean the area thoroughly after use since boric acid does have some toxic properties to it and could be hazardous if ingested.
Finally, check back every day to see how effective your borax solution is. You should start to see a decrease in the number of ants within 24-48 hours, and eventually, if you do it right, you’ll notice that the infestation is gone.
Final Thoughts
Using borax with precaution is a great way to get rid of ant infestations in your home without having to use hazardous chemicals.
Upon ingestion, it takes about 1-2 days at least for the boric acid to take effect. It’s a slow yet effective way to get rid of ants, and it’s a great option if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution.
Just make sure that you use the borax mixture carefully and keep it away from food sources and kids. With this in mind, you should be able to get rid of your ant problem without having to use more hazardous chemicals.
