Liquid or gel ant bait contains active ingredients like borax that may be slow-acting but can effectively eliminate entire colonies.
Terro is one of the most popular brand names for ant baits, and they produce different kinds.
You can choose one according to your preference.
The goal is for the ants to be attracted to the bait and return it to the nest. When the colony eats the poison, it is the beginning of the end for your ant problem.
Natural Ant Repellents
If you have pets or children in the house, you might opt for a homemade solution that would be much milder but still strong enough to keep ants away.
The following options are more natural ways to eliminate ants from your porch.
Cornmeal Deterrent
Spread some cornmeal or cornstarch around the edges of your porch or porch stairs to keep ants from crawling up. You can also dump a large amount on top of a group to smother them. Then, vacuum them up and dispose of the sealed bag outside your home.
You can pour water on top of the powder to drown them if you want. After a few minutes, wipe the area clean.
Boiling Water
Boiling water itself is a simple deterrent to ants. Identify as many anthills or mounts as possible and pour boiling water directly down the holes.
These colonies can be huge, so the best way to kill most, if not all, would be to pour boiling water down every ant hole that you see.
But stay away from lawns, grass, and plants, as hot water may kill them too.
White Vinegar
This common household solution uses white vinegar only.
You can dilute the solution with water in a 1:1 ratio or use it straight.
Vinegar kills the ants and wipes away the chemical trail to stop more ants from following. It is an excellent natural tool to prevent an ant infestation.
So, even if the vinegar dries, the smell is too strong for ants to avoid. If you see ants in the house, use the diluted vinegar solution to wipe all the surfaces.
Baking Soda
Baking sodas also work great with vinegar to vanquish ant colonies.
Just dust the anthill with a bit of powder and spray it in undiluted vinegar.
The chemical reaction releases a huge carbon dioxide fizz that would kill the ants.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are also an excellent natural repellent for ants.
They are available online or in your local stores at a meager price.
Below, we’ll get to know about some of the essential oils. But it would help if you remembered that these oils should not be consumed and should be kept away from kids and pets.
Peppermint oil
Add 10-20 drops of peppermint to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake it well before spritzing it across different areas, especially around windows. Let it dry.
Tea Tree oil
In a spray bottle, take 2 cups of water and add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil. If you feel the smell is too strong, you can dilute it further with water. You can also mix in peppermint. Spray it around the baseboards and windows.
You can also place paper towels or cotton balls saturated with the solution in places where you tend to see the insects more. The smell would ward them off.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
The citronella in the lemon eucalyptus tree effectively kills most bugs, including ants. This oil works best when undiluted.
Since they can be too thick to spray, you saturate cotton balls with them and place them in the most infested areas.
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
This is different from the one mentioned above.
OLE is extracted from the gum eucalyptus plant and is composed of a chemical called PMD. This chemical is a bio-pesticide proven to be an effective insect repellent.
Neem Oil
Extracted from the neem tree, these oils, at full strength, can remove ants from the very first use. Avoid diluting it, as it can decrease efficiency.
Cinnamon Leaf Oil
Cinnamon sticks and cinnamon extracts are both effective at driving away ants. Place the sticks or saturated cotton balls with the oil around your house.
Pepper
Pepper can irritate almost any creature, including ants. The smell is toxic, so sprinkling some in populated areas can keep them at bay.
You can try any kind that you have at home.
Diatomaceous Earth
DE is food-grade silica made from the fossilized remains of aquatic animals. They can be found in powder form in small packets, and you can sprinkle the powder anywhere you want.
It would dry the ants out by absorbing all the liquid and oils from their body.
Diatomaceous Earth is a skin irritant, so wear protective gloves when touching them. Also, wear a mask to avoid breathing them in.
Chalk
Chalks provide an excellent barrier against ants.
These pesky tiny ants avoid crossing it, so you can draw lines around your porch furniture to keep them from crawling into your food or other areas.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds make for a good insect deterrent. You can spread some around the base of your home and possible nooks and crannies that they might crawl through.
Since they are excellent fertilizers, you can place them in shrubs or near your garden beds.
Household Cleaners
Mix in your glass cleaner and liquid detergent in a separate sprayer. Apply the solution on the areas they seem to crowd, and then wipe it down slightly.
Use hand soap if you prefer a milder smell and solution.
All the household cleaners remove the scent of pheromones, which stops more from crawling in.
And there you have it, easy-peasy steps on how to get rid of ants from your porch! These tips will help keep ants away, and some will kill the ants that have already found their way to your porch.
Some of these DIY techniques only require ingredients you already have in your house.
Others may require a stop at your local grocery store. A small price to pay to stop an ant infestation.
Getting rid of ants is challenging, especially in outdoor areas like a porch or patio. It is not as easy as finding entry points and filing them when you are already outside. You can reduce the chances by removing the things that attract ants. Store food correctly (including pet food), and clean up spillages, especially if the drink is sugar-heavy.
After spending the entire night lying awake in a cockroach-infested hotel, I have driven myself to build knowledge on all things pest control. Since then, I've tested pest control techniques to see what works and what doesn't. Now, here I am giving you all the info I have learned!
