Does Baking Soda Kill Ants | Must-Know Tips!

Most ant killers available commercially contain toxic chemicals which may harm you, your children, and your pets. The best alternative to these is the use of natural home remedies to exterminate ants such as the commonly used baking soda.

So, does baking soda kill ants? Yes, it works by absorbing water from the ants’ exoskeleton which dries them out and effectively kills them. Baking soda is more potent when combined with other items such as vinegar and Vitamin C.

In this article, we will provide a detailed guide about effective ant control and management using baking soda and other ingredients that are all-natural and environmentally friendly. Let’s begin!

Baking Soda and Ants | Information

Successfully established ant colonies indoors can cause serious problems. To address this, you can use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as a natural ant repellent as well as an insecticide to get rid of ants.

The acidic mineral is usually available in powdered form. It is odorless, with a white color and salty taste. This is a natural and safe way to eradicate ants, but you will need to mix it with food supplements to lure ants into consuming it.

Baking soda can also be used to keep the ants away from your house. This chemical does not harm your pets unless it is consumed in large quantities. So, for safety reasons, baking soda should be kept away from pets and children.

How Does Baking Soda Kill Ants?

Baking soda can be used to prepare natural insecticide sprays as well as baits. When the powder is directly sprinkled over the ants, it absorbs water from their exoskeleton and dries them out.

Similarly, when baking soda is combined with vinegar then sprayed directly over ants, it causes a violent reaction and kills the ants instantly after the treatment.

The baking soda works more effectively when we use it as bait with some ant attractants. The ants take the bait to their nests and feed the entire colony. After ingestion, the chemical reacts with the digestive system of ants and releases carbon dioxide, which eventually causes them to die.

Is Baking Soda Poisonous to Ants?

Baking soda is non-toxic to humans and pets but it can be poisonous to ants. This substance can kill ants like commercial ant killers. You can use baking soda directly like diatomaceous earth or with dietary supplements to prepare ant traps.

Can You Use Baking Soda to Get Rid of Ants?

Baking soda is mostly used as a leavening agent in bakeries to make muffins, cakes, doughs, batters, etc. It also acts as a cleansing agent as it can help with cleaning tough and grim stains in your kitchen or bathrooms.

Baking soda enhances the whiteness of teeth when added to toothpaste. The acidic properties of the compound make it a natural ant killer. Baking soda alone does not attract ants, therefore, you need to add sugar or other supplements to lure them.

How Long Does Baking Soda Take to Kill Ants?

Results are visible within just a few hours. However, the exact time period to eliminate an entire ant colony depends upon various other factors such as the level of infestation, type of ant, etc.

Homemade baking soda sprays may take longer to kill ants than commercial ant baits. Smaller infestations can be dealt with within 2 to 4 days whereas larger infestations may require more than a week.

Remember: do not confuse baking soda with baking powder. Baking powder is another type of baking aid but it does not have the ability to kill ants nor can it be used as an alternative to baking soda.

Does Baking Soda and Vinegar Kill Ants?

Baking soda is acidic in nature and, if mixed with another acidic item such as vinegar, you can create a highly potent ant-killer spray. The direct application of vinegar and baking soda spray disrupts the exoskeleton of ants and cause their death due to violent chemical reaction.

Does Icing Sugar and Baking Soda Kill Ants?

Yes. The icing or powdered sugar can be used as bait since they’re highly attractive to the insects while the baking soda is used as the killing agent. The similar texture of sugar and baking soda also helps confuses the ants.

As a result, the worker ants take the baking soda along with sugar to their nests and consume the bait. When the bait works, baking soda causes a reaction inside the digestive systems of ants. All of this results in their death.

Does Baking Soda Work on Fire Ants and Carpenter Ants?

Yes, baking soda-based ant killers are effective for almost all the types of ant species, including carpenter ants and fire ants. Carpenter ants are fond of sugar-based food whereas fire ants like both protein and sugar. You can prepare a perfect baking soda bait according to the ant type.

The mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar acts as a natural bait for carpenter ants. A baking soda and vinegar mixture work best in the case of fire ants. You can also add other ingredients to prepare different types of baking soda ant killers such as vitamin C powder, jams, honey, etc.

Although baking soda is proven effective even against these ant species, commercial products (e.g. insecticides) are better designed to completely eradicate these ants since they spread rapidly and are quite aggressive. For severe infestations, consider using insecticides.

How to Get Rid of Ants with Baking Soda: Step by Step Instructions

Most of the ant species may not cause any damage but unchecked ant infestation can flourish rapidly and cause a nuisance. The ant infestation should be handled as soon as possible before they establish larger colonies.

Different types of baking soda ant killers can be prepared to deal with ant colonization before they lead to a serious problem. Multiple approaches (baits or insecticide solutions) are used to handle different levels of ant infestation. Baking soda with different dietary supplements can effectively control ant invasion.

Our step-by-step guide will help to control ants with baking soda. It is an effective pest control strategy to exterminate ants from your house or garden which includes, inspection, treatment and prevention.

Step 1: Inspection of Infested Areas

To get rid of the ant infestation you first need to do a careful inspection and investigation of your house both indoors and outdoors. Monitor the ant trails, their access points, and ant mounds. It will help you to decide the required quantity of the baking soda mix. 

Observe the eating pattern and behavior of ants before the application of ant killer. Some ant species prefer sugar-based food whereas others like to eat greasy food. Identification of ant species and careful inspection of the infested sites will help you to get the best outcomes.

Step 2: Application of Baking Soda Ant Killers

The next step is the application itself. Now, you don’t need to buy harmful and expensive ant killers. Prepare DIY baking soda ant killers at home and save your time and money. Here’s how:

Baking Soda Baits or Traps

Prepare baking soda mixtures or baits according to the eating behavior of the ant species that have invaded your house. The sugar and baking soda mixture work best for sugar ants, while the peanut and baking soda mix works best for greasy ants.

Put the baking soda ant baits or traps at multiple locations near the ant trails and closer to the ant mound to attract the ants out of their shelters. The ants will take the bait back to their nests and will feed the entire colony including the queen. The baking soda will cause suffocation and lead to their death.

Smaller ant infestations can be eliminated in a few days whereas larger infestations can take a few weeks depending upon their level of infestation. This method is slow acting but produces the best outcomes.

Baking Soda and Sugar for Ants

Combine 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar (icing or confectioners sugar) with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. You can increase the quantity of sugar and baking soda if required. Try not to use regular sugar to prepare the mix because ants will try to separate sugar from baking soda.

You can replace sugar with honey, jam, or other sugary food items. The sugary food items will help to attract the ants. Put the mixture near mounds, ant trails, and alongside cracks to eradicate ant infestation. If you have prepared a sticky bait then try using disposable containers or tape.

Remember to replace the bait often as it may run out sooner than you think, especially if you’re dealing with heavier ant infestations. Make sure those ants are getting them too!

Peanut Butter and Baking Soda to Kill Ants

Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. The bait is best for ants that are fond of greasy or protein-based food such as thief ants. Put the mixture on a disposable container and place it near the entry points, closer to ant trails and mounds to lure ants.

Vitamin C and Baking Soda to Kill Ants

Combine baking soda, vitamin C tablet, and icing sugar in equal quantities. Apply the mixture at the infested sites or near the ant trails. You can also add water to the mixture to prepare liquid bait.

Baking Soda and Diatomaceous Earth to Kill Ants

Diatomaceous earth is an organic and non-toxic compound, made from the shells of diatoms and works similarly with baking soda. You can prepare baking soda and diatomaceous earth mixture very simply by mixing them together.

Now, sprinkle the mix over the ant trails and ant mounds to exterminate their colonies. The mixture will damage the exoskeleton of ants which will lead to their death.

Baking Soda and Borax to Kill Ants

Like diatomaceous earth, borax powder and baking soda mixture can also kill ant colonies. You can sprinkle the insecticide powder directly on the ants and ant mounds to eliminate their entire colonies.

Borax powder, however, is toxic and can cause eye problems and skin rashes. This is why you need to use personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, and eyewear) to avoid any mishap. You can combine diatomaceous earth, borax powder, and baking soda commercially to use as DIY natural ant killers.

How to Kill Ants With Baking Soda and Vinegar?

Apply baking soda over the ant mounds and then pour vinegar over it. Baking soda is acidic in nature, and when another acid is added to the mix, it causes a more potent and violent reaction by drying out the ants’ exeskeletons.

You can also make a baking soda and vinegar control solution by creating a 1:1 baking soda in vinegar and water solution. Pour the mixture into a bottle to use it as a spray or directly drench the sufficient quantity of the mixture over the mounds to get rid of ants.

Baking Soda and Cooking Oil Spray

Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 teaspoon of cooking oil. Before the application of insecticide spray, add the mixture in 1 cup of warm and pour this solution into a spray bottle.

Apply this mixture over the ant trails and drench ant mounds with this mixture. The solution not only kills the ants but also acts as an ant deterrent. You can also purchase natural ant killer sprays commercially:

Step 3: Prevention of Ants Using Baking Soda

Prevent re-infestation of ants by creating a barrier of baking soda across the ant access points. You can also use baking soda and oil spray to keep the ants away from your house or garden. Additionally, monitor the treated sites for a few weeks and seal all holes, cracks, and wall voids.

Eliminate all the factors that can attract ants into your house or garden. Wipe excess water from your kitchen and bathrooms as well as repair leaky pipes to prevent the re-establishment of ant colonies, especially species that thrive on moisture.

Is Natural Ant Control With Baking Soda Really Effective?

If you do not want to use synthetic or harmful ant killers then baking soda is the best natural alternative for getting rid of ant infestation. It shows similar results with commercially available ant killers. Plus, it’s non-toxic and harmless to plants, pets, and humans.

If you think that baking soda is not suitable for your ant problem or, in other words, you have quite a heavy infestation on your hands, then look for more effective methods such as the following baits:

List of Sources

Laura, L. P. (2014). Investigating Ant Trial Pheromones, California State Science Fair
Rust, M. K. and Choe, D.H. (2012). Ants Integrated Pest Management in and around the Home, University of California Statewide IPM Program, UC ANR Publication
UCSF California Childcare Health Program. (2016). Integrated Pest Management: Ants, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing
Wanger, P., Bachmann, A., Varenhorst, A., & Rozeboom, P. (2019). Watch out for Carpenter Ants, SDSU Extension Etymology