Experts provide insights on baking soda’s effectiveness against ants

Ants can be a big problem at home, popping up in places like the kitchen and dining room. You might have heard that baking soda can help get rid of them, but does it really work? Well, according to experts, it’s not the best solution. Baking soda needs to be eaten by ants to work, and they’re not usually interested in it because it’s not sweet like what they normally eat.

But there’s a trick to make baking soda more appealing to ants: mix it with powdered sugar. When you combine the two, ants will be attracted to the sweetness of the sugar and won’t notice the baking soda. You can also add boric acid for a stronger solution, but be careful because it’s toxic to pets and kids.

To use baking soda to get rid of ants, mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar, then place it in a shallow dish where you’ve seen ants. Replace the mixture every week or so until the ants are gone. You can also sprinkle the mixture outside in areas where ants gather.

If baking soda doesn’t work for you, there are other natural methods you can try. Food-grade diatomaceous earth, talcum powder, and boiling water can all help kill ants without using toxic chemicals. But if nothing seems to work, it might be time to call a pest control professional for help. Just make sure to ask for an environmentally friendly solution if you’re concerned about using chemicals in your home.

Repurposed article originally published in The spruce