6 Easy Ant Control Tips for the Summer

Summertime means… ants season! 😲 But there is no need to panic. We share some home remedies that you can try, that might just help you fend them off and keep them out! 

Around this time of year our six-legged insect friends spawn to life, begin to forage, and attempt to invade our homes.

As much as we love A Bugs Life and Antz, we don’t particularly want them in our lives, in our kitchens or on our patio.  

While there are many home remedies for ant control, here are some additional tips to help you in your battle against ants this year.

Effective ant control starts with knowing who you are up against. BC is home to many species including the Carpenter ant, Pavement Ant, Pharaoh Ant, Fire ant, and more.

**SIDE NOTE** When people refer to ‘tiny little black’ ants, we’re usually talking about pavement ants.

Ant Removal Methods for the Spring and Summer

Ok. So we have ants. First, we want to know who we are up against. Once you know what type ants do you have, you can take the appropriate measures to get rid of them effectively. 

Now let’s look at some ant removal tactics.

1. Boiling water

The old ‘boiling water’ trick is by far the easiest to implement. It’s really more of a slow–them-down type of tactic, rather than complete removal. 

Boil one gallon of water and then pour it directly into the mounds. Repeat the procedure one time a day until you’ve reduced the numbers dramatically. It can be good to keep populations down, but we really want to look at using bait to get to the source and eliminate a colony. 

2. Ant Killer

Most people will find it easiest to buy some ant-killer. Any other-the-counter product that has Ants on the label available from your local hardware store should suffice. 

Use a straw, get the product into the ground and don’t be afraid to empty a quarter tank over each of the sand piles. Ant nests can be widespread and exist deep underground, so use more than you think.

Search for ‘TERRO Ant Killer Liquid Baits’ and ‘Wilsons AntOut’.

3. Salt and Boiling water

Salt is not really a delicacy for ants, but since they are opportunistic eaters, they may even be attracted to salt and take some back to the nest. Some studies even suggest that they prefer salty snacks to sugary ones. 

Salt is a desiccant, once ingested it dehydrates them and kills them. 

Placing lines of salt down around your home is unlikely to do the trick. You can try applying a saltwater spray to the affected areas, but for best results we want to look at a boiling water salt mix, or salt-sugar combo. 

A solution of boiling water and salt which you can dump directly over an ant mound, should have better results. Again, like with the boiling water trick, you might achieve a lot of dead ants but you are mostly slowing them down. 

4. Get Juicy

Another trick is to create a borax-juice concoction. One part Borax, to a two-part juice is a great recipe.

Any liquid bait that you can buy from the hardware store as well. They’re not that expensive and actually work really well, we recommend you start with Borax. You could even go for more dilution, 3:1 or 4:1, at this time of the year (early spring) because right now they’re just waking up, they’re really weak.

What kind of juice? Apple juice, orange juice, anything sweet.

An ant infestation caught by one of our technician last year.. not a pleasant sight!
That’s a decent size colony, living directly under the pavement slab. Sometimes we have to excavate to get to the nest.  

5. Get Spicy

Ants hate cinnamon. Pull a jar down from your spice rack and sprinkle it around the entrances to your home. You don’t need a wall of it but just spread it liberally around the corners of the door. 

You want to do it right away when you first see ants, because once they are established and they understand the kitchen counter is where the food is at, cinnamon is not going to stop them.

Read our detailed guide with more tips on preparing for ant season

6. Baking soda

Baking soda can work in some instances to kill ants. Once ingested it reacts with the acid in their digestive system, eventually killing them.

Sprinkle a baking soda and sugar mixture along ant trails, around doorways, or anywhere where you have seen them.  

The goal is for the worker ants to carry the sugar back to their nests to get to the queen. No more queen, no more baby ants. 

7. Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural product, chemical free. So anyone seeking eco-friendly solutions, this one’s for you. It works by physically damaging the exoskeletons of insects, causing them to dehydrate and die.

You can pick this up at most local hardware stores or garden centres. Make sure to choose the food-grade Diatomaceous earth, as other grades may contain harmful additives.

Find the ant mounds or nests and generously apply DE directly on and around them. And treat areas where ants are foraging, along ant trails too.

NOTE: it’s a good idea to wear protective gear like a dust mask and gloves when handling the powder, as it can be irritating to the lungs and skin.

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Combating more than just pavement ants this year? Learn about the types of ants we get here in BC. 

And check out our resource on how you can Prepare for Ant Season 

Overrun with ants and need assistance? Read more about the pavement ant control and removal services offered by Westside Pest Control. 

We provide a FREE onsite evaluation and written quotation provided. Service options include both once-off treatment and preventive services. Call 604-559-9060, or use our webchat to speak with an expert.