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Say Goodbye to Ants: 9 Must-Try Products for Your Home and Yard

Have you noticed a stream of ants parading around your home? Unfortunately, it could be a sign of an infestation.

There are two ways to kill ants: bait them or kill-on-contact. The bait kills ants at their source, while contact solutions allow you to tackle an infestation immediately.

These ant killers come in the form of sprays, powders, granules, and gels. But knowing what to get can take some research. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best ant killers for your home and yard.

Ant Block

A container of Amdro Ant Block on a tree strump near a garden.
Image Credit: Amdro.

Ant Block is a liquid solution that is one of the best options for eliminating ants. It comes with a spout that makes it simple to disperse as you pour. It’s easy to use and eliminates ant colonies before they ever enter your home.

While Ant Block is effective for killing entire colonies, it can take a couple of weeks before it takes effect. Word of caution: this product is great for getting rid of ants in your yard, but it’s unsafe for pets.

Liquid Ant Baits

Ant trap poison bate on a granite kitchen countertop.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Liquid ant baits are one of the easiest ways to kill ants. Bait stations come with sweet bait, attracting ants to them. Simply set the bait station inside your home or around your property and wait for the ants to come to it.

Instead of killing the ants on contact, liquid ant baits contain borax, which is released slowly over time. The ants take the bait and return to their nests with it. When they do so, it poisons the entire colony.

Aerosol Sprays

Variety of RAID spray cans of ant and roach killer on a store shelf.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Aerosol sprays are a contact ant killer that kills them instantly. Many sprays also kill other types of insects, like roaches, making them a good multi-purpose insect killer.

Many sprays are safe to use within your home, and some come with pleasant scents. Use caution, as some sprays can leave stains. While sprays are easy to use, they are also less effective because they don’t permanently eliminate the whole colony.

Ant Dust

The concept of fighting ants in a greenhouse. On the tiles in the greenhouse there is a trap for ants and a white powder from pests is poured.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Ant dust is a contact-based solution you can sprinkle in hard-to-reach areas in your home or around your property. It effectively kills different varieties of ants and other pests like spiders and wasps.

This is a long-lasting solution that is good for several months. Avoid spreading ant dust around children and pets, as it is highly toxic.

Ant Gels

A masculine hand holding gel ant killer.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Ant gel is a bait ant killer that contains poison. Like the traps, ants take the bait back to their colony, eliminating it. While it doesn’t kill ants on contact, it’s easy to apply and can eliminate infestations at their source.

With most bait ant killers, seeing results can take some time. Some types of ants can develop resistance to ant gel, making it less effective over time.

Insecticides

A masculine arm spraying pesticide/insecticide towards the floorboards/baseboards of a residential home.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Insecticides use time-release substances to attach to ants and spread within a colony. This is a good contact ant killer that can also help eliminate an entire colony.

Insecticides can be used indoors as well as around the home. Some include the same ingredients used to treat fleas and ticks. Many come in easy-to-use bottles with precision application to reduce drift around your home.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint essential oil in a bottle
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Peppermint oil is a natural solution that reduces the use of harmful chemicals in your home. While it’s generally safe around pets and young children, it can be harmful in large quantities.

Peppermint oil is a contact-based ant killer that will kill ants and deter others from appearing. You can purchase a pre-made solution or make your own by mixing 10-15 drops of peppermint oil and water.

Vinegar

Vinegar, spray bottle, cleaning rag, clean
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Distilled white vinegar is natural, low-cost, and something that most people have in their home already. It won’t kill ants, but it is an effective repellent. 

Mix two parts of distilled white vinegar with one part of warm water in a spray bottle. Apply on visible ant trails inside or outside your home. The smell of the vinegar will disrupt the scent trails ants leave behind, confusing them and making it difficult for them to follow their path. It’s also a smell they don’t like and will go out of their way to avoid.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth on a garden trowel
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Diatomaceous earth is granule-based that can be used around the perimeter of your home to deter ants. Sprinkle it around your home to create a protection barrier, and wait for the ants to walk across it.

Diatomaceous earth kills ants by harming their exoskeletons, causing them to dry out and die. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic powder that’s safe to use around pets and in your garden.

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