6 Homemade Ant Killer Sprays That Actually Work—Without Harsh Chemicals

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Nobody likes finding a trail of ants inside their home. Depending on the type you have, they might simply be a nuisance—or, worse, a destructive force. But not all of these unwanted visitors need to be eliminated with harsh chemicals. There are several homemade ant killer options that can stop these critters in their tracks, experts say. And as an added bonus, you probably have all of the ingredients you need to make them on hand.

Vinegar

Vinegar being poured into dish

According to Vincent Luca, a licensed pest control technician and the owner of On Demand Pest Control, you can create a homemade ant-deterring solution that stars vinegar—one of the most versatile natural cleaning ingredients there is.

As for how it effectively mitigates your pest problem? "Its strong odor disrupts the ants' pheromone trails, which are their means of communication and navigation," Luca says. "By effectively disrupting these trails, the vinegar solution makes it challenging for ants to find their way around and communicate with their fellow colony members." That means once you've gotten rid of the first wave of ants, more will have a harder time finding their way into and around your space.

Materials

  • 2 cups vinegar (both apple cider and white vinegar work)
  • 2 tablespoons liquid dish soap
  • 2 tablespoons baking soda
  • Water
  • Spray bottle

Instructions

"Start by combining the vinegar, dish liquid, and baking soda powder in a large bowl, gently stirring the ingredients together," Luca says. Pour the solution into an industrial spray bottle once you're done mixing, adding enough water to the mixture to fill the bottle.

Dish Soap and Water

Dish soap for homemade ant spray

Is there anything dish soap can't do? You can turn to this kitchen workhorse as you battle the ants in your house, says Jeremy McReynolds, a certified commercial pesticide applicator and New York compliance manager for TruGreen's technical team.

Materials

  • 2 ounces dish soap
  • 32 ounces water
  • Spray bottle

Instructions

Mix 2 ounces of dish soap and 32 ounces of water in a spray bottle; use it to spray and remove the pheromone trail left behind by the ants. It also kills them on contact: "Dish soap sprayed directly on ants will kill ants by penetrating their exoskeleton, which suffocates them," he says.

Baking Soda and Boric Acid

Wooden spoon with baking soda

This easy-to-use homemade ant killer is a trap, not a spray. To make it, gather the following supplies, says Luca.

Materials

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