During the summer it is common for ants to scurry into homes in search of food, but there is a quick and easy way to get rid of these pests before they become an infestation. 

Many home remedies online are said to keep ants away such as chalk, cinnamon or pepper as they disrupt ant scent trails, but this will only work for a short time as ants will always find another way to search for food. 

Alli, a home-keeping expert and founder of the Scattered Squirrel has discovered that the best way to remove ants permanently from your home is with a simple solution made out of baking powder and icing sugar. 

She said: “I came across this great idea for a DIY Ant Killer. The best part was that it used only two ingredients that I already had in my baking cupboard.” 

It may sound odd, but baking power is a very powerful ant killer if ingested as it mixes with the acid in an ant’s stomach to cause them to dry out and die within minutes. 

The icing sugar acts as bait to get the ants to eat the baking powder as ants will not be able to resist eating it or carrying it back to their colony, making it a safe and effective way to get rid of ants. 

How to make a homemade ant killer

All you need is:

• Baking soda 
• Icing sugar
• Measuring spoon 
• Lids from takeaway containers or jars 

It is “really easy to whip this up” this homemade ant killer according to Alli, but she stressed you must only use icing sugar as this trap will not work with any other sugar. 

She said: “It must be icing sugar because the powder is so fine that it makes it impossible for the ants to get it and not take some baking soda with them.  

“The baking soda is what is going to get rid of those pests.  Their stomachs cannot digest it properly and it kills them.”

Method 

All you have to do is use a measuring spoon to mix the baking powder and icing sugar on the lids. 

Then place the lids near your kitchen doorway, patio and any other area where you have noticed ants. If you know where an ant colony is then place it right next to it to stop an infestation completely. 

Baking powder is also known to dry out plants and grass, so make sure to always place this mixture on a lid if using outside to keep your garden healthy. 

Placing this mixture on a lid also makes it much easier to clean up without it getting everywhere. 

After a few days, you will notice there are much fewer ants than there normally would be and after a week they should be gone for good. 

Alli said: “This DIY Ant Killer isn’t as fast-acting as some of the chemical sprays you buy, but it does work.”