👉 Get the complete DIY Ant Control Guide at HowToGetRidOfBugs.guide — including diagrams, product links, and step-by-step instructions.
If you’ve spotted trails of ants in your kitchen or bathroom, you might be wondering if borax can get rid of them.
The short answer is yes — borax can kill ants, but only when used correctly.
When mixed with a sweet attractant, borax acts as a slow-acting poison that allows worker ants to carry the bait back to their colony, eventually killing the queen and eliminating the nest.
In this guide, you’ll learn how borax works, how to mix it safely, and how to combine it with professional-grade products for the best long-term results.
What Is Borax and How Does It Work?
Borax (sodium borate) is a naturally occurring mineral used in cleaning, laundry, and pest control.
When ants ingest borax, it disrupts their digestive systems and slowly poisons them. The key to its effectiveness is that it’s slow-acting, giving ants enough time to share the bait with other colony members — including the queen.
This is what makes borax one of the oldest and most reliable DIY ant control solutions.
✅ Pro Tip: Borax works by targeting the colony, not just the ants you see. The foragers spread it through grooming, feeding, and trophallaxis (food sharing).
Borax vs. Boric Acid: What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse borax and boric acid, but they’re slightly different compounds:
| Feature | Borax | Boric Acid |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Mined mineral (sodium borate) | Refined compound derived from borax |
| Common Use | Laundry booster, cleaner | Pesticide and antiseptic |
| Effectiveness on Ants | Slower but effective | Slightly stronger and faster |
| Safety | Mildly toxic if ingested | More concentrated — use carefully |
Both can kill ants, but borax is typically safer and easier to find in grocery or hardware stores.
DIY Borax Ant Killer Recipes
To make borax effective, it must be mixed with something ants find irresistible — sugar, syrup, or honey. The attractant lures them in, and the borax does the work once ingested.
1. Liquid Borax Bait (for Kitchens and Bathrooms)
Ingredients:
- ½ cup warm water
- 1½ tablespoons borax
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients until dissolved.
- Soak small cotton balls in the solution.
- Place them on wax paper or in jar lids near ant trails, under sinks, or behind appliances.
Ants will feed on the sweet mixture and carry it back to their colony.
2. Paste Borax Bait (for Vertical Surfaces)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon borax
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter or honey
Instructions:
- Stir until it forms a thick paste.
- Apply small dabs near entry points, windows, and corners.
- Replace every few days until activity subsides.
This works well for protein-loving ants like carpenter ants or pavement ants.
3. Dry Borax Bait (for Outdoor Trails or Cracks)
Ingredients:
- 3 parts powdered sugar
- 1 part borax
Instructions:
- Mix thoroughly and sprinkle lightly along outdoor trails or near foundations.
- Avoid applying during rain or heavy dew.
This dry mix mimics commercial ant granules and can help reduce colonies near patios and garages.
Safety Tips When Using Borax
Borax is low-toxicity but still requires care:
- Keep baits out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not place directly on countertops or food-prep areas.
- Always wash hands after handling borax mixtures.
- Avoid overapplying — ants need only small, strategic amounts to carry back.
Why Borax Works — and When It’s Not Enough
Borax can eliminate small colonies effectively, but it’s less effective when:
- The infestation is large or deep in walls.
- There are multiple colonies inside and outside the home.
- The baits dry out or become contaminated with repellents.
In these cases, borax should be part of a larger integrated approach, including non-repellent sprays and professional baits to ensure the queen and colony are completely destroyed.
Upgrading to Professional DIY Ant Control
For heavy or recurring infestations, use borax in combination with non-repellent sprays and granular baits. These products provide faster, broader, and longer-lasting results.
1. Non-Repellent Sprays (Indoor and Outdoor)
Non-repellent sprays are undetectable to ants — they walk through treated areas and carry the active ingredient back to the nest.
Recommended products:
- Alpine WSG – safe for indoor use, excellent for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Bifenthrin – long-lasting outdoor and perimeter protection.
Apply these sprays:
- Along baseboards and under sinks
- Around windows, doors, and foundation cracks
- Near outdoor nests, decks, and siding
⚠️ Avoid mixing these sprays with borax baits in the same spot. Sprays kill too quickly if applied directly on bait trails.
2. Ant Baits (Gel or Granular)
Use professional-grade baits to supplement borax’s slower action:
- Advion Ant Gel – highly attractive to most ant species indoors.
- Advance 375A – granular bait that works exceptionally well for outdoor colonies.
- Niban Granular Bait – weather-resistant, borate-based option ideal for damp environments.
These products spread poison through the colony the same way borax does — but with faster and more consistent results.
3. Dust Treatments for Wall Voids
If ants are nesting behind walls or inside voids, apply Cimexa Dust or D Fense Dust directly into cracks or damaged wood.
These products kill on contact and provide long-term residual protection against reinfestation.
Prevention Tips
Once your ant problem is under control, take these simple steps to keep them from coming back:
- Seal cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and foundations.
- Keep counters clean and store food in sealed containers.
- Fix plumbing leaks and reduce indoor moisture.
- Trim vegetation touching exterior walls or roofs.
- Refresh baits quarterly as preventive maintenance.
Recommended Product Summary
| Category | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Bait Recipes | Borax + Sugar or Honey | Home-made colony elimination |
| Professional Baits | Advion Gel, Advance 375A, Niban | Faster, targeted colony control |
| Non-Repellent Sprays | Bifenthrin, Alpine WSG | Indoor/outdoor transfer kill |
| Dusts & Foams | Tempo Dust , D Fense Dust | Wall voids and wood structures |
| Prevention | Sealing, sanitation, trimming | Long-term protection |
Borax can be an effective, low-cost way to kill ants and eliminate small colonies, especially when mixed with sugar or honey as bait.
However, it works best as part of a bigger plan — one that uses non-repellent sprays, professional baits, and prevention to target ants at every stage.
For minor infestations, borax can do the job.
For larger or recurring infestations, pairing it with Alpine WSG, Bifenthrin
, and Advance 375A ensures you not only kill the foragers but also the queen and colony.
👉 Get the complete DIY Ant Control Guide at HowToGetRidOfBugs.guide — including diagrams, product links, and step-by-step instructions.