How to Kill Black Ants

Last Updated: November 25, 2020 References

It doesn't take little black ants long to locate food once you set it down. You might leave a bowl of fruit out overnight only to discover it's covered with ants in the morning. Once you identify the problem, you can kill the ants with spray or bait, use household items to repel them and take measures to keep them from returning. See Step 1 to learn how.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Bait and Sprays

1
Buy commercial ant bait.^{[1]
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Hussam Bin Break
Pest Control Professional
Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} Using a commercial bait is a very effective way to kill black ants. Ants are attracted to the bait, which is a mixture of poison and a sweet substance. The ants eat some bait and bring some back to the nest, where the rest of the colony is also exposed to the poison. Over the course of one or two life cycles, the ants will be destroyed.^{[2]
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- If you decide to use bait, be sure you take the precaution of making sure that there are no children or pets in the area.
- Commercial ant bait is available in hardware stores for about $4 per box.
2
Place the bait traps in the affected areas. Follow the instructions on the packaging to get the bait traps ready, then place them on your countertops, in corners and in any other areas where you frequently see ants gather. If possible, place a trap in front of an ant trail.
- Different types of bait traps require different preparation. Some traps require you to place a few drops of bait on pieces of cardboard, then place the cardboard around your house. Other traps simply require peeling back a plastic wrapper and setting out the traps.
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3
Wait a few days for the traps to work. Bait traps take a little longer to work than spraying and other methods of killing ants, but they are ultimately much more effective. Over the course of a few days, the ants will carry the bait back to their nest and poison the rest of the colony. In the meantime, make sure your house is clean of other food sources so that the ants eat the bait, not crumbs or sticky spots in your kitchen.
4
Try spraying with a pesticide. If you want to make doubly sure the ants are gone for good, you can spray a pesticide as well. Purchase a store formula, mix up the contents based on the instructions, place the solution in a sprayer and spray the infested rooms. You may also apply the solution to the perimeter of your home to keep ants from coming inside.^{[3]
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- Make sure that children and pets stay away from the sprayed areas, since they can become ill if they ingest the chemicals.
- You can also purchase an aerosol spray to apply directly on the black ants. These are usually indoor formulas that work well in areas like your kitchen. Apply the spray anywhere you see ants, and any cracks and/or crevices that you see them crawl into.
- This method usually leads to immediate death so sweep up any dead ants and dispose of them properly. If you spray in an area that children or pets may be in, be sure to adequately wipe down and clean the area so no one gets sick from the spray.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Repelling them With Natural Methods

1
Use diatomaceous earth. This substance is completely natural and safe for use around humans and pets, but it kills ants and other crawling critters. It's composed of ground up fossil pieces that cut into insects' exoskeletons when they walk over it. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in corners, under the sink, in windowsills, and anywhere else you often see ants.^{[4]
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- Every week or two, vacuum up the diatomaceous earth and replace it with fresh powder.
- This substance doesn't work as well in humid areas, since it loses its sharpness when it becomes wet.
2
Use baking soda to clean carpets. If you have a lot of black ants on your carpeting, cover it in a fine layer of baking soda, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. You can also apply cornstarch to a surface and vacuum it up immediately before you try to vacuum up the black ants. The added cornstarch in the vacuum will suffocate the animal.
3
Try an essential oil spray. Certain natural sprays act as insect repellents. You can easily make your own by adding 10 drops of essential oil to a cup of water, then pouring it into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture all over your house to keep ants away. Here are a few essential oils to try:
- Eucalyptus oil (don't use this one if you have a cat)
- Tea tree oil
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Lemon
- Windex
4
Use boric acid. You might already have a box in your laundry room. This household substance doubles as a very effective insecticide. Simply sprinkle boric acid in corner and around room perimeters. Ants and other critters will die after crawling over the powder.^{[5]
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5
Try cinnamon powder. If you don't have any other repellent on hand, try sprinkling some cinnamon in the room where the ants are gathering. Ants are repelled by the fine powder and strong smell. While sprinkling cinnamon won't kill the ants, it might keep them from coming back.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Ants Away

1
Keep your floors and countertops clean. Regularly sweep, mop and vacuum your floors to get rid of all the tiny crumbs that tend to collect there. After each meal, wipe down your table and countertops to remove all remnants of food. Ants are attracted to even the tiniest of spills, so make sure to clean up after yourself regularly to keep them from coming in.^{[6]
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2
Keep food stored away.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Hussam Bin Break
Pest Control Professional
Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} It's important not to leave food out for more than a little while - otherwise, the ants will sense that it's there and come to get it. If you have an ant problem, you might have to take extra measures to make sure your food is packaged tightly.^{[8]
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Research source} The following foods should never be left out where the ants can access them:
- Maple syrup
- Juice
- Sugar
- Cracker crumbs
- Fruit with thin skin, like strawberries
3
Seal your doors and windows. Is it easy for ants to walk right into your house? You might want to look into sealing your doors and windows so that the ants won't be able to come inside. Use caulk and door seals to take care of the crack under your door and along the sides of your windows. Examine your house from the outside, too, to determine if there are any holes or cracks where they might be coming in.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I get rid of black ants permanently?

Hussam Bin Break
Pest Control Professional
Hussam Bin Break is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Manager. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and have since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Control has received Home Advisor's Top Rated and Elite Service Badges for quality of work and customer service.

Hussam Bin Break

Pest Control Professional

Expert Answer

Bait traps will be the most effective to kill ants since they will bring poisoned food back to the entire colony.

Warnings

Take precaution when using ant poisons. Do not let them come in contact with food, beverages or water sources.

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Store ant poison products in their original packaging for easy identification, and keep them out of reach of small children or pets.

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