No one likes to admit they have an ant problem, but the issue is more common than you think -- at least in the summer. High outdoor temps mean that your nice, cool home becomes a YMCA for bugs.
Flick photo by Paul Howard
If you've had a few unsuccessful attempts at getting rid of ants, you're in luck. Last summer, we put a handful of common remedies to the test. Click through the slideshow below to see what worked... and what made the problem worse.
Testing 8 Ways To Get Rid Of Ants
Apple Cider Vinegar(01 of08)
Ant factor before: 4Ant factor after: 4The recommendation was to spritz this anywhere ants were spotted. So I did. And all this did was make the room smell like a salad bar.Flickr by aroberts
Dish Soap Solution(02 of08)
The winning method from last year killed ants, but would it keep them from coming back?Ant factor before: 6 Ant factor after: 3Spritzing the ants with this mixture (2 Tbs soap diluted in a pint of water) definitely killed them, but this requires vigilance. Which requires time, and I do not have any of that. The ant population was reduced by half, though.Flickr photo by AlmilaS
Borax(03 of08)
Ant factor before: 5Ant factor after: 3The bait recipe involved mixing 1 cup water with 2 cups sugar and 2 Tbs boric acid. You then place a few spoonfuls of the mixture inside a lidded jar (poking holes in the lid), with a little of the bait smeared on the lid. It promised to work the same way as diatomaceous earth, drying out ants and repelling future pests. The problem: The trap didn't attract that many ants...and I also had far too much bait from that recipe.Note: While Borax and boric acid are not chemically identical, one can be substituted for the other to accomplish the same thing.Flickr photo by bensutherland
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth(04 of08)
Ant factor before: 7Ant factor after: 0Hard to spell and not pretty to look at -- but seriously effective. Spread this around the corners of rooms or cabinets, and wait. For lack of a better term, this stuff dries out ants and creates a repellant barrier. Win and win.Photo from Amazon
Raid Ant Bait (red box)(05 of08)
Ant factor before: 8Ant factor after: 4Though though the ant population was reduced by half, the volunteer didn't see any marked results until the last week of the trial period. These traps seem to be better made for 'patient people with mild ant issues.'Raid Ant Bait, $5 for 8, from Soap.com.
Combat Ant Gel(06 of08)
Ant factor before: 7Ant factor after: 4'Not sure I did this right,' the volunteer warned me. Though it promised a non-messy application, the gel managed to drip and make a mess. Combat Ant Gel, $4.50, from Drugstore.com.
Combat Quick Kill Ant Traps(07 of08)
Ant factor before: 6Ant factor after: "0 to 1"These traps did have 'a minor odor' but started working overnight. They work best when positioned along windowsills and baseboards. Need we say more? Combat Quick Kill Ant Traps, $2 for 6, from Amazon.
Terro Ant Killer Dust(08 of08)
Ant factor before: 8Ant factor after: 2This product works like diatomaceous earth, 'drying out' ants and repelling future ones. Though it took about three days to see any improvement, the results were 'worth it.' However, the volunteer preferred the ant traps over the dust, as it is a little on the messier side.Terro Ant Killer Dust, $6 for 16 ounces, from Amazon.