Some things there can never be just one of. Chocolate chips. Terminator movies. Pizza slices. And ants. There is never “just one ant.” So when the weather turns warmer, and you spot one of these little guys hanging out around your house, you have a big problem.
To help deal with that problem we have outlined everything you could possibly need to know before buying ant killers, and reviews of the top 5 rated ant killers you can buy online right now.
Backyard Boss Top 5 Ant Killers for 2021
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Best for Indoor Control of Established Ant Infestations
These ant bait traps are easy to use and very effective. The poison kills ants in 2-3 days, attracting foraging ants who bring the poison back to their colonies, killing the hundreds of ants they share it with.
- One tab kills hundreds and hundreds of ants
- Easy-to-use and maintain
- Safe to use indoors
- Only guaranteed to stop household ants
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These bait traps are easy to use and very effective. You simply open the bait traps, place them in a spot that has had a high concentration of ants, and wait a couple of weeks. The bait traps attract foraging ants who take the liquid back to their colonies, sharing the poison with hundreds of other ants. It will take 2-3 days for the poison to kill the ants, allowing them to take multiple journeys.
The liquid will not dry out, the bait stations will continue to supply the ants with bait until all of it is gone. These stations use Borax, a very effective ant killer. It slowly interferes with ant’s digestive systems, efficiently killing them but not before the ants can bring it back to their nest.
Something to note is that once you set up the bait you may see more ants- this is a good thing. The bait station is supposed to attract ants. The more that come out of the woodwork to bring the sweet, sugary liquid back to their colony, the quicker you can exterminate them. Once ants start nibbling on it they will leave a pheromone trail to it for other ants to follow.
You should keep your house clean of crumbs during this process. Also, don’t place the bait stations where you previously sprayed pesticides. The process can take up to two weeks to fully work. Once you have managed the ants, replace the bait stations every few months to maintain control. The product works very well to exterminate the toughest indoor ant invasions.
Best Natural Ant Killer for Low to Moderate Ant Control
This all-in-one spray can eliminate numerous home-invading pests, including roaches, spiders, fleas, stink bugs, mites, and, of course, ants. The best part? It does so with natural, organic, and non-toxic ingredients.
- Natural, organic, non-toxic ingredients
- Kills and prevents bugs
- No fumes, smells, or stains
- Not as powerful as toxic products
- Doesn’t always “instantly kill”
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This effective pest control uses natural, organic ingredients to eliminate a whole bevy of bugs, including roaches, spiders, stink bugs, fleas, and of course, ants.
The non-toxic ingredients, like geraniums and peppermint oil, make this spray a great option for people with indoor pest problems. It works against bugs but doesn’t possess the same dangers as artificial sprays, baits, and pesticides. You can use it around your home without working about poisons, fumes, and chemicals coming into contact with your family. Don’t worry about residue or pungent smells either- this ant killer doesn’t result in them.
This spray is fast-acting, killing buys when sprayed on them, and preventative, deterring bugs from entering your home. It should be noted that it doesn’t always immediately kill bugs on contact, sometimes it takes a minute or two. If you are still not convinced, don’t worry, there is a money-back guarantee. It is 100% risk-free for the first 60 days. If you aren’t satisfied, they will refund your purchase.
This spray is not as strong as some of the less natural sprays if you are dealing with bigger bugs too you might want to try something else. This product is best suited for homes that have an ant problem but not a massive invasion.
Best Ant Killer for Annual Perimeter Treatment
This easy to use spray will keep your home protected from ants and a whole bevy of other bugs for 12 months.
- Keeps bugs out of your house for 12 months
- Easy to use spray
- Odorless, won’t leave stains, and non-toxic when it dries
- Not an effective on-contact killer
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This spray can be used indoors and outdoors to keep your house ant-free. Using the Ortho comfort wand you can spray around your house and around the perimeter of your house to deter ants, and other pests like cockroaches, spiders, fleas, centipedes, and ticks, from entering. The bug barrier effectively prevents new bugs from entering your home for up to 12 months.
The spray is odor-free and will not stain your home, so you really can use it indoors and outdoors in spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. After it dries it is non-toxic so you can let your pets go into the areas you sprayed down. The Comfort Wand feature makes spraying easy, not requiring any pumping on your part, which is great if you have to cover a large area.
The strength of this ant killer is in its ability to keep bugs from entering your home. It works much more effectively as a preventative measure than as an on-contract killer. You really will have to drench bugs to kill them in the moment. Because of this, this product is best suited for use once a year when the weather starts to warm and bugs become more common, but before they enter your home.
Best Outdoor Preventive Ant Killer
These highly effective powerful granules will keep bugs out of your house for up to 3 months.
- Extremely effective
- Preventative care
- Inexpensive and a large quantity provided
- Can trap bugs in your home
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Using the Ortho Home Defense Granules you can prevent insects from entering your house for up to 3 months. The granules will kill any insects that come into contact with them. To use the granules, apply them around your home’s foundation. Water the product and allow it to dry. Once the granules have dried, pets and people can reenter the area they were applied to.
This product not only kills and deters ants, but it also kills and deters other pests like spiders and centipedes. The bug barrier is extremely efficient in keeping bugs out of your house. There are enough granules to treat 2,000 sq feet twice. However, it can be a little too effective. Make sure that you use this bug barrier as a preventative measure instead of as a response to an already existent problem because the granules are so powerful, and bugs abhor them so much, that sometimes they can result in bugs getting stuck inside your house.
This product is best suited for someone who wants to prevent bugs from entering their house in the first place, and who is willing to use it twice during the warmer seasons to keep them out.
Best Alternative Ant Bait Traps
These bait traps are the less reliable cousin of the TERRO traps. They will keep your house ant free for up to 3 months and promise immediate results.
- Works up to 3 months
- Quickly reduces ant population
- Less reliable
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These bait traps work the same way that the TERRO ones do. They attract ants who feed on the bait, they then return to the colony with the bait and share it with other ants, those ants ingest it to, and then a couple of days after, die. Within days you will notice your ant population reducing. You can use them to keep your home safe for a while because these bait traps work for up to 3 months.
These are for indoor use, and you can leave them anywhere in your house including bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics. It is recommended that you use all of the bait traps at once to really ensure that you are able to control the ant population. Simply place the bait traps in an area you frequently spot ants. You can use a removable adhesive on the bottom of the traps to secure them in one place. Most surfaces are totally fine for these traps to be placed on but some may result in residue.
The ants should be attracted to the bait immediately, and population decline effects should also be obvious. These traps are less powerful than the TERRO traps. Some people swear by these traps, some swear they don’t work. Because of this, this product is best suited for people who want to use bait traps but for some reason have an aversion to the TERRO ones.
Know Thy Enemy: A Little About This Little Insect
Before you think, “I don’t want to kill ants they are so cute, small, and harmless” or “Oh no I don’t want to be like that snotty kid from The Ant Bully.” Think again! Ants are a diabolical, expansive force that has been operating under all of our noses for too long.
Ants have been on this planet for over 130 million years. Currently, there is over 10 quadrillion of them on Earth. Scientists estimate that they make up between 15-25% of the Earth’s animal biomass.
They haven’t just been breeding for the last 130 million years. 50 million years ago some ant species learned how to farm, using techniques like secreting chemicals to inhibit mold growth and using manure to fertilize fungus crops. Some ant species even enslave other colonies, attacking them, killing their queen, and then taking the survivors captive and forcing them to do work. These pests exist in overwhelming numbers, possess intellect, and, most importantly, want to decimate your pantry. When they set their sights on your property the best weapon to use against them isn’t the bottom of your shoe-it’s ant killer.
Outdoor Ant Killer vs Indoor Ant Killer
Indoor Ant Killer
Indoor ant killers are products that are meant to be placed around the household. They are used to address ant problems that already exist. They are normally less potent than outdoor ant killers or contain safety measures that keep them from infecting household inhabitants-like children and dogs- with toxic substances. Ant bait, sprays, and powders are common indoor ant treatments.
Outdoor Ant Killer
Outdoor ant killers are normally sprayed around the foundation of a house to keep pests out. Unlike indoor ant killers, they are often most effective when used as a preventative measure. If ants are invading your garden or social space though, you may use outdoor ant killer to address the problem. Ants can be harmful to gardens, protecting garden pests like aphids and mealybugs.
Powder vs. Spray vs. Bait Traps
Ant Killer Powder
Ant killer powder often comes in the form of Borax. You can’t use Borax alone though, because it does not naturally attract ants. Mix it with sugary sweet substances to attract them. Place the powder near where the ants are invading your homes to effectively eliminate them. The ants will take the powder back to their colony where they will share it with other ants, who in a couple days will die from it. You can use granules in a similar way to powder.
Ant Killer Spray
Sprays are often used to immediately try to kill ants. Most of the time, people use sprays to kill ants on contact with repellent sprays. However, if you are trying to take out a whole colony that is not an effective way to do it. Use nonrepellent ant sprays to try to get to the root of your ant problem. That way the ants will walk through the spray and track it back to their colony, poisoning other ants. You can use non-repellent sprays and repellent sprays indoors and outdoors.
Bait Traps
Bait traps are an extremely effective way to genocide a whole ant colony. Similar to non-repellant sprays, they rely on foraging ants bringing their “bait” back to their colonies. The colony shares the bait, and after ingestion it only takes a couple days for the ant to keel over, dead. Bait traps have the benefits of being extremely easy to use and mess-free, however, they absolutely do not kill on contact, they take some time to work.
Natural Ant Killer
Benefits
You should always start with organic pest control methods. Adding toxins and chemicals to your environment may keep the ants at bay, but can also threaten children and pets. There are a ton of natural ant killers on the market, and there are actually quite a few natural ant killers you can make yourself. Below is a list of what you can use to naturally repel and kill ants.
- Diatomaceous Earth
- Borax
- Coffee Grounds
- Lemon Juice
- Essential Oils
- Cornmeal
- Vinegar
- Cinnamon
- Red Pepper
- Mint
- Cucumbers
- Oranges
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of using natural remedies is that they sometimes are not enough to manage ant infestations. They don’t pack the same punch as toxic ant killers- which does make sense. You should start using natural remedies, but if they don’t work you may have to try pesticides or other commercially prepared products.
How to Make Homemade Ant Killer
You can easily make homemade ant killer with ingredients you already have in your kitchen! Mix together 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray wherever you see ants. Wipe down after spraying. This video shows an alternate recipe for making a homemade ant killer with a little more oomph.
And the Best Ant Killer Is...
The clear winner of the roundup is TERRO T300B Liquid Bait Ant Killer.
It’s better than the other products because it is the most dependable and reliable ant killer on this list. It effectively kills ants but doesn’t involve spraying a substance all over and around your house. They also are safe to use indoors and leave no residue around your house. When it comes to warring with ants, arm yourself with the best defense possible. Maybe it’s the TERRO bait traps, or maybe it's one of the other ant killers on this list. Just remember: The ants must not win!
I hope you found this guide helpful! If you did, be sure to share, and comment below with the ant killer that you decide on or your ant battle stories!