Skip Traditional Pesticides: The Bottle Cap DIY For Getting Rid Of Ants

Few things are more annoying than an ant infestation. With countless baits and poisons on the market, choosing one can quickly become overwhelming. And if you're nervous about what's in them, that choice can become even more difficult. If you've been looking into DIY insecticides that eliminate pesky bugs, these simple mixtures involve just a few household ingredients and a bottle cap.

There are two popular ways to try this bottle cap method. One uses sugar, warm water, and a small amount of borax to get rid of the pests. The sugar attracts worker ants, while the borax is what will kill them. The other viral (and more eco-friendly) method mixes baking soda with sugar. The sugar disguises the baking soda so the ants will eat it. The idea with both recipes is that the ant will pick up the bait and bring it back to its colony, wiping them out in the process. While both baits do kill ants, baking soda may be less effective at killing off the entire colony.

The bottle cap works as a miniature bait tray that can be placed near an active ant trail. But just because it's DIY does not mean it's totally safe. At the end of the day, borax is still a toxic pesticide, and even baking soda can be harmful if enough is swallowed.  So don't leave an open cap where children or pets can reach it. If you're concerned about kids or pets getting into ant bait, contacting a pest-control professional instead may be the smarter (and safer) option to get rid of ants.

For the borax version, mix two tablespoons of borax, one cup of sugar, and one cup of warm water. Add only enough liquid to cover the bottom of a bottle cap without filling it to the rim, then place it beside an active ant trail and wait. This is a great recipe for multiple traps. The best place to put this trap is outdoors near the ants' entry point, or near problem areas. While ants are among the pests that can be controlled with borax, using more of it won't make this bait any stronger — the bait must act slowly enough for worker ants to carry it back to the colony.

You can also test the baking-soda method by mixing equal amounts of powdered sugar and baking soda — about 1 teaspoon of each is all you'll need. For this one, keep the mixture dry and spread a thin layer inside the cap. If the ants ignore this method, give the borax mixture a try. 

If you're hoping to get rid of ants fast, both baits are designed to work slowly. Ants gathering around the bait may look like the problem is getting worse, but this is what you want, as it means they're literally taking the bait. It should take about five to 10 days for the colony to be affected, so refresh the bait if it dries out or runs out. And because you don't want an infestation to happen again, keep your home free of crumbs and seal any entry points once the colony subsides.