Bleach kills ants–quickly. Pour it on them when you see them–either undiluted or mixed 50/50 with water. Ants breathe through tiny holes in their exoskeletons. Bleach enters the holes–called spiracles–and suffocates them and burns them from the inside.
Is Bleach the Best Option?
Bleach is one of many options available to get rid of ants. It is great for ants marching through your home. Quick and efficient. Unfortunately, it kills so fast the ants do not have the opportunity to carry the poison back to the nest. The only way to stop ants permanently is to kill the queen.
After the ants are dead, use bleach to wipe out the pheromone trail that they followed to a food source. The bleach smell disorients any new invading ants and eliminates the path. Scout ants have to start the food search all over again.
Bleach is not the best option to get rid of ants permanently unless you can find the ant colony. The colony is usually within 25’ of the house. Dig the ant hill open to expose ants and the runs. Pour undiluted bleach into the runs and over the hill. If the bleach reaches the queen and kills her, the colony dies. If the bleach kills enough workers, the ants will likely move out.
Disadvantages Of Using Bleach On Ants
Bleach is a powerful compound that can cause unintended damage when used on ants. Some things to be aware of include:
- Bleach can discolor the surface it is poured on including hardwood flooring, concrete, and countertops.
- Don’t spray bleach on plants to kill ants. Bleach can damage or kill plants.
- Bleach is a health hazard. It is corrosive and can cause skin rashes, respiratory problems, and harm pets. High concentrations can burn lung tissue.
- Splashing bleach on clothing removes the color and leaves white spots.
Better and Safer Ways To Kill Ants.
Consider using some of the following methods to get rid of ants. They are safer and have a better chance of killing off the entire colony.
- Borax and Icing Sugar. The sugar attracts the ants and they carry borax back to feed the queen. It kills her.
- Diatomaceous Earth. Cuts the ant exoskeleton and kills them. Gets carried back to the nest and eventually destroys all of the ants including the queen.
- Ant Bait Traps. Contains insecticide that is carried back to the nest where it can kill the entire colony.
The post Does Bleach Kill Ants? appeared first on Homedit.