And here it is again – the classic clickbait headline promising a “miracle forever”! The “first comment” of such posts usually hides a simple recipe from the kitchen.
This particular ant hack almost always involves a combination of baking soda (or baking powder) and powdered sugar.
But does it really work “forever,” and what’s the biological reality? Let’s take a closer look at what is probably the best-known natural ant bait.
The Recipe from the “First Comment”
The principle is based on attracting and simultaneously combating the ants:
The Mixture: Mix equal parts baking soda (or baking powder) and powdered sugar.
The Application: Sprinkle the mixture where the ant trail runs.
The idea behind it: The powdered sugar serves as an irresistible bait (since regular sugar crystals are too large and the ants would otherwise pick out the baking soda). The ants eat the mixture and, ideally, carry it back to their nest. The baking soda reacts with the acid in the ants’ stomachs, expands, and kills them.
What really works – and what’s a myth?
As the overview shows, baking soda doesn’t work on its own, as ants would avoid it without the sweet attractant. But even with sugar, there are limitations:
It repels the ants, but rarely solves the core problem: While the worker ants do die, the baking soda often doesn’t reach the queen deep inside the nest. This means: The ant trail disappears for a few days, but often returns as soon as new worker ants have emerged.
“Forever” is wishful thinking: There is no natural remedy that magically blocks ants for all eternity. As soon as the ants’ scent trails (pheromones) are still present in the room, new colonies will find their way back.
The gentler alternative: Repel instead of killing
Ants have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. If you don’t want to kill them but simply drive them out of your home, disrupt their scent trails with strong odors. This is often more effective in the long run because they will then avoid the area.
Scent barriers
Vinegar water: The classic. Wipe the ant trail with a mixture of vinegar and water. This completely masks their pheromones.
Cinnamon or cloves: Ants hate the smell of cinnamon powder or clove essential oil. Sprinkled as a barrier on doorsteps, they will immediately turn around.
Coffee grounds: The smell is unpleasant for ants and disrupts their orientation. They also neutralize scent trails.
Important note: If you have pets (such as dogs or cats), avoid experimenting with baking soda on the floor and instead use harmless substances like pure cinnamon or coffee grounds.