Are you wondering, “How to get rid of sugar ants in my bathroom apartment without killing them?” Well, to begin with, it is very kind of you to want to get rid of them and not kill them.
Having said that, I understand that they can be a nuisance, and getting rid of them is important. Thus today, I will tell you about some magical natural home remedies which will get rid of these annoying sugar ants for you without going as far as killing them. Let us take a look.
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What are sugar ants?
There are diverse kinds of sugar ants, each with a unique shape and size. They are typically quite little, measuring between 2.6 and 20mm in length. They have huge blackheads, a narrow waist, and a reddish, orange-brown center.
Sugar ants are among the most abundant ants in Australia. These ants can be found in your kitchen, behind rocks and logs, and in open forests and woodlands.
Sugar ants, known as ‘alates,’ have the ability to fly in the air! They intend to establish additional colonies.
Sugar ants can shoot a stinky chemical known as formic acid as a method of defense against predators.
Are Natural Home Remedies Effective In Getting Rid Of Sugar Ants?
Man-made pesticides and insecticides are unquestionably effective. They are, after all, designed to perform a specific function and are manufactured scientifically in laboratories to ensure that they do so.
On the other hand, most home cures rely on trial and error to get rid of sugar ants rather than killing them. As a result, they may lack the convenience, speed, and effectiveness of purpose-built ant killers.
However, with a little research, a methodical approach, and knowing about the type of ant you are dealing with, you can achieve good results with them. The nicest aspect is that you don’t kill the ants.
What do sugar ants eat?
Sugar Ants will look for a food source in and around your home. Sugar is the most popular food for ants. Unfortunately, sugar is present in the majority of foods and beverages. They enjoy consuming drinks containing high fructose corn syrup as well as other sweet-smelling meals like cinnamon.
Food crumbs and spills are extremely beneficial to the sugar ants’ health. In fact, sugar ants prefer any food that has an overpowering odor. Many ants forage for oil and grease, as well as dead insects and organic debris such as tree branches and leaves. They also like to go after pet food.
What harm do sugar ants cause?
Sugar ants are thought to be harmless. However, Sugar ant swarms can be a nuisance, and the ant problem is real, especially if they find a dependable supply of food within your home.
While sugar ants will not do structural damage to your home, they will nibble through paper, flimsy plastic, or even cardboard to get to their contents.
They also represent a health danger since they contaminate food and water when foraging for food in your home. Sugar ants bring in a slew of other pests, including spiders and centipedes.
Sugar ants are gentle insects that do not sting. When defending it, they will bite with their top mouthparts to steer invaders away from their nest. When compared to other ants, these bites are not painful; nonetheless, if an individual is very allergic, they may cause an allergic reaction.
how to get rid of sugar ants in my bathroom apartment without killing them?
The answer to your sugar ants problem is in your kitchen itself. If you want to only get rid of these notorious ants and not kill them, then the best way to make sure it is carried out is to use home remedies.
Coffee Grounds
Place leftover coffee grounds around your home—Ants despise the smell and acidity of coffee because it confuses and irritates their senses. Spread old coffee grounds around pet bowls and other areas where ants are a problem. You can also use coffee grinds to deter ants from entering your home.
Whole cloves or bay leaves
The chemicals that give cloves and bay leaves their strong fragrance are effective at repelling sugar ants. Sprinkle whole cloves along baseboards and bay leaves under countertops and in your bathroom to prevent ants.
Garlic
Garlic has a highly strong odor that confuses ants and throws off their smell trail, similar to cloves and bay leaves. Tie garlic on a string and hang it from the doorknobs and shelves of your pantry and on the door of your bathroom.
Vinegar
To remove the sugar ant scent trail, use a vinegar solution. Pour 50% vinegar and 50% water into a spray bottle and shake well. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which eliminates the scent of an ant trail and acts as a deterrent to these pests.
Spray this liquid solution around baseboards, bathrooms, and all probable entrance paths and trails after locating the ants’ entry points to discourage ants from migrating along these routes.
This spray will not kill the ants, but it will certainly confuse them, causing them to flee your home because the odor becomes unbearable to them. Use the spray at a time when ants are most busy, like in the morning or evening, to get the most out of this home remedy.
Make your own natural ant repellent.
Fill half a spraying bottle with water and a few drops of lavender, peppermint oil, essential oil, or tea tree oil. Use the spray solution on your kitchen counter and pantry shelves to keep ants away from such places.
How to Stop the Sugar ants from returning?
Sugar ants are particularly difficult to avoid between March and September. And thus, it is essential to come up with defenses to keep them out of your kitchen.
Locate any wet places
Like its cousin, the carpenter ant, sugar ants enjoy damp spots in your home, such as the bathroom, kitchen sinks, and garbage disposals.
To prevent these critters from constructing a nest, make sure to wipe excess water away with dry cloths and repair any leaks in your plumbing system. Keep your sink clean and dry on a regular basis.
After each meal, clean your surfaces.
Sugar ants have a highly developed sense of smell. Leaving your kitchen counter untidy will attract them while you sleep.
During the summer, vacuum or clean your house once a night to remove any pheromone trails that may have been left to attract additional animals. Also, make sure to thoroughly clean your dirty dishes.
Take out your trash bag/can on a regular basis.
Leftovers attract insects such as bugs and ants as well as other pests. An ant will undoubtedly gain entrance if your waste bags contain holes. If feasible, double bag your trash and place it in a garbage can with a lid. Make sure to take out your rubbish on a regular basis.
Inspect your bathroom for any holes
Sugar ants may only enter your home at night through cracks and gaps in your foundation. Conduct a thorough inspection and plug any cracks that could allow sugar ants entrance especially in your bathroom.
Summary
Undoubtedly, these little ants can be a big nuisance, and ant infestations are difficult to handle, but I respect your decision to choose not to kill them.
If you follow these measures in the right manner, you will most certainly be able to keep them at bay without putting in too much effort or time, and neither will you end up putting a big burden on your pockets, which most certainly is an added bonus.
Unlike in the case of pest control, wherein they use chemicals like boric acid that kills ants and requires a lot of expenditure on your part.
