Tiny, black, and seemingly endless: sugar ants can pop up anywhere in the house, and anytime! But where do these tiny black menaces come from, and what species of ant are they, exactly?

Most instances of “sugar ants” are actually referring to odorous house ants. When squished or crushed, these ants let off an odor that some people describe as smelling of coconut. They are a common species throughout the US, and are notorious scavengers of sugar.

We know how difficult it can be to get rid of sugar ants, and we’re here to help! While we recommend professional services if the sugar ant infestation is serious, we also know that home remedies can be helpful to keep a small number of sugar ants away from your home. Here are our 10 favorite ways to get rid of sugar ants naturally!

Home Remedy Barriers to Keep Ants Away

These are a great way to prevent ant infestations, but they have to be used in the right concentrations, and they must be applied regularly to entry points in order to work.

Herbs: There are several herbs that ants won’t go near, including pepper and bay leaves. Placing pepper in entry points or a bay leaf in a pantry can keep a lot of pests at bay.
Coffee Grounds: Sprinkle outside only, to avoid coffee stains on your flooring!
Cucumber Peels: Try placing cucumber peels or slices at entry points, but remember to change them when they dry out!
Essential Oils: Potent and pungent, essential oils can also help to keep pests away, especially cinnamon or peppermint oil. Placement and concentration of oils are crucial. We suggest adding 20 drops of essential oil per 8 ounces of water. Spray along doorways, windowsills, and any other place where ant activity is present!
Citrus: Used as fresh juice, dried peels, or oil, citrus is ant-repelling as well.

Get Rid of Sugar Ants with Home Remedy Cleaners

Odorous house ants communicate via complicated pathways of pheromones. They have a scent used for food resources, a scent for trails back to the nest, and a scent for danger. If you don’t remove these trails, their nest-mates will continue to come into your home!

Soapy Water: These easiest, foolproof way to clean ant trails. Soap can also deter ants from walking across walls and floors.

Vinegar: We swear by the power of vinegar to erase odors and make sure that ant trails are gone for good. Remember to dilute your vinegar in water! It’s easiest to apply in a spray bottle.

Home Remedies for Ant Extermination

If you can’t get rid of sugar ants with the above methods, it’s time to bring out the big guns. All three of these powders are known to kill ants via ingestion. Ants will also bring these powders back to the nest, effectively killing any other ants that ingest the same substance.

There are some points of caution when using the following products:

Cornstarch: While cornstarch is relatively safe, we always urge caution when using any substance around pets or children.

Diatomaceous Earth: Can cause irritation of mucus membranes and lungs, if inhaled. Can cause skin and eye irritation. If you’re not completely comfortable with this substance, we do not recommend using it.

Borax: Borax should never be used within reach of pets or children.