This DIY Ant Killer is nontoxic, easy to make with 3 household ingredients, and works better than store-bought sprays! Safe to use in a home with kids and pets!
DIY Ant Killer (That Works!)
If you live in a warm climate, then chances are you’ve dealt with pesky ants. Whether they’re sneaking onto your countertops or terrorizing your garden, ants are major pests super stubborn and hard to get rid of.
That’s why this natural ant repellent spray is so amazing— it’s safe, easy, cheap, and IT WORKS!
Do you have an ant infestation you’re trying to get rid of? Or, maybe you wonder if there are other (more natural) ways to keep the ants from coming back? You are in the right place.
Here’s how I came to create this natural ant killer…
Last Valentine’s Day, an army of ants invaded our bedroom. A small box of candy had fallen behind one of our nightstands, unnoticed, and by the time we figured out what the ants were after, they were well settled into their path.
I tried all sorts of things to get rid of them, from home remedies, to bleach to strong commercial cleaning sprays, but they always came back. Then I did a little research for natural remedies and put them together in a spray bottle.
The best part about this ant killer recipe is that it is safe to use around kids and pets (unlike a lot of the toxic store-bought varieties or other DIY recipes that use borax or boric acid).
Related: Be sure to try our all-natural Soothing Homemade Itch Relief Spray for Bug Bites too!
What real-life readers have to say about our homemade ant spray:
“Worked almost instantly!” – MH
“It worked for us and was safe for my dog.” – TL
“Sprayed it outside on the deck and so far the ants are gone.” – FS
“I tried this and it really worked! Thanks for suggesting it!” – FR
“I just used it and it works GREAT!!! The ants DO NOT like it at all!” – NF
Note: One of the most common reader questions I’ve gotten from this post is “what about roaches?!” Here in the south, roaches are a thing, whether or not you have a messy house! That definitely came as a shock, but you can do things to keep those yucky roaches in check. Try our new 2-ingredient natural homemade roach killer too!
Ingredients
For your convenience, I’ve provided shop-able ad links to products used to make this natural ant repellent spray; read our disclosure policy here.
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons liquid dish soap
- 2 Tablespoons baking soda
- Water, as needed
Instructions
One of the most common household pest problems is ants. Learn how to quickly solve an ant problem with just a few common ingredients!
- Combine vinegar, dish liquid, and baking soda powder in a large bowl and stir gently. Pour mixture into an industrial spray bottle. Add water as needed to fill the remainder of the bottle.
- Make sure you mix this ant repellent spray over the sink — when you add baking soda to vinegar it creates a lot of foam! I add ingredients slowly, allowing foam to settle before adding more. (Kind of like pouring soda over ice).
- We use a large industrial spray bottle because they don’t clog and they last longer than the cheapie bottles. I can’t even tell you how many cheap plastic bottles I’ve thrown away in the past. The industrial bottles last for years though! Make sure that the foam has completely settled before securing the bottle’s lid.
A printable copy of our non-toxic ant killer recipe is available at the bottom of the post.
How to Use Our Homemade Ant Repellent Spray
- Spray on any ants you see, as well as the ants’ trails and surrounding area. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a damp rag.
- I always spray into the ants’ entry points too: cracks in the floor, windowsills, etc. You can spray and let sit over entry points to keep the ants from coming back.
- Clean up any crumbs or food source that may be attracting the ants.
This is such a simple concoction, but it works so well — and it smells nice! Even better, you don’t have to worry about getting harsh chemicals everywhere (definitely a plus in a house with kids and/or pets!)
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does the Ant Spray Stay Good?
I find that it lasts pretty much indefinitely! I always keep a bottle of my homemade ant spray under the sink, so it’s handy when I need it. I usually go through a bottle in a few weeks or a couple months, so it definitely stays effective for that amount of time. If it’s been a year since you used yours, you may want to mix up a new batch.
How Do I Keep Ants From Coming Back?
This depends on the type of ants you’re dealing with. Sugar ants and kitchen ants will usually stay away once you’ve disrupted their scent trail. You also want to make sure that you’ve removed the food source that is attracting them and cleaned the area thoroughly.
Fire ants are trickier, because they have a nest somewhere outside. In order to get rid of the colony, you have to kill the queen ant and she is usually hiding deep within their underground mound. Fire ants are extremely common in the part of Texas where we live and they are a horrible pest. I deal with them in a 2-step process: kill any that I see with my spray. I also use fire ant bait on the mound itself to keep them from returning.
Can I Use this Ant Spray in My Garden?
Yes, but I always recommend spot-testing first when working around plants. Some plants may be sensitive to the ingredients used and we’re not trying to harm our plants after all!
What I usually do in the garden is to spot-kill fire ants with my spray. Then I sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the soil around the plants to protect them from any ants that may return.
Keep in mind that many ants are beneficial to your garden as they stir up and aerate the soil. However, fire ants can be destructive, not to mention painful if you accidentally stumble upon them!
Learn More: For more tips and tricks (cinnamon, peppermint oil, etc.) check out this post about natural ways to keep ants out of the garden.
Printable Copy of Our Homemade Ant Killer Recipe
The Best Homemade Ant Killer (Kid & Pet Safe)
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons dish liquid
- 2 Tablespoons baking soda
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Combine vinegar, dish liquid, and baking soda in a large bowl and carefully mix to avoid foaming up over the bowl.
- Pour mixture into a spray bottle.
- Add water as needed to fill the remainder of the bottle.
Video
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M says
What about spraying where cats will be? How safe is it?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Everything is natural and non-toxic– plus I would imagine that cats would have zero interest in eating vinegar 🙂 I had a cat when I first tried this stuff and he could’ve cared less about what I was doing.
Donna says
Hi Stacey/ I came across your blog from back in 2015 on vinegar, dish soap to kill ants. Won’t the dish soap harm pets?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
The spray dries quickly and you can wipe away any excess. It doesn’t leave a harmful toxic residue like many bug killers made with poison. I would imagine that most pets would stay away from it anyways because the vinegar smell 🙂
Lily says
Don’t use Baking soda /ACD you will kill your plants, I lost my plants all burnet , because stupidity of people posting wrong things
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’ve used this spray on our plants, with no ill effects. In the directions I do recommend spot testing first, as some plants may be more sensitive that others.
CJ says
Can this spray be used near a koi pond with out harming the koi’s?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Perhaps NEAR the pond, but take extra care not to get any in the water. I used to have a koi pond and they are so fragile!
Mandy says
Could I use white vinegar?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I would imagine that would be fine too– I used apple cider vinegar for my first batch because that’s what I had on hand. Since it worked, I stuck with it 🙂
Gerri says
I have used vinegar (white) for years in Spring when the ants are looking for a dry place (from rains). I also wipe my kitchen counter, windowsills, and on the floor around all the appliances and table and cabinets. I never see any ants. My daughter also sprays around the foundation of the house to kill spiders, so we are virtually free of critters in the house.
I’m looking for a deterrent to stop a certain dog from using the railroad ties around the tree in front as his urinal. I’ve tried different urines like fox, etc., but the little bugger still stops in the same spot every blessed time he goes walking by. The tree is surrounded by railroad ties and both they and the grass around them have been bleached out. His owner is oblivious. We work hard to keep the grass nice. Its frustrating.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
That’s a tough one! We’ve had issues with neighbor’s dogs, but they are usually unattended so we scare the dogs away (I have chickens I don’t want harmed). You best bet may be to catch your neighbor next time they’re on a walk and explain that their potty breaks are harming your yard. Otherwise, we’ve used chili pepper/oil to prevent our own dogs from digging. Maybe this will keep the neighbor’s dog away too?
Stephanie Smith says
This is a relief. I’ve been battling ants in my kitchen the past several days. I’ve been trying to find a treatment that will work and keep them away, but I swear, the second my husband drops a chip they’re on it in seconds. I happen to have all these ingredients as well, so I’ll make this mixture when I get home and give it a shot. Thanks for sharing!www.stewartspestcontrol.com.au
AMANDA says
Ok I’m not sure what I’m going wrong but every time I add baking soda to the apple cider vinegar/water/dawn dish soap mixture it starts foaming/pouring out of the bottle. I put the lid on the bottle and noticed that the bottle was getting round. I loosened the lid and it exploded!??? Please help!!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Amanda, try adding the baking soda bit by bit. Everytime it starts to foam up, stop and let the bubbles go back down before adding more baking soda. (Kind of like if you were pouring soda into a glass of ice.) I always mix over the sink just in case, but if you go slowly it should be ok.
Cathy says
Yes mine exploded everywhere too! I ended up putting everything in a large bucket to mix then transfer to spray bottle. I live in Ohio, we have had a mild winter. I’m just starting to see some ants, it is earlier than normal so I’m hoping once the weather really warms up I won’t see any! I’ve used the corn meal, sugar, water paste mixture to attract them and they are supposed to take the “food” back to the nest and eventually it kills the colony, but it takes so long, and it’s disgusting how many ants come and cover the mixture. thanks for this recipe!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
The mixing bucket is a great idea– thanks for sharing Cathy!
TM says
Your site says “ant killer” and then it says “ant repellant”. Which one is it?? I need to kill them so they are not in my kids sandbox and on the play set.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Both! It kills them on the spot and discourages them from returning.
Daniel says
I’ve been looking for non-toxic and homemade way to kill and repel ants. This looks promising! Thanks for sharing!
Carol says
Mix cinnamon in with the sand in the sand box. Ants hate the cinnamon & it’s not toxic for the children.
Jacob Searcy says
This is a LIFESAVER. I came home and there were ants all over my kitchen, but I just made this in a minute, put it all the way around the door. One more tried to come in and turned right back around. Thanks so much
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Awesome! So glad you were able to keep them out!
Dana says
How often do you have to re-apply it?
Dana says
Also if an ant walks into it after the area has been sprayed will it still die, or does every any need to be hit directly?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
They usually die when they walk into it, or they will turn around and attempt to avoid the spray. If you hit them directly it works almost instantly.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I reapply as needed, if I see ants again. Sometimes it gets them the first time, sometimes they are pretty determined and I might need to apply a second time. It also helps to find where they are entering the house and spray outside as well.
Ashlee carlisle says
I used this on my vegetable garden and it burned my plants ?, looks like they’re dying now .
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I haven’t heard of this happening with this formula, but maybe it is possible that some plants are more sensitive? I’ve used this spray on my lemon and lime trees, as well as my herb garden with no ill effects.
Wiley says
Vinegar is an effective weed killer when used at full strength, so if tender or sensitive plants are soaked with even a diluted mix of vinegar, they may suffer or die. That shouldn’t happen if the soil is wetted, and most trees or bushes shouldn’t be affected.
Jane says
Why spray ants on your plants? If they walk across the flower it will pollinate. Ants do not eat plants.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I use it on fire ants because the DO eat my sprouts and kill plants when they are little. Otherwise I’d leave regular ants alone in my garden.
Beth Wolz says
No, they may not eat plants but WILL tend to their aphid slaves, milking them as the aphids suck plants dry. If you see ants on a plant they may have set up an aphid farm!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Invasive fire ants do sometimes eat plant sprouts. I had a lot of issues with fire ants this year (which required more than a spray), including them setting up an aphid farm lol.
Kristie says
Which Dawn is this? Have you always used the red one or tried another.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Kristie – To be honest, I can’t even remember. I just use whatever I have on hand 🙂
Brenda says
Will this work to keep ants away from ankles and feet and keep them from stinging if sprayed on the skin directly?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Brenda – I’m not sure how it would affect skin. Nothing in the spray is harmful or toxic. My only concern is that vinegar is acidic and perhaps might irritate sensitive skin if sprayed directly on it. I’ve only used this spray on household items and plants.
Barbara Spillers says
Wanted you to know I made this ant killer and realized it is a great cleaner too. Thanks,
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Wonderful! Glad you found it so helpful!
kim spicer says
hey, i just remember the best BEST Flea killer!!.. if u have pets, or peeps in and out all day, mix DAWN (blue) Dish Soap, with water, (dont take much Dawn), and spray EVERYTHING, clothes, shoes, kids, (even wash your pets in it), rugs, etc. till it fills alittle damp. boom! DEAD FLEAS.. every time!!!!!.. And it cleans 😉
Terry says
Is this effective for cockroaches as well?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Terry – I haven’t tested this out specifically on cockroaches. They’re usually pretty fast and resistant to almost everything except smashing, but it could be worth a try!
Cheryl says
So if I mixing this in a bucket how much water am I adding?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I would mix all ingredients except water in the bucket, then slowly pour into your squirt bottle. Then you can top off the remaining space in the bottle with water. Hope this helps!
Yvonne says
We came home from our Yellowstone vacation to find ants everywhere in our kitchen, refrigerator and even freezer. I looked up natural remedies and seen your recipe. It’s a true miracle this recipe works!!! I’ve tried natural and the regular poison stuff and nothing ever works. My husband said that stuff you made was a miracle. Thank you for this recipe! I don’t ever have to waste time/money on other stuff. Ants are dead now, thank goodness.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Wonderful! I also found that many of the store bought ant killers didn’t actually do the job, which is what led me to experiment and create this natural ant spray to begin with. Thank you for letting me know it worked for you!
Lee says
Hi! Any idea if this is safe on hardwood floors? Thanks in advance!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
If they are sealed, it should be ok, but to be safe, I would definitely spot test on an inconspicuous area first.
Kate says
Hi. When you say wipe clean, is it with a wet rag or a dry one?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I use a dry rag or paper towel, just to dry the excess liquid.
Eden says
Thank you so much! It worked almost instantly!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Wonderful! I’m glad to hear that!
Mickie says
Oh my goodness! I made the spray EXACTLY like your video directions! I had no problems with the bottle exploding or anything like that! I sprayed it ONCE between my patio door and living room and the ants are G O N E finito — although it is a little “slimy” so you do need to eventually mop it up. Thanks so much! It works great.
Diane Edwards says
Hi Stacey,
How large, in ounces, was your spray bottle? Is it necessary to put water in solution?
Thanks,
Diane
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Diane, I believe my spray bottle is 24 ounces. But you could use something slightly smaller if that’s what you have on hand – just add less water. I do recommend adding some water to dilute (it will leave less residue), but the other ingredients are of course the most important. Hope this helps!
KB says
Hi-
Out of curiosity, does this just work on the tiny sugar ants or will it also be effective on those stubborn carpenter ants also? Thanks!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
We’ve used it on any kind of ants we see – even fire ants! They all hate it 🙂
Steve says
Is it taken back into the nest, killing the ants at the source or does it only only kill the ants it contacts directly?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Steve – This kills ants that it contacts directly and keeps them away from that location in the future. However this is not something that the ants are able to carry back to the nest, as it is a spray.
Vanessa says
You have anything on DIY kill fleas in the home clothes furniture an pet that’s safe
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Vanessa – I’m working on that actually! Bugs are big problem here in the south, so I’ve been testing homemade recipes to get rid of different pests. Today I published this homemade roach killer: https://thesoccermomblog.com/homemade-roach-killer-all-natural/ Stay tuned for our flea products!
Rob says
I use a 50/50 mix of Dawn dishwashing detergent and white vinegar heated in the microwave to spray the walls of my shower. Spray it on, walk away for 45 minutes or an hour. Come back and rinse it off.
Job is DONE!
Sheila says
Do you have to add baking soda ?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I haven’t tried the mixture without baking soda – if you do, let me know how it goes!
Dora says
Do you know if it can be used to clean stained mattress
C says
Hi! I tried this today and the ants keep coming back as soon as the solution dries up. In fact, the number of ants seems to increase after I spray and the solution dries up. Am I doing something wrong? I followed the recipe.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Sometimes it takes a few rounds of spraying to get rid of them all. It’s also crucial to make sure you’ve identified and removed whatever is attracting them. Sometimes there is a scrap of food that we miss and the ants keep finding it! We also make sure to spray deep into whatever crack or hole is their entry point and seal it if possible. Hope this helps!
J says
A few notes 1 dawn soap is used to clean animals so wouldn’t worry about using it around pets.. 2 It’s the vinegar that kills the ants so if you are still worried about your pets you could just use half vinegar half water mix. 3 there is a similar mix that’s used to kill weeds but use salt instead of baking soda. 4 this mix didn’t call for it some dobut NEVER use essential oils with pets Around most can harm dogs and kill cat.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thank you for the additional tips! Though I do want to point out that dish soap is an important part of the mix because it penetrates the ants’ exoskeleton and kills them immediately. I’m not sure if the spray would be so effective without it!
DIY Ant Killer says
The best thing I’ve ever used to get rid of ants is definitely Borax and sugar. Nothing gets rid of an entire ant colony than that! Thanks for sharing these recipes!!
Bill Zawadiuk says
This concoction works 100%, don’t waste money on any Commercial Ant Killer products, they do not work at the best of times.
This almost in all cases kills instantly ….
Dean says
I just mixed it up today and tried it. Yes, it does foam alot, and yes it works terrific! Kills them where they stand, very good product. I will keep checking back for more great ideas from you Stacey. Keep up the good work and I’m sure you put alot of time in to this site and elsewhere . It shows.Thanks
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Glad it worked well for you too! It’s still my go-to for ants!
Sherry says
I was wondering if you can use this on grass without killing it? We seem to be getting ant hills in our yard the last few years
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
It probably wouldn’t harm the grass. However, it’s not going to eradicate an entire ant hill unless you somehow get to the queen. This spray is best for getting rid of ants on contact. Hope this helps!
Tessa says
All I have to say is daaaang! This sh*t works! We had a little ant issue happen overnight and they were EVERYWHERE!! I panicked and googled a pet safe killer as I have a cat and traditional ant killers aren’t an option (and they don’t really seem to work either). I made this stuff (I did it in a bowl and let all the foam settle then it was really easy to transfer to the bottle and I didn’t have any exploding issues) and sprayed the crap out of the ants and the door the were coming in. It seriously killed all the ants that I sprayed directly, and no new ants have started coming in. Thank you SO much for this!!! A total life saver!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m so glad it helped you!! I created this recipe years ago and it is still my go-to when ants appear!
Cathy says
I’m so excited to try your ant killer mix. We have carpenter ants showing up in one area of the house (hopefully not others) and wondered if this mix was for regular smaller ants or also the carpenter ants? I’m assuming both but thought I’d check first. It’s weird because carpenter ants are supposed to be around damp wood, rotting wood but this is in the newer part of our house where we hang out the most
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
It works for all of them, as far as getting rid of them on the spot. It doesn’t necessarily get rid of an entire colony or ants you can’t see, as you have to kill the queen to eradicate a colony.
Toni W says
I just made a batch and it seems to kill ants instantly! So far so good!
Jerry L. Feador says
Dang! That really worked. My cats are so happy to have their nighttime dry food bowls down again!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
So glad it worked well for you! It’s my go-to for ants!
Jerry L. Feador says
Oops, I spoke too soon, they came right back with a vengeance. I’ve sprayed the mixture like 6 times and didn’t even wipe it up, they walk across it like a White Walker across snow. I give up, I’ll have to find an actual pet-safe chemical and hope that it really is. Either that or move to the moon.
Pat says
Thanks for this. You mention a demo video, but there doesn’t seem to be one in the post.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Pat, the video should play when the page loads. If you’re on desktop, the video will load right under the title of the blog post. On mobile, the placement varies. There should also be a “jump to video” button near the top of the post.