If you’re referring to the viral “Ants can’t stand it! Use it to keep them away for good” claim, the ingredient usually being promoted is white vinegar.
🐜 Does vinegar really work?
Yes, but only temporarily. A diluted vinegar-and-water solution can wipe away the ants’ chemical scent trails, making it harder for other ants to follow the same route. Extension experts specifically recommend vinegar-and-water cleaning for this purpose.
A simple approach is:
- Mix equal parts white vinegar and water.
- Wipe or spray it along ant trails, windowsills and entry points.
- Repeat as needed.
But vinegar doesn’t reliably eliminate the colony. Ants can establish new trails or return from the nest.
🏆 For getting rid of the colony
If ants keep returning, ant bait is generally much more effective. Worker ants carry slow-acting bait back to the nest, where it can reach other members of the colony, including queens. Don’t spray insecticide around the bait because that can stop ants from carrying it back.
Also seal cracks and entry points and keep food, crumbs, pet food and water sources inaccessible to ants.
