Fight ants with baking soda

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Even our grandmothers had to deal with ants. The ancient baking powder tip that promises exploding ants probably also dates from this time.

Ants in the kitchen
If the ants are already in the kitchen, the baking soda isn't far away [Photo: Boyloso/ Shutterstock.com]

That baking soda or baking soda to expel ants (Formicidae) can be used is a household wisdom from grandmother's time. Nevertheless, one reads contradictory things again and again: In some places there is great outrage that the tip would have no use at all. Elsewhere good results have been reported with the use of the leavening agent. In the following we will clarify the topic "ants and baking powder".

Fight ants with baking soda

First of all, let's clarify the most interesting question: do ants explode when they eat baking soda? And how efficient is this method of pest control? In order to be able to obtain comprehensive information, you will then find alternatives and references to further articles. We also present ours to you there Plantura ant remedy in front.

Exploding ants from baking soda and sugar?

Using baking powder against ants has a long tradition. The household tip is known to many and its effectiveness is actually not a myth. The deadly effect on the little troublemakers is based on the chemical reaction of the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) contained in the baking soda with the moisture inside the ant. The weak alkaline reaction in the insect's digestive tract disturbs its sensitive acidity, which alone can lead to its death. At the same time, carbon dioxide is formed in an equilibrium reaction, which, with its higher volume, puts the durability of the insect stomach to the test.

Whether the animals ultimately perish from one effect or the other has not been conclusively clarified. They may prefer the baking powder and ingest it in larger quantities if it is mixed with a little sugar or powdered sugar. Without knowing the origin of the ants, however, the application is pointless, because all animals that do not leave the burrow do not come into contact with the baking powder at all or only in small doses. The nest remains untouched and the stream of new ants does not dry up at all or only after a long period of use.

Ants crawling in cracks and crevices
If cracks and crevices in the walls are not sealed, ants can easily enter [Photo: Yashkin Ilya/ Shutterstock.com]

Conclusion on baking soda against ants

There can be no question of "exploding ants" when using baking soda, but they can be severely damaged by it. However, the method can only work if the baking powder used contains baking soda. Other leavening agents and baker's yeast would have no effect. The death of the ants is painful and slow, and the entire nest is not necessarily damaged. For this reason, tracing the origin of the ants and blocking access or removing them of the nest a far greater benefit than sprinkling baking soda - this also avoids unnecessary suffering of the Animals. In addition, the creatures that eat the dead ants can also be damaged: other insects, birds or small rodents. They, too, get at least an upset stomach from the soda. If baking powder and sugar are spread at all against ants, this should only be done indoors.

Fighting ants in the house and garden: baking soda and alternatives

We do not recommend using baking soda as an ant control agent. Instead, it is more effective to deal with the reasons for the presence of ants in the house or apartment. You can use this article to check if you don't have the Ants in your home or garden accidentally attract them themselves or offer them particularly favorable nesting opportunities. There are also other home remedies that work well, with the help of which most small ant infestations are quickly dealt with. Home remedies for ants can be found in this special article. If the home remedies have failed, you still have the option of a tangible fight. What we on the topic "fight ants“ have found out for you, you can find out here.

We can clearly recommend the use of diatomaceous earth. This extremely fine-grained kieselguhr is the main component of ours Plantura ant remedy. It comes without a chemical effect and when used correctly without endangering humans or pets, but is because of popular and frequently used in organic farming due to its good effectiveness - because resistance to the agent can also develop locked out.

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