Baking Soda, Borax and Sugar Mixes for Ants: Do They Work?

Homemade ant bait recipes are everywhere: sugar mixed with baking soda, sugar and borax, honey and boric acid. They sound sensible, because the idea is the same as commercial bait: ants take the sweet mixture home. But do they work, and are they safe?

This guide gives an honest answer. Never use these mixtures where children or pets can reach them.

The short answer

Mixes of borax or boric acid with a sweet attractant can kill ants, because the ants carry the sweet poison back to the nest, but results are inconsistent, the concentration is hard to get right, and the substances are toxic to children and pets if swallowed. Baking soda with sugar has very little evidence of effectiveness. Too strong a mix kills ants before they carry it home, and too weak does nothing. Commercial baits are formulated to the right strength and often provided in safer stations. If you try a homemade mix, use it only in places that are completely out of reach, and consider a commercial product or professional help instead.

Baking soda and sugar

• The idea: Ants eat the mixture and the baking soda reacts in their gut.
• Reality: There is little reliable evidence that it works. Ants may simply eat the sugar and ignore the baking soda.

Borax or boric acid and sugar

• The idea: Boron compounds are slow-acting stomach poisons. In dilute sweet bait, ants carry them to the nest.
• Reality: It can work, but it is easy to get the strength wrong. Too concentrated kills foragers on the spot, and too dilute does nothing. It can also lose attractiveness as it dries.
• Safety: Borax and boric acid are toxic if swallowed and irritate skin and eyes. They pose real risks to children and pets.

Other mixes

• Honey or syrup with boric acid, with similar issues.
• Peanut butter or protein mixes for protein-feeding ants.

Why homemade mixes often fail

1. Wrong concentration.
2. Ants prefer different foods at different times.
3. The mix dries out or gets contaminated.
4. Open dishes can be eaten by pets or children.
5. No testing or safety controls.

Safety

• Never leave homemade bait in open dishes where children or pets can reach it.
• Label and store any ingredients safely, away from food.
• Wear gloves and wash hands when handling borax or boric acid.
• If swallowed, seek medical help immediately.
• Do not use these mixtures in kitchens on food surfaces.

Better options

• Commercial gel or liquid bait, in enclosed stations placed out of reach.
• Cleaning, sealing and fixing leaks.
• Professional treatment for persistent colonies.

When to call a professional

If a homemade mix does not clear the ants in a week or two, switch to commercial bait or call a professional.

Frequently asked questions

Does baking soda kill ants?

Evidence is weak.

Is borax safe?

It is toxic if swallowed. Keep it away from children and pets.

Why do ants avoid my bait?

The mix may be too strong or not what they want.

Are homemade baits cheaper?

Maybe, but commercial baits are more reliable.

This guide is part of IPest's complete resource on ant control. For identification help, prevention and treatment options, see our full ant control guide for Bangalore.