Ants are one of the most common household pests. They’re small, hard to get rid of, and always seem to find their way into your home, no matter how clean you keep it.
So if you have ants plaguing your home, you may be wondering if there are any effective ways to get rid of them. One method you may have heard of is using alcohol to repel ants. But does alcohol really work as an ant repellent?
The short answer is yes; alcohol does repel and kill ants. Nonetheless, it’s not a very effective or long-lasting solution. Alcohol only works on contact, so you’ve to spray the ants directly for it to work.
This means that if you have a significant ant problem, it will be pretty challenging to get rid of them all with alcohol.
However, if you have a few ants that you’re trying to keep out of your home, alcohol can be a helpful solution.
How Does Alcohol Work To Repel Ants?
Alcohol contains ethanol, a type of alcohol found in beer, wine, and liquor. When ants come into contact with ethanol, it dissolves the exoskeleton, which is the hard outer shell that protects an ant’s body. This causes the ant to dehydrate and eventually die.
Alcohol also repels ants by interfering with their sense of smell. Ants communicate by leaving behind a scent trail for other ants to follow. When you spray alcohol on an ant, it destroys the pheromone trail and makes it difficult for other ants to find their way.
So, does this mean that you can start spraying your home with vodka to get rid of ants? Not really. Vodka contains ethanol, but it also has other ingredients that can attract ants.
Sugar is a common ingredient in vodka, and ants are attracted to sugar. Therefore, using vodka as an ant repellent could actually worsen your ant problem.
If you want to use alcohol to repel ants, it’s best to use pure ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.
How to Use Alcohol to Repel Ants
To use alcohol as an ant repellent, you can pour it directly on the ants or make a spray solution.
If you’re using it as a spray, mix equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spritz it around the areas where you’ve seen ants. You can also pour some alcohol into a bowl and set it near the ants’ entry point in your home, like doors, windows, and baseboard.
This will take a few minutes to repel or kill ants that cross over these areas
For the best results, repeat this every day for a week
Wipe up any dead ants with a damp paper towel
Whichever method you choose, ensure to exercise caution when handling and using alcohol. It’s a flammable liquid, so always use it in a well-ventilated area and keep it away from open flames. And, as always, keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Does Praying Alcohol Hurt Plants?
Alcohol can be used to control ants on plants. However, you have to be careful when using it. Avoid spraying concentrated alcohol above 25% ABV on plants because doing so may kill the leaves and even cause the plant to die. If you want to use alcohol on plants, it’s best to dilute it with water first.
Mix 4 ounces of alcohol with 10 ounces of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Shake it well and then spray it on the plants infested with ants. You can also sprinkle the solution on the soil around the plants to keep ants from coming back.
Does Alcohol Kill Ant Eggs?
Alcohol does kill ant eggs by dissolving the eggshell. First, however, you have to ensure that the alcohol covers the entire eggs. That can be a little difficult to do since most ant nests are hidden deep within crevices and cracks.
To increase the chances of the alcohol coming into contact with the eggs, you can treat the nest with boiling water. This will kill some of the ants and make the eggs more accessible.
Then, you can follow up with the alcohol. Pouring pure alcohol directly on an ant nest can also be effective.
Related Article: Does Dish Soap Repel Ants?