Dish soap contains detergents that can break down and dissolve ants’ body cells. Since ants are light, they cannot sink and drown in pure distilled water. Dish soap is also a surfactant that removes surface tension from the water surface thus making it possible for ants to drown.
Combine 6 ounces of dawn dish soap with 3 ounces of hot water in a spray bottle. Then move close and spray the ants generously until they are drenched. The solution can also be poured into an anthill to kill ants and their eggs. Dish soap can also repel ants because it makes their pheromones weak.
A mixture of hot water and dish soap is deadly to ants because soap will choke them while hot water burns them on contact. It is a sure way of killing fire ants instantly if they come in large numbers. You need to pour it directly on them in large amounts if you want them dead on the spot.
Soapy water for ants on plants
Dish soap can also get rid of ants outside because the soil particles absorb and hold it for some time. Its scent will keep ants away as long as it is held in the soil. However, concentrated solutions should not be used in the garden or potted plants because excess soap can alter the natural soil pH.
When using dish soap for ants in a plant, ensure that the solution is well diluted. This is done to reduce the degenerating effects of detergents on any surface which can harm plants. A simple way to do this is maintaining a ratio of 1 part of dish soap to 2 parts of water. You need to double the quantity of water.
Diluting dish soap depends on the type that you are using. Some are concentrated while some are not mild and gentle. However, the minimal dilution rule should be equal parts of soap and water. For example, if you are using 1 cup of water, dilute it with 1 cup of water.
Dish soap and water can also be sprinkled in ant-infested soil to get rid of them. If the soil is water-resistant, soapy water will help in breaking its surface tension thus allowing it to absorb water. This will help in keeping the soil healthy for plants while repelling ants at the same time.
It is advisable to avoid the use of strong detergents when spraying a bug-infested plant. When using any DIY solutions for an ant infestation, get an organic dish soap that is mild and gentle on plants. Plants react with soap in different ways. Some may resist while the same concentrations can be toxic to others.
How to get rid of ants with dish soap
When getting rid of ants on cement floors, it is okay to use concentrated dawn dish soap. However, ant nests on wooden floors, patio, or veranda should not be soaked in hot water and dish-washing soap. This can cause soaking and damage to the wood and replacement may be economically involving.
However, it is okay to use natural plant or organic-based dish soap mixed with equal parts of water on a wooden floor. But this does not mean that you soak them in it. Add 2 cups of dawn dish soap to 4 liters of water at room temperature and use it to wipe the ant-infested areas.
Dish soap ant killer recipe
A combination of 2 cups of dawn dish soap, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 2 cups boiling water can be sprinkled on ants to get rid of them instantly. When indoors use a spray bottle to spread the solution on them. When outdoors, you can pour the mixture on ants in the ground.
Dishwashing liquid and bleach can also work against ants as this will kill and repel them. However, this should not be sprayed on plants or on dry soil. It can easily kill plants by burning its cells on the outer layers. Additionally, avoid using dish soap mixed with bleach for ant sin wooden floor.
Bleach and soapy water can only be used in a spray bottle in small quantities for ants on any surface. Use it to wipe kitchen counters, and cemented walls. It can also help in getting rid of ants on cracked floors. The solution can also be used to get rid of pavement ants around the house.
You can also use 2 ounces of pine-sol for ants combined with 4 ounces of dish detergent. Then add 2 ounces of hot water and dose them with it. This is a good recipe for little black ants in the house. A clean towel can also be soaked in this solution and used to wipe infested areas to kill and deter ants.
Dish soap for ant eggs
The only way to kill ant eggs with dish soap is to mix it with boiling water and pour it into their nests. 8 ounces of dawn dish soap mixed with 16 ounces of hot water is ideal. This washes down into the nest and dissolves the eggs on contact. It will also kill any ant it finds on its way.
This also increases the chances of killing the ant quin thus stopping it from laying eggs. Even if she survives, the dead ants around her will give off an alarming scent that prompts the remaining worker ants to relocate the quine.
It is the quine that keeps an ant’s nest active and once she is moved, a whole colony is also relocated. It leads to successful control of an infestation in an area. Moving the colony will lead to a significant reduction in population and it can be noted in a few days.
If the ants are nesting in a wooden structure, use organic liquid dish-washing soap with water. Hot water can easily destroy wood by weakening its layers. It is okay to increase the soap concentration with water at room temperatures. If the wood is not finished, avoid spraying water on it all the time.
Carpenter ants are one of the species that infest and cause wood damage. They can be confused for termites because they will live and thrive in wooden structures that have been damaged by termites. 1 cup of dish soap and 1/2 cup of vinegar for ants can be combined and sprayed on them. However, seek professional advice if you have a combination of termites and carpenter ants infestation.