Does Bleach Kill Ants?
Finding ants in your home can be frustrating. While there are many ways to deal with an infestation, one common question is whether bleach can be used to kill ants effectively. Here’s what you need to know about using bleach, and why it might not be the best long-term solution.
Bleach kills ants quickly on contact. You can use it undiluted or mix it 50/50 with water and spray it directly on ants when you see them. Ants breathe through tiny holes in their exoskeletons called spiracles. Bleach enters these openings, suffocates the ant, and causes internal damage.
However, bleach only kills the ants it physically contacts. It does not get carried back to the colony, meaning it won’t eliminate the queen or the entire infestation.
Does Bleach Eliminate the Entire Colony?
Bleach is a strong surface killer for ants marching through your kitchen or windowsills. But because it acts so quickly, ants don’t get the chance to bring it back to the nest. The only way to stop ants permanently is to kill the queen.
After killing visible ants, you can also use bleach to wipe down pheromone trails the invisible chemical paths ants follow to food. Erasing this trail helps prevent more ants from arriving in the same spot.
If you’re able to locate the colony, usually within 25 feet of your home, you can pour undiluted bleach directly into the anthill and visible tunnels. This has a chance to kill the queen and destroy the colony. Even if the queen survives, killing enough worker ants may cause the colony to relocate.
Safer and More Effective Alternatives
If you’re looking for long-term ant control, consider safer and more targeted options:
- Borax and Icing Sugar: The sugar lures ants, and they carry borax back to the colony, eventually killing the queen.
- Diatomaceous Earth: This fine powder slices through the ant’s exoskeleton. It’s carried back to the nest and can eliminate the colony.
- Ant Bait Traps: These contain slow-acting insecticide that ants carry back to the nest, allowing time to reach and kill the queen.
Risks of Using Bleach
Bleach is a powerful chemical and comes with several risks:
- It can discolor or damage surfaces.
- Bleach is toxic to plants and can kill them if sprayed directly.
- Prolonged exposure or improper use can harm humans and pets. It may cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, or even lung damage in high concentrations.
- It can ruin clothing by removing dye and leaving white patches.
Bleach may be a quick fix, but for a lasting solution, it’s worth using targeted methods that work at the source of the infestation.