top of page
Search
Writer's pictureJessica Ashton

How I stopped an ant infestation in 1 day





It started with just a few ant sightings. One here, two there, and I wasn't particularly worried about it to be honest. There wasn't any food left around for them, and I keep everything clean, so they must have been passing through. Right?


Wrong. Oh, so wrong.


I walked into my kitchen one morning, and boom! Full on ant party. The walls, counter, floors, trash can... all of it, covered in ants. They had to go, immediately.


So, my friends, here is exactly what I did:


  1. I did NOT crushed them, or step on them. They have a scent that they leave behind when they are crushed, which attracts more ants.

  2. I remembered hearing that Windex would kill the ants, so that is exactly what I went for. It definitely killed them, but more just kept showing up.

  3. After exploring the interweb, I tried soapy water (using dawn dish detergent in this case) in a spray bottle. They hated it, and died much quicker than they did when I used Windex.

  4. Next, I just left them. It took everything I had not to clean up the ant carcasses, or to dry up my soapy floors.

  5. Every time I saw a new ant, I sprayed right away. Excessively, if you ask my husband.

  6. I put the bottle to "laser shooting mode", you know the one, and sprayed into ANY crack or hole I could find. I sprayed the baseboards, door frames, counter-tops, EVERYTHING.

  7. Again, I left it. I let the soapy spray dry on every surface, re-sprayed, and let it dry again. It was an all day event.

  8. Finally late that night, I cleaned. I mopped (which was not as bad as I thought it would be - suds!). Cleaned the counters, walls, anything that I could think of. I did't want any scents left around for more ants to follow.

Honestly, I am surprised at how well it worked. The next morning, no ants. I've seen one or two here and there, but I spray them immediately and we've never had another problem.

276,850 views7 comments

Recent Posts

See All

7 Comments


Janie Harlow
Janie Harlow
Apr 03, 2023

I have found that I can do the same using Clorax Clean up and do the same I leave it that way over night and it has definitely helped

Like

My husband and I live full time in an RV in a lovely park that just happens to have about 4000 ant nests every spring. I've tried lemon spray, straight vinegar and peppermint spray all to eliminate their scent trails. Nothing worked on these bloodhound ants. For 2 years I've done this soap & vinegar mix. It does kill them but they keep coming back. Twice this year I had to cometely empty my pantry and battle these stupid ants. A camper is waaay different than a regular house. There are places they get through that I can't get to. I guess next year I'll have to try what you said and NOT clean up the dead bodies-lol, and leave…

Like
Annette Ashley
Annette Ashley
Sep 28, 2022
Replying to

Get you some bay leaves and put in your camper cabinets ,couches everywhere

Like

Cheryl Harter
Cheryl Harter
Jul 06, 2022

WD-40, KILLS ON CONTACT !!! HAS THAT STRALL ATTACHED , 4 CRACKS TOO !! JUST WIPE UP OVER SPRAY W/ A PAPER TOWEL , NO SCRUBBING!! WD-40 IS MADE W/ VIT. "E" , POISON TO ANTS, SPIDERS TOO !!!

Like
Pamela Deal Smith
Pamela Deal Smith
Aug 21, 2023
Replying to

Wd 40 stinks though don't

Like

Martha Rudy
Martha Rudy
May 09, 2022

do you add water to dawn?

Like

Crystal Yarbrough
Crystal Yarbrough
May 19, 2021

Didn't say how much dawn soap and can you use this outside.

Like
bottom of page