Does rice kill ants?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Does rice kill ants” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not the rice kills ants. Moreover, we are going to discuss some home remedies that you can use to get rid of the ants.

So if you are tired of the ants crawling across your kitchen floors or pantry walls and want to get rid of them then what can be greater than using natural non-toxic substances for this purpose. Most locally available insect repellants and sprays are brimming with harmful chemicals, so on the off chance that you have pets or children, managing insects is particularly concerning. So that is where we are going to help you by telling you some remedies to get rid of ants.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

Does rice kill ants?

Instant rice can kill ants. This is because once ants consume the rice grain, they will drink water which will cause the rice grain (or its pieces) to expand. This expansion as a result of the addition of water will kill the ant from the inside.

So the science behind this theory that rice can kill ants is that rice is hygroscopic so it sucks the water and expands in size. When the ants eat the rice, it will go to their stomach, suck in some liquid there, expand, and will kill the ants. Thus rice can be used to kill the ants but you need some effective bait in this case that will drive the ants to eat rice in the first place. 

Is there any effect of salt on ants?

So when it comes to ants, they are attracted to the salt but the salt does not dehydrate or kill them as it does to the snails and slugs. So the salt does not have a detrimental effect on the ants but it can be used to ward them off.

Home remedies to get rid of ants

Cinnamon

You can use cinnamon to get rid of the ants. It works wonders when it comes to its insect repellent properties. Ants do not like the smell of cinnamon and it makes them frenzy. Therefore you can use cinnamon to keep the ants at bay.

But one thing to keep in mind while doing so is to never use the sugared cinnamon or you would end up preparing a treat for the insects. So always use pure ground cinnamon to get rid of not only the ants but also the bugs, cockroaches, and other insects.

Cayenne pepper

You can also sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the entry points and into the crevices to get rid of the nats. Cayenne pepper is a natural ant repellant.

Borax

Borax can be used to kill ants. What you gotta do is to mix some borax with the sugar. Now add water to this and make a solution out of it. Take some cotton balls and soak them in this mixture. Afterward, put these cotton balls in the various corners and crevices of your kitchen. 

Now, what borax does is that as it is mixed with the sugar, the sugar attracts the ants and they will take the cotton balls in their nest and the borax that is highly toxic for them kills them.

Eukalyptus

Eucalyptus is also one of the non-toxic natural insect-repellent. So you can plant eucalyptus around your house, in your garden or you can spray eucalyptus essential oil mixed with water to get rid of the ants and other insects. 

You can read about the benefits of eucalyptus oil here.

Vinegar

The strong and tangy odor of the vinegar is not something that the ants like. So if you want to get rid of the ants, spray some vinegar mixed with water in various corners of your kitchen and house to get rid of the ants.

Mint and Peppermint oil

Many of us like the smell of the mint but the ants do not find it amusing. Therefore using the mint leaves or sprinkling the mint essential oil mixed with water proves to be effective to get rid of the ants and other insects hidden in your house. It is a natural remedy that is free from any toxic chemicals which makes it safe to use around kids and pets. While spraying mint induced water, give special attention to places like

  • Cracks in walls or floor
  • Under the kitchen appliances
  • Food storage spaces 
  • Cabinets

You can also use essential oils like peppermint, or lavender oil as a natural insect repellent.

Citrus

We love the tangy smell of citrus fruits but that is not the case with the ants. Therefore you can use the citrus-scented cleaners in your house or place some citrus fruit peels in your kitchen to chase away all the spiders from your home. You can also use the spray made by adding lemon or lime juice in the water to keep the ants at bay. 

Other FAQs about Rice which you may be interested in.

Does rice mold?

Does glutinous rice flour have gluten?

What can I substitute for cilantro in rice?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does rice kill ants” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not the rice kills ants. Moreover, we discussed some home remedies that you can use to get rid of the ants.

Citations

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