Does Bleach Kill Ants? A Pest Pro Shares How It Can Help

If the first sign of ants in your home has you reaching for cleaner nearby, you’ve likely thought about grabbing the bottle of bleach from under your sink. Bleach is a trustworthy household cleaner that, as it turns out, can be an effective tool for maintaining the varmints in your home.

We spoke to a certified pest pro to find out if bleach can be effective at keeping ants away. Here’s what he suggests.

Does Bleach Kill Ants?

Yes, bleach kills ants when the cleaner comes into direct contact with the unwanted pesky creatures. The intense chemical solution found in bleach is enough to kill ants, but according to pest expert Craig Sansig, should be used minimally and as a temporary measure because of its high toxicity levels.

“Bleach may be effective at killing ants on contact, but it is actually acutely more toxic than most pesticides registered for use around homes,” he says.

While it may seem safer to use bleach, its effects have not been evaluated for that use, and is not registered with the EPA for use as an insecticide.

Why Bleach Works to Kill Ants

Bleach contains a potent chemical solution strong enough to kill ants as soon as it comes into direct contact with them. But that’s not the only reason why this household staple is effective at destroying an infestation.

According to Sansig, this powerful cleaner prevents the communication signals ants use from working, which helps to stop the infestation temporarily. Cleaning surfaces where ants are trailed along with bleach removes these pheromones and disrupts their ability to locate a resource like food or water.

How to Kill Ants With Bleach

It’s important to note that while bleach may be effective at killing the ants you currently see, it doesn’t completely remove the problem, which is the other ants in your home.

You will need to contact a pest exterminator in your area to remove all ants or find homemade ways to remove ants from your home.

1. Prepare the bleach: Some experts suggest diluting your bleach with a small dose of water while others say undiluted is best. If you want to dilute your bleach, mix equal parts bleach and water in a spray bottle. You can also opt to pour the bleach directly onto the surface of the ants. 
2. Spray on the affected area: With your bleach or bleach mixture in hand, pour or spray directly onto the affected area. 
3. Wipe away ants: Let the mixture sit on the area for at least five minutes before wiping up the dead ants with a damp cloth. 
4. Repeat: If you notice more ants moving around the area, or you find another location infested with ants, repeat steps two and three until all ants are gone.

9 Alternatives to Bleach That Work to Kill Ants

There are several alternatives to bleach that are affective for getting rid of ants, including natural pest control remedies. Here are a few to consider if the thought of bleach seems too intimidating.

• Ant bait traps: These homemade traps attract worker ants to a food source and infect them with an insecticide they carry back to the colony and share, which kills the ants.
• Vinegar: Properties in vinegar will remove the pheromone trails ants use to follow a food source, forcing ants to move on from the area.
• Essential oil sprays: Similar to vinegar, essential oil sprays mask the scent of a food source by covering up the pheromone trails.
• Citrus peels: Citrus overtakes the scent of the original food source and attracts ants to feed on the peel which is loaded with D-limonene, a toxic acidic oil that kills ants.
• Boric acid: Once ants ingest this poison, it kills them.
• Diatomaceous earth: This powder contains an ingredient called silica that gets into an ants digestive system and poisons them.
• Boiled water: Ants cannot survive the extreme heat once it’s poured directly onto them, plus it also causes them to drown.
• Fresh coffee grounds: Ants are not a fan of the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the scent will cause them to leave the location.
• Ground cinnamon: Ants dislike the smell of cinnamon that’s strong enough to mask the original food source and force ants away from the area.