Borax Ant Killer Recipe Test: 5 Homemade Baits Compared to Terro

If ants are invading your home, borax ant killer recipes are one of the most common homemade solutions people try before turning to store-bought products like Terro.

In this test, I compared four borax ant bait recipes – sugar (wet), sugar (dry), honey, and peanut butter – against a commercial Terro liquid ant bait.

Each bait was placed under the same conditions, with Terro used as a control to measure real-world effectiveness against active ant trails. I also included a separate vinegar test to observe how ant behavior changes when their trails are disrupted.

The results were surprisingly clear, and the differences between bait types became obvious once the ants began responding.

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Why ants come into the house and what they are looking for

When ants come indoors, they are usually searching for food, water, shelter, or easy access to nesting areas. This is why long-term prevention strategies like regular cleaning and sealing entry points are important.

• Food: Sugary spills, crumbs, pet food, and other easy food sources
• Water: Moisture around sinks, pipes, showers, and damp areas
• Shelter: Warm, protected places to build nests nearby
• Entry points: Tiny cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and foundations

What is Borax, and how does it kill ants?

Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally occurring mineral compound commonly found in laundry detergents and household cleaners. When used in ant bait recipes, Borax acts as a slow-acting stomach poison that worker ants carry back to the colony.

• How to use Borax: Mix it with ingredients such as sugar, honey, or peanut butter to attract ants
• How it works: Ants consume the bait and transport some of it back to the nest
• Why Borax works for ants: The slow action gives ants time to share the bait with other ants before dying
• Baits vs sprays: Borax baits may help reduce the colony over time, while sprays only kill visible ants that you can see

Since borax is the active ingredient in Terro liquid ant bait, I used Terro as the control in these homemade Borax ant bait tests.

Safety notes and Borax toxicity considerations

Although borax is commonly used in household cleaning products, it should still be used carefully around children and pets.

• Keep homemade ant baits with Borax out of reach of children and pets
• Pets that ingest borax may experience vomiting or digestive upset
• The Poison Control Center recommends caution with all ant bait products around children
• The ASPCA notes that large amounts may be harmful to pets
• Wash your hands after handling borax mixtures and avoid placing bait near food preparation areas

How I set up the Borax ant killer tests

To compare each homemade Borax ant killer recipe fairly, I tested all of the baits during the same two-day period in the same area where ants were actively feeding.

The homemade ant bait recipes tested were:

• Dry confectioner’s sugar and Borax
• Granulated sugar, water, and Borax
• Honey and Borax
• Peanut butter and Borax

I also tested a commercial Terro liquid ant bait as a control, since borax is one of its active ingredients. A separate apple cider vinegar test was included to compare a repellent-style treatment against bait-based ant killers.

To keep the comparison consistent:

• All baits were placed side by side near an active ant trail on a cleaned countertop
• Ant activity was first observed over two days, with additional monitoring over 3 more days as ant activity continued
• Shallow condiment lids were used for the homemade baits, while the Terro bait was placed on thin cardboard
• Each homemade bait was also tested on thin cardboard to make sure container height did not affect ant access

With the setup complete, I observed how the commercial Terro bait performed before comparing the homemade borax ant killer recipes.

Control test: Testing Terro liquid ant bait

Terro was used as the control test because its sweet, sugar-based formula is designed to attract sugar-eating ants.

• The ants found the Terro liquid ant bait very quickly
• Ant activity around the bait increased steadily over time
• The ants repeatedly fed from the liquid and carried it back to the colony
• The number of ants on the counter had reduced significantly by the end of the test period
• The liquid developed a skin as it dried and needed to be reapplied daily for the full five-day period

The strong response to the Terro ant bait created a useful baseline for comparing how the homemade borax ant killer recipes performed under the same conditions.

Borax and sugar ant bait test (dry)

The first homemade ant bait test used equal parts dry confectioner’s sugar and Borax as a sweet bait for the ants.

• The ants showed very little interest in the dry mixture
• Most ants avoided the bait after tasting it instead of feeding from it
• The 50/50 borax concentration appeared to be too strong to attract consistent feeding activity

During later testing, lower borax concentrations attracted more ant activity than equal-part mixtures. A ratio closer to 3 parts sugar to 1 part Borax worked better as an ant bait.

Borax, water, and granulated sugar bait test

This ant bait test combined equal parts granulated sugar, water, and borax to create a liquid-style bait that is similar in consistency to commercial ant killers.

• The ants showed much stronger interest in this mixture than in the dry sugar bait
• Ant activity increased over time as more workers discovered the bait
• After about two days, overall activity around the bait began to decline
• A thin film formed on the surface, requiring daily replacement throughout the five-day test period
• This mixture attracted steady feeding activity and remained more effective than the dry sugar bait

Compared to the dry sugar test, this wet version produced noticeably higher ant activity and sustained feeding behavior over a longer period.

Borax and honey ant bait test

Honey was used in this borax ant bait recipe because its sweetness and sticky texture can quickly attract foraging ants. This mixture was made with 1/2 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of Borax, and 2 tablespoons of boiling water.

• Despite heavy ant activity nearby, the ants showed little interest in this bait during the first several hours
• Additional honey was later added to weaken the borax concentration, but ant activity around the bait remained low
• A skin formed on the surface of the mixture over time, requiring fresh bait to be reapplied

Like the dry sugar test, this stronger Borax mixture produced very limited feeding activity compared to the wetter, more diluted bait recipes.

Borax and peanut butter ant bait test

Peanut butter was tested as a protein-based borax bait for ants that prefer grease or food with protein, rather than sweet foods. The formula used was ½ teaspoon of Borax mixed with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to form a paste.

• Ant activity around this bait was moderate during the early part of the test
• The peanut butter mixture remained easy for the ants to access while it was fresh
• Unlike the liquid baits, the peanut butter did not form a surface skin as it dried
• As the peanut butter hardened over time, ant activity around the bait gradually declined

The results suggested that fresher peanut butter bait may remain more attractive to ants than dried mixtures left out for several days.

Apple cider vinegar cleaning test (ant behavior disruption)

Unlike the Borax ant bait tests, apple cider vinegar was tested as a cleaning and scent-disruption method rather than a bait designed to kill ants. The formula was equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle.

I sprayed the mixture directly onto the ant trail and the surrounding countertop surface to remove the scent trails that ants use for navigation.

• The ants immediately scattered after the area was cleaned
• Visible ant trails temporarily disappeared
• Some ants later returned to the same area after the vinegar dried
• The vinegar disrupted ant activity, but did not appear to eliminate the colony

This test showed that apple cider vinegar may temporarily interrupt ant trails, similar to other natural ant repellents. However, the bait-style treatments were more effective for longer-term ant control during these tests.

Results of the Borax ant killer tests

The image above shows side-by-side results of the homemade borax ant bait tests compared with the Terro liquid ant bait after several days of ant activity.

• The wet sugar and Borax bait for ants performed most similarly to Terro
• Stronger borax mixtures attracted fewer ants
• The dry sugar and Borax bait was the least effective and had the highest Borax concentration
• Liquid baits formed a surface skin over time and had to be replaced daily
• Baits placed on flat cardboard attracted more ants than those in raised containers
• Cleaning the counters with apple cider vinegar disrupted ant trails temporarily, but the ants later returned

Which Borax bait worked best

Terro ant killer was the most effective bait overall during these tests. Even after five days, ants continued feeding on the bait more consistently than with any of the homemade mixtures.

Among the homemade recipes, the wet sugar, water, and Borax bait performed best. It attracted sustained ant activity and behaved most similarly to the commercial liquid bait.

Why do some Borax baits work better than others?

The most effective ant baits had:

• Enough sweetness to attract ants
• A low enough borax concentration that the ants would continue feeding on the bait

In these tests, mixtures with the strongest borax concentrations attracted fewer ants or were ignored completely. Baits with more sugar and moisture performed better because they were closer in consistency to the commercial liquid ant baits, Terro.

Texture also appeared to matter:

• Liquid-style baits attracted ants more consistently than dry mixtures
• Baits that formed a hard surface skin became less attractive over time
• Flat surfaces made it easier for ants to access the bait than raised containers

These results suggest that the most efficient homemade Borax ant baits are those where the Borax concentration is relatively diluted, and the bait remains soft and accessible.

Frequently asked questions about Borax ant killer recipes

Here are some answers to questions about using Borax in ant killer recipes.

Borax vs Terro – which works better?

Terro consistently attracted more ants during testing and provided more sustained feeding activity. Among the homemade options, the wet sugar and borax bait performed closest to Terro, but overall, Terro was the most effective bait in this comparison.

How long does Borax take to kill ants?

Borax works as a slow-acting bait. In most cases, ants continue feeding for 1–3 days before noticeable reductions in activity occur, depending on the bait and the colony size.

Why do ant baits made with Borax stop working over time?

Borax baits can dry out, form a surface skin, or become less attractive as sugar concentration changes. In these tests, liquid-style baits needed to be replenished daily to remain effective.

What is the best Borax ratio for ant bait?

The most effective results in these tests came from a diluted mixture of approximately 3 parts sugar to 1 part borax. Stronger borax concentrations reduced ant activity and made the bait less attractive.

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Would you like a reminder of this post about Borox for killing ants? Pin this image to one of your home tips boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later. You can also watch this YouTube slideshow video about the Borax ant killer recipes.

Admin note: This article for texting Borax ant killer recipes against Terro liquid ant killer first appeared on the blog in May 2014. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable project card, and a slideshow video.

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Yield: about 2 cups of Borax ant killer bait

Sugar Water Borax Ant Killer Recipe

Print

I tested four different Borax ant killers and apple cider vinegar against the Terro liquid bait. This sugar/water/Borax bait was most comparable.

Active Time 30 minutes

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost less than $1

Materials

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of Borax 5 Mule Team Cleaner
• 1/2 cup of water

Tools

• Thin cardboard or lids of plastic condiment cups

Instructions

1. Combine the sugar, Borax, and water in a saucepan on the stove.
2. Boil for three minutes, then allow the mixture to cool.
3. Cut up some pieces of thin cardboard and place a little of the mixture on each card.
4. Place the card in the area where you see the ants.
5. Replace the mixture when a skin forms on it.
6. The ants will consume the mixture and take it back to their nest.
7. This should result in fewer ants over time.
8. The bait may need to be repeated if you have a heavy infestation.

Notes

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Bragg USDA Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, With The Mother 16 Ounces Natural Cleanser, Promotes Weight Loss - Pack of 2 w/ Measuring Spoon
• 
  TERRO PreFilled Liquid Ant Killer II Baits, 3-Packs of 6 Baits Each
• 
  20 Mule Team All Natural Borax Detergent Booster & Multi-Purpose Household Cleaner, 65 Ounce, 4 Count

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