How to Remove Ants from Your Sugar Jar and Prevent Them from Coming Back
Finding ants in your sugar jar can be frustrating, but there’s no need to throw the sugar away. Here are some effective methods to remove ants and keep them out of your sugar supply.
Methods to Remove Ants from the Sugar Jar
- Use Long Sticks or Chopsticks to Lure Ants
- Take a few chopsticks or long sticks and insert them deep into the bottom of the sugar jar.
- Wait until the ants crawl all over the sticks, then lift them out and shake off the ants.
- Repeat this process until there are no more ants in the jar.
- Alternatively, you can lean the chopsticks against the jar and let the ants crawl out on their own.
- Use a Stainless Steel Spoon
- Stick a stainless steel spoon deep into the bottom of the sugar jar, ensuring it touches the base.
- Leave it for a few minutes so the ants can crawl up the spoon.
- Once the spoon is covered with ants, gently remove it and tap the ants onto a paper towel or dish towel.
- Repeat the process until the jar is free of ants, then clean the jar and close the lid tightly.
- Pour Sugar onto Paper to Chase Ants Away
- Spread the sugar onto a clean piece of paper or newspaper.
- Place the paper in a dry, airy spot to let the ants crawl out naturally.
- Once the ants are gone, pour the sugar back into the jar.
- Expose the Sugar Jar to Strong Sunlight
- Ants dislike strong sunlight. Open the sugar jar and place it under direct sunlight for about 10 minutes.
- This method will drive the ants out effectively.
How to Prevent Ants from Returning to the Sugar Jar
- Maintain Cleanliness
- Keep the area around the sugar jar clean and dry.
- Regularly clean the jar to remove leftover sugar and dirt.
- Store sugar in a sealed container or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Use Natural Ingredients
- Citrus Peels: Place lemon, tangerine, or orange peels around the sugar jar. The scent of citrus repels ants.
- Garlic: Add a few slices of garlic to the sugar jar. Its strong smell deters ants.
- Perilla Leaves: Place fresh perilla leaves in the jar. Ants dislike their pungent aroma.
- Chili: Sprinkle chili powder or place fresh chili peppers near the jar to keep ants at bay.
- Utilize Simple Household Items
- Rubber Band: Wrap a rubber band around the jar’s mouth. Ants cannot grip the rubber to climb into the jar.
- Baby Powder: Sprinkle baby powder around the jar. The powder confuses and disorients ants.
- Shampoo Solution: Dilute shampoo with water and apply it around the jar. Its scent repels ants.
- Set Up Ant Traps
- Sugar Water Trap: Mix sugar with water and place it in a small dish. Ants will be drawn to the mixture, allowing you to remove them.
- Borax Trap: Combine borax, sugar, and flour in equal parts. Shape the mixture into small balls and place them near the sugar jar. Ants will eat the bait and die.