This Simple Hack for Keeping Ants Out of the House Is ‘Brilliant'
Spring has officially settled in and summer is right around the corner, leaving so much to look forward to in the warm months ahead. As exciting as this time of year is, one thing nobody likes dealing with are the bugs and critters that return along with it: bees that fly around the patio table while eating outside, getting bit up by mosquitoes, and ants that somehow make their way onto our kitchen counters and windowsills.
Don't get me wrong. After a long winter stuck in the house, many people will gladly take the bugs if it means getting to soak up the spring sunshine and spend time outside again. But, we'd much rather deal with them out of the house than in it.
That's where the internet's favorite grandma Babs Costello (aka Brunch with Babs, who has over 4 million followers on TikTok) is back with another trick to make our lives easier. This time, she's sharing a simple DIY ant solution that commenters say "absolutely works."
Keep Ants Out of the House With This DIY Ant Solution
@brunchwithbabs DIY Ant Solution Springtime means our little ant friends sometimes like to come indoors for a visit. Here is my DIY Ant Solution that will keep those ants outside! 1.5 cups warm water m1/2 cup sugar 1.5 tbsp Borax (the natural laundry booster) Mix sugar and Borax into warm water and soak a few cotton balls in the water. Place the cotton balls anywhere outside the house where you see ants coming in or inside where you see them entering the house. If you have pets...stay tuned for an all natural ant deterrent safe for pets! XO Babs
original sound - Babs
"Springtime means our little ant friends sometimes like to come indoors for a visit," Costello says. To avoid this, she makes an effortless DIY ant solution. All you need is:
- 1.5 cups of warm water
- 1.5 cups of granulated sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons of borax (the natural laundry booster)
- Cotton balls
Once you have your supplies, it's incredibly simple. Costello demonstrates that she pours the warm water, granulated sugar and borax into a measuring cup. From there, she stirs it all together before soaking a few cotton balls in the solution.
Then, just place the soaked cotton balls anywhere you see ants crawling around the house. "The sugar will attract the ants, the borax will do the rest," she says.
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She does emphasize that if you have pets, you'll want to steer clear of this solution. However, if you don't have pets, she swears by this hack for making sure ants stay outside.
"Brilliant once again," one commenter said. Countless others commented that this solution really does work wonders, with one saying she does it "every spring/summer."
Whether you've already been seeing ants around or you're on the lookout for any, this hack is the perfect go-to for when they pop up. Thank you, Babs!
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 1:15 PM.