Does Bleach Kill Fire Ants?
Fire ants are extremely aggressive creatures that attack when provoked. Though the ants typically live in underground tunnels, you may notice some entering your home. Bleach is one of the home remedies to kill fire ants inside and outside, but it doesn’t work in all situations.
Types
FireAnt.net recommends using Clorox Bath Cleaner, which contains bleach. If you can’t find the bathroom cleaner, mix a small amount of bleach into a spray bottle, with cool water and use on the ants.
Usage
The bleach cleaner only works inside if you have linoleum or wood floors. Spray the bleach onto any fire ants you see and along areas where you saw the ants before. The bleach kills ants on contact, but you need to mop the bleach up before it damages your flooring.
Warning
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture warns against using bleach or any other home remedy to remove fire ants. This kills fire ants in the immediate area, but doesn’t treat the overall problem.
References
Writer Bio
Jennifer Eblin has been a full-time freelance writer since 2006. Her work has appeared on several websites, including Tool Box Tales and Zonder. Eblin received a master's degree in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Photo Credits
- ants & ahises image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
- ants & ahises image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
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