Infestations of ants are frequent in homes. With about 1,000 species of ants in the country, most homeowners run into an ant problem at one point or another. So, how to get rid of ants in the bedroom?

Initially, you must completely purge your bedroom of any food or water sources that would attract ants. As a quick perimeter defense, you can next sprinkle insecticide powder around your bed. For permanently getting rid of the ants in the bedroom you need to set up ants baits, which are very effective.

How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bedroom?

You consequently have an ant infestation. What’s your plan of action? Here are a few home remedies to get rid of ants naturally:

Diatomaceous Earth (Silicon Dioxide)

Diatomaceous earth (also known as DE) is a type of silica dust made from the crushed, fossilized remains of extinct aquatic organisms known as diatoms.

DE is not poisonous; instead, it draws oil from pests’ skeletons and dries them out, killing ants and other pests. To kill ants with DE, just sprinkle the powder any place you see ants entering or moving through your home.

Pros: Effective, natural, safe for pets and people

Cons: Can be messy, pets may track DE dust throughout the house, DE can be a skin and respiratory irritant, requires reapplication

Detergents

Ants can be kept out of your home by using common household cleaners like hand soap, glass cleaner, or liquid detergent. A reminder that ants rely on the scented pheromone trails they leave behind to navigate the world because they have poor vision.

Fortunately, common detergent eliminates these trails and aids in repelling ants. The surface should be scrubbed with soapy water and detergent for best results. The same method works with glass cleaner that you buy at the store.

Pros: Easy, safe and non-toxic

Cons: Requires manual application and regular re-application

Pepper

Ants use their sense of smell to find their way around, and the smell of pepper irritates them. Sprinkle ground red or black pepper behind appliances and around baseboards to deter them from entering your home.

Pros: Affordable, safe

Cons: Can be an irritant for kids and pets, may be messy, requires regular re-application

Essential Oils

Natural ant repellants like peppermint, cinnamon leaf, lemon, neem, eucalyptus, thyme oil, lemongrass oil, and tea tree oil can help keep ants out of your home.

The baseboards, windows, and doors of your house should be sprayed with the mixture after adding a few drops of essential oil to two cups of water for best results.

Pros: Affordable, easy, safe for children

Cons: Can be irritating to pets, especially cats

Even though it would be nice to have windows in every room of the house, it is occasionally not possible. So, you might be wondering does a bedroom have to have a window and how important it is to have one there.

White Vinegar

If you notice ants in your home, prepare a solution of equal parts vinegar and water and use it to wipe the ants away.

This kills existing ants and repels future ants by leaving a lingering scent of vinegar that works as a natural ant repellant.

Pros: Easy, affordable, effective

Cons: May not be safe for all surfaces, leaves behind a vinegar smell

Baking Soda (or Borax)

Baking soda and ants don’t go together. Actually, when ants consume baking soda or borax, they will both die.

For best results, combine confectioner’s sugar and baking soda (or borax for ants) in an equal ratio, then pour the mixture into a shallow container that ants can access.

Pros: Effective, easy

Cons: May attract kids or pets and can be toxic for both

Chalk

Calcite is an ingredient in chalk. Calcium carbonate can muddle an ant’s scent trail when it is laid out in a thick line, making it more challenging for the pests to detect the scent of other ants and confuse them.

For best results, use thick, heavy chalk to outline the areas you want to keep safe, such as a picnic table or barbecue.

Pros: Affordable, easy

Cons: It is necessary to reapply after rain or watering because it is not a long-term solution (it will only deter ants temporarily).

Oranges Or Lemons

D-limonene, an extract found in citrus fruits and more specifically in the rinds of orange and lemons, is poisonous to ants. Keep those orange peels and use them to make a homemade ant repellent rather than throwing them away. Here’s how:

Place leftover orange peels in a gallon jar. Half of the jar should be filled with peels for best results, and the remaining half should be water. For three to five days, the water must be sealed in the jar and kept in a dark location.

Put a teaspoon of molasses and a tiny bit of dish soap into the liquid after straining it and pouring it back into the jar. When you spot ants, spray the mixture directly on them after thoroughly mixing it.

The citrus oil will kill the ants on contact. Spray this orange oil extract everywhere you’ve seen ant activity because you can also use it to get rid of ant trails.

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, non-toxic for kids, pets, and other animals

Cons: Can create a sticky residue, can be time-consuming to make

Salt

If used correctly, salt can be a powerful natural ant killer. For best results, mix a cup of Epsom salt into a spray bottle of water and spray it directly on ants whenever you see them.

The salt will kill the ants through dehydration without harming non-target species.

Pros: Epsom salt is safe to handle and won’t harm kids, pets, or other animals

Cons: To significantly reduce ant populations, you must frequently reapply salt. This method only works if you spray it directly on ants.

Cornstarch

An efficient ant-killer is cornstarch, which you probably already have in your kitchen. A large group of ants can either be covered in cornstarch and then covered in water, or they can be covered in cornstarch and removed using a vacuum.

If you select option 1, you will have to remove and discard the dead ants and cornstarch. In the event that you select option two, be sure to immediately discard the vacuum canister’s contents.

Pros: Effective, non-toxic, fast

Cons: Can be messy, requires more cleanup than other methods

Boric Acid

Within three weeks of exposure, the queen and worker ants in the colony will perish. To use it successfully, prepare a solution with ½ teaspoon of boric acid, eight teaspoons of sugar, and 1 cup of warm water.

Stir the mixture until the boric acid is dissolved. Place cotton balls wherever you’ve seen ant activity by soaking them in the solution.

Pros: Affordable, effective

Cons: Boric acid can be dangerous for kids and pets, so the solution and cotton balls must be kept out of their reach

Types of Random Ants in Bedroom

Not all ants will search for a hideout in your bedroom or even your home. Some kinds of ants, like crazy ants, are keen on building colonies outside of the human reach. Unfortunately, most types of ants will gladly move in your home if they find shelter and food in it.

Black Ants

You can easily make a wrong judgment when your bedroom is infected with black ants. They are similar to carpenter and pharaoh ants but if the ant is completely black, without any brown coloration, then your guests are probably black ants. They usually build nests in the walls or in the rotten floorboards, so for starts check these places.

Little Ants

Several types of small ants can be found in the bedroom and the most common ones are ghost ants, big-headed ants, and acrobat ants. They’ll look for a hole in your bedroom wall or a crevice in the floorboards where they can hide and build a nest.

Little Brown Ants 

When you notice small brown ants in your bedroom, in most cases that means that you have a problem with odorous house ants. These ants can hide in your bedroom in search of dry space with available food. Because they leave a bad smell, try to avoid trampling on them.

Carpenter Ants

You have a carpenter ant problem if you discover large, chewing black ants in your bedroom that are up to 3/32″ or 2.5 cm long. The primary suspect, although termites are also a possibility, is a carpenter ant if you discover any sawdust under your carpet or around your furniture.

Large and black, carpenter ants chew wood to quickly establish their colonies. They don’t feed on wood. Carpenter ants chew through the wood where they can find moisture, for example: under the windows, roofs, and floorboards.

Flying Ants

Ant mating season is indicated by flying ants. If you see them in your bedroom during winter, that is a sure sign that you have an ant nest somewhere around the house.

In the winter, they will look for a warm, cozy place to mate, and your bedroom might be just the thing. To find out if an ant nest is nearby, search all the usual places.

Suggested reading: So, does a bedroom have to have a closet? Below will tell you what makes a bedroom a bedroom. Surprise! The answer to this question is not that simple. In order to share our research with you here, we conducted a little investigation. Keep reading.

How Do I Keep Ants Out of My House?

Preventing ant infestations is the best way to handle them once they occur.

These simple tips will help dissuade ants from entering your home:

• Clean up all food spills and messes promptly to prevent ants in the kitchen.
• Store ripe fruit in the refrigerator and other foods (like sugar, crackers, and other non-perishables) in airtight containers.
• Dry the tub or sink after each use and plug the drain with a stopper.
• Check under sinks and other appliances for leaks and fix any moisture problems immediately.
• If you have ants in your pantry, place condiment jars inside gallon plastic bags.
• Clean pet bowls often and wipe up any spilled food or water promptly.
• Inspect indoor potted plants for insect activity often.
• Keep brush, shrubs, mulch, and other organic materials at least three feet away from your home’s foundation.
• Keep your gutters and downspouts clean and free of debris. This eliminates standing water that may attract ants.
• Clean the inside of your toaster or toaster oven, and wipe and empty the crumb tray after each use.
• Use can liners in your indoor trash cans. Keep the lids tightly closed and clean both the inside and outside of the can with bleach regularly.
• Rake mulch and landscaping materials back to at least 6″ from your home’s foundation.
• Store outdoor trash bins at least 10 feet from the house and wash them monthly with an ammonia solution.
• Consider sprinkling some cinnamon or cayenne pepper if you have ants in the garden or in highly-trafficked areas to deter them.

READ ABOUT How to Unlock a Bedroom Door Without a Key?

FAQs

Summary: How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bedroom?

Having ants in your home can cause many problems but having them in a place where you sleep can cause countless sleepless nights. There are several ways to get rid of the ants in your bedroom, but you must first identify their source. Look for any cracks in your bedroom’s walls and behind furniture, as well as beneath the carpet.

We advise setting up ant baits close to the locations where the ants are first noticed. The best way to get rid of them is through this. Of course, our recommendation is always to contact professionals because they can locate the ants faster and they will know for sure what products can resolve your problem.

For a wealth of information on ants and other pests, keep checking our blog!