Ants are among the most common household pests. Their infestation causes nuisance more than the damage caused. No matter the reason for their invasion, the real challenge is getting rid of the existing ants and preventing further entry. Many products are available on the market, along with some household products that can help control their entry. This blog primarily discusses “does Lysol kill ants in the house,” along with alternatives to Lysol.
What Happens When You Spray Lysol Directly on an Ant?
Lysol contains compounds such as Ethanol which is toxic to ants. Though Ethanol is known to give off a strong odor, it can effectively kill ants when sprayed directly on them. It sucks moisture from ants' bodies, which dehydrates them, effectively killing them.
Lysol also works in other ways. Ants breathe through small holes in their body known as spiracles. When you spray Lysol directly on them, it suffocates ants and kills them. Besides spraying Lysol directly on ants, you can also spray it around entry points or near food sources, where ants are active.
Does Spraying Lysol on Ants Kill Them?
Yes, spraying Lysol on ants kills them, but it’s a temporary solution. This is because ants form ant colonies where thousands of ants live. Spraying Lysol undoubtedly kills the ants on which it is sprayed, but the ones hiding in their colonies remain untouched. Those hiding in the colonies invade your home by following the scent trails left behind by the dead ant (known as pheromones).
What Happens to the Other Ants After You Kill One?
When you kill one ant, the other ants in the colony start following the dead ant's scent trail and invade your home. So it’s best to explore options that provide a permanent solution.
Does Spraying Lysol Stop Ants From Coming Back?
Spraying Lysol can stop ants from coming back only when it is sprayed directly on the ants' trail visible to you and also on the colonies where thousands of other ants live. Once colonies are destroyed, all the ants are killed, and there’s barely any chance of them coming back to your home.
What Should You Do Instead of Spraying Lysol on Ants? Complete Analysis
Apart from using Lysol, there are many other alternatives to get rid of ants. Here are the detailed analysis of the options:
Ant Baits
It is one of the effective ways to get rid of ants permanently. Ant baits have a dual effect: one is that it kills the ants that consume baits and the other is that when some of the ants don’t die, they carry the residue back to their colonies, effectively killing the rest of the ants in the colony.
Borax Solution
Borax is a better alternative, but not the best due to some of the disadvantages. When borax is placed around the infested areas in piles, ants don’t walk over the pile; rather, they walk around it. Hence, the other way is to apply borax in a fine mist using a bottle, as it works effectively on ants. Though borax is a natural ingredient, it can cause harm to children or pets if ingested, so be careful when using it.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can also be used to deter ants from entering your home. However, there are distinct views on the use. Some say that it is a natural deterrent, while others say coffee grounds are not effective because ants go around the coffee grounds or even pick them and walk away.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a commonly found ingredient at home and is an effective method to kill ants. Prepare a mixture using apple cider vinegar and dish soap, pour in a spray bottle, and spray directly on the ants until they drown. This is because, until ants drown, they don’t die. Vinegar also acts as a repellant, but not effectively because ants find alternate ways to enter the house.
Cinnamon
The use of cinnamon too has different views. Just like other essential oils like tea tree oil, cinnamon oil is also known to deter ants. However, the problem is that you may have to use a large quantity of cinnamon oil in concentrated form to get rid of them permanently.
If You Already Sprayed Lysol on Ants, What Should You Do?
If you spray Lysol on ants, the first and foremost thing to do is to clean up the dead ants and the chemical used. This is because removing the dead ants clears the scent trail so that other ants don’t follow the trail and enter your home. The best way to wipe out the scent trail is to use a vinegar and water solution.
Final Takeaway
There are different views on the use of Lysol on ants to get rid of them. Lysol can surely kill ants, but only those on which Lysol is directly sprayed, leaving behind ants hiding in their colonies. The best way to permanently eradicate their existence in your home is to identify their source and destroy their colonies. There are other alternatives like vinegar, cinnamon oil, and coffee grounds, but they too have pros and cons. Hence, analyze the different aspects of each one of them and use it.
