Asked on Aug 28, 2017

My kitchen is infested w/grease-eating ants (NOT sugar ants).

Mos24849497
by Mos24849497
Anyone have a DIY recipe for killing them? Most commercial products seem to target sugar-eating ants & it doesn't kill these off. They are particularly attracted to my cats' expensive IAMS cat food & a pricey brand & pricey granola like cereal but not interested in candy or other sweets. Thanks.

  10 answers
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Aug 28, 2017

    Bay leaves !

    seems ants don't like the smell.

    I put them where they seem to be coming in the house.

    I don't have a problem anymore.

  • Olive Greenz Olive Greenz on Aug 28, 2017

    I had an exterminator who made very small holes in my kitchen walls and pumped something in them. Then just covered the holes with spackle or something. Ants never came back. My spraying things never seem to keep them away.

    • Mos24849497 Mos24849497 on Aug 28, 2017

      If these other suggestions don't do it, I'll have to try the exterminator. Hope not, tho.

  • Mary Mary on Aug 28, 2017

    I had the same problem years ago and used peanut butter mixed with borax. The icky thing is you have to mix it up and let the ants feast on it for a couple of days. They take the PB/borax mix back to their nest and share it, so it destroys them from the inside out.


    Here's a good resource that has "recipes" for both types of ants:

    https://dengarden.com/pest-control/Homemade-Ant-Killer


    Good luck! Nothing makes me feel itchier than remembering having to LET the ants hang around while I waited for them to die!

    • Mos24849497 Mos24849497 on Aug 28, 2017

      I think I'll try this since I have lots of both peanut butter & borax in the house. The above recipes both sound possible but the 1st one is easier! Thanks.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 28, 2017

    .Are you sure they are ants and not Cereal Mites?

    • Mos24849497 Mos24849497 on Aug 28, 2017

      Definitely grease ants. They haven't bothered all the many boxes of cold cereal w/exception of the hi-oil granola.

  • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Aug 28, 2017

    Grease Ant Bait Recipe

    Mix 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 2 tablespoons of honey, and about ½ teaspoon of boric acid powder. Protein-loving ants respond best to a bait made of both protein and sugar.


    Place your ant bait in an area where you see ants the most. You want the bait to be somewhere along their regular travel path. Use masking tape to secure a square of waxed paper or cardboard, and place the ant bait mixture on it. If you chose a good location and prepared the right kind of bait, you'll probably find ants swarming around the bait within a few hours. If you don't, try moving the bait to a different location.

    You will need to replace the bait regularly with a fresh batch, as the ants won't be interested in jelly or peanut butter once it dries up. Continue putting out bait until you no longer see ants.


    If you prefer a more commercial chemical control, most available ant baits (like Terro or Combat) must be mixed with a grease or oil to make them attractive to grease ants. Any grease or oil that can be mixed with the bait should be effective. I suggest vegetable oil, peanut butter or a raw pie dough mixture of shortening and flour.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Aug 28, 2017

    Diatomaceous earth is non toxic and if you place it in all the entries where they might come in it will kill them. It can be dusty, and the dust isn't good for your lungs as it will irritate them, so apply it in such a way as to not have it coming back in your face. It works on ALL ants. I apply a line of it along all outside walls, and then sweep it into the cracks. A dust mask is easy to wear. Once it is in any possible point of entry, I clean up any remaining residue with a damp cloth. I haven't used any poison since I bought a bag of it, and applied it every crack or crevice inside my house where they might come in. If the area gets wet, you may have to reapply it. It works for fleas, too. I've bought it on Amazon, and a good sized bag isn't very much.

  • Mos24849497 Mos24849497 on Aug 28, 2017

    Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll try the peanut butter/borax 1st & see what happens.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 28, 2017

    Well I'm pleased for you , in that regard. Good luck!