Yes, ants dislike Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) because its abrasive texture and desiccating (drying) properties can kill them, and it disrupts their scent trails, acting as a deterrent, though it's a temporary fix and not a foolproof solution for large infestations. People use it in dry lines or diluted sprays, but it can harm plants if overused, and professional pest control is better for serious issues.
Various salts, like baking soda, borax, and Epsom salt, work to eliminate unwanted insects. Measure out approximately 1 -1 ½ tablespoons of salt and mix with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture around points of entry to repel ants.
Ants hate strong, pungent smells that disrupt their scent trails and confuse their navigation, with some of the most effective being peppermint oil, vinegar, cinnamon, and citrus (lemon/orange). Other scents like tea tree oil, cedarwood, thyme, black pepper, and garlic also act as powerful deterrents, overwhelming their delicate olfactory senses.
But Epsom salt isn't just good for humans! It can also be used to repel rodents due to its acrid smell. Sprinkling Epsom salt onto your trash can lid or around areas where rodents are known to burrow creates a protective boundary that can keep them away.
Top 7 Household Products to Kill Ants
Baking Soda and Sugar
A mixture of baking soda and sugar is a natural way to kill ants. The sugar attracts the ants, while the baking soda reacts with their digestive system, ultimately killing them. Place the mixture in shallow dishes near ant trails and entry points.
You shouldn't squish ants indoors because it releases alarm pheromones that attract more ants to the spot, worsening the problem, and some ants release formic acid that smells like vinegar and can irritate skin. Crushing them doesn't eliminate the colony and can even disrupt their trails, causing them to spread out, so it's better to use baits or natural deterrents to handle the source, according to pest experts.
Epsom salt is another organic gardening method to use in lieu of a harmful pesticide. It can be used either on its own or in an Epsom salt spray you can make at home, much like the garlic spray. Either sprinkle the salt at the base of your vegetables or spray on the affected plants.
If you have a kidney condition, talk to your doctor first. You shouldn't drink an Epsom salt solution if you have belly pain, nausea, or vomiting. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using this treatment.
Even though Biel didn't specify the reason for the bath, epsom salt is known to ease stress, relax the body, help muscles and nerves function properly and eliminate toxins.
Chalk. A common home remedy for ants is to use a piece of chalk to draw a border around the common entry points for ants. It is thought that this works as ants won't cross the chalk line, wanting to preserve the scent trail.
How to safely and effectively get rid of house ants
#1 humans. Humans are the biggest threat to ants. Some communities in Southeast Asia and South America eat ants or their larvae. However, deforestation, pesticide use, urban expansion, and climate change pose significant threats to ant habitats, endangering many species.
Ants generally avoid crossing salt lines. The presence of salt can lead to dehydration and disrupt their communication through pheromones. When encountering a salt line, ants often hesitate, turn back, or seek alternate paths.
Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake. Spraying Epsom salt solutions on plant leaves can cause leaf scorch. Excess magnesium can increase mineral contamination in water that percolates through soil.
Borax and sugar
It eradicates ants within a week. Mix borax and sugar to create a gel and drop small pieces near the ant nest in the lawn and close to the ant trails. The worker ants will eat some of the mixtures as the sugar attracts them. They will also take the rest of it to the nest for the queen and other ants.
Epsom salt can cause side effects like stomach upset, dizziness, skin irritation or, in rare cases, serious symptoms like trouble breathing or irregular heartbeat. If you notice any of these, stop using it and see a doctor immediately.
Don't Mix Epsom Salts with Pure-Castile Soap. Don't mix Epsom salts with any true soap, including Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Magic Soap.
What Happens if You Don't Rinse Off After an Epsom Salt Bath? You might feel itchy or sticky afterward. Rinsing with clean, lukewarm water helps remove any leftover salt crystals and prevents dryness—particularly important if you have sensitive skin. You should always shower after an epsom salt bath.
Epsom salts will deter most any pests, including raccoons, mice, and squirrels among others.”
Epsom salt's high levels of magnesium act as a deterrent to mosquitoes. The sulfur in Epsom salt creates a barrier that mosquitoes find difficult to penetrate.
Carnivorous plants — Pitcher plants, venus flytraps, and sundews are some insect-eating plants that should not be applied with Epsom salts. Because they are adapted to grow in mineral-poor and depleted soil, supplementing fertilizers with even a tiny dosage could mean death to the bug-trapping ornamentals.
If you simply kill a few ants in your home, others from the nest will follow the pheromones left behind and pick up where their brethren left off. To cut off access, you need to remove any trace of the pheromone trail. One way to do this is to use a sponge dipped in hot soapy water and wipe away the ants in the trail.
The Scripture says in Proverbs 6:6, “Go to the ant, you lazy one; observe its ways and become wise.” It is not by mistake that God called us to study this insect.