When applied effectively, Windex can kill ants. This is because its chemical composition is lethal to ants since it can cause suffocation and dehydration. However, in most cases, Windex simply kills ants by drowning them.
That said, ants have an acute sense of smell and would not voluntarily go near a Windex spillage. Therefore, while Windex can technically kill ants, it cannot replace known insecticides.
Read Also: Can Lysol Kill Ants?
Important Note: This is general hypothetical information for entertainment purposes. Seek professional pest control advice for your circumstance. We do not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
What Is Windex Made Up Of?
Windex is a combination of water, ammonium solution, isopropanolamine, 2-hexoxyethenal, lauramine oxide, and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. A liquid sky-blue dye gives it its distinctive color, and a mild fragrance is added to make it more appealing.
Ammonium solution and isopropanolamine are the predominant contents of Windex. They are mildly corrosive to humans; however, they can be lethal to small insects such as ants.
How Does Windex Kill Ants?
1. Suffocation
An ant’s abdomen has tiny pores that they use for breathing. When you spray Windex on an ant, these poles will be sealed, making it unable to breathe, and it eventually dies.
2. Poisoning
Despite the concentration of ammonia in Windex being relatively low, it’s still very potent to ants. It paralyzes the ant in a matter of seconds as well as corrodes the exoskeleton. The ant is rendered immobile since the body systems shut down, and the ant dies from desiccation.
3. Drowning
Ants do not immediately die when exposed to liquids such as water. Due to their small body masses, ants are not able to penetrate the surface tension of water. They, therefore, float on the water surface.
However, Windex has a lower surface tension than water. This means that ants would easily drown in the chemical as compared to water.
How Effective Is Windex In Killing Ants?
Windex is not a convenient method of eliminating ant infestations in your home. While it might be readily available, you would need to use a lot of it to drown the ants. This can be costly and might not be effective at all.
Nonetheless, if you apply it directly to the colony, you might be successful. This way, you will be able to drown and poison a lot of them.
The downside is that ants can sense the chemical from a distance- setting them up would not work. This means that you would have to attack them when you see them- it is primarily a reactive method. Therefore, even if it works, it will not protect you from future ant infestations.
Lastly, Windex contains a lot of chemicals that are potential pollutants. Therefore, with the world being more environmentally ‘woke’ and moving towards eco-friendly products, Windex may not be the first option for many people.
Read Also: Can Ants Die from Falling?
How To Make Windex More Effective At Killing Ants
Using Windex solely to kill ants will not guarantee you any results. However, combining the glass cleaner with other compounds can make it more potent to ants. Some of them include:
1. Adding Vinegar
Vinegar is potent on its own due to its acidic nature. White vinegar has a pH of 2.5, and this burns through the exoskeleton of the ants. A mixture of the two corrosive agents will kill the ants, and the acrid smell of vinegar will repel off any ants in the area even after it has dried up.
2. Adding Pepper
Pepper is an irritant. Mix crushed peppers with Windex in a bowl, stir for uniformity and spray it where you have an ant infestation. The pepper on its own does not kill the ants however irritate them and deter them from returning.
The great thing about combining the two is that the Windex will kill some of the ants, and those that survive will have to seek shelter elsewhere. For best results, use cayenne or black pepper.
Remember to seek professional advice first.
Why Is Windex Not The Best Option?
Windex is not designed to be an insecticide; it is a surface cleaner. Although it can come in handy when facing an ant infestation, it does better cleaning than eliminating bug infestations.
It is important to note that ants have predators such as birds that depend on them as a source of food. Spraying ants with Windex may end up harming such species and disrupting ecology. Lastly, the ammonium hydroxide present in Windex corrodes wood and furniture.
Read Also: Does Baking Soda Kill Ants?
What Are The Best Alternatives To Windex?
Important Note: This is general hypothetical information for entertainment purposes. Seek professional pest control advice for your circumstance.
Aerosols and sprays are the most effective when dealing with ants. You can also use natural remedies such as pepper and diatomaceous earth. Some of the best products to use include:
1. Diatomaceous Earth
This is naturally occurring silica consisting of fossilized microscopic remains of aquatic organisms. It is not a poison in itself but kills ants by removing the waxy coating on the ant’s skeleton. Without the coating, the ant’s skeleton dries out, and it dies of dehydration as it cannot retain water. Hire professionals to use it.
2. TERRO Ant Killer Aerosol
This is a highly toxic chemical spray that can wipe out an entire colony of ants in a matter of seconds. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, preferably because of its long residual effect. It can be comfortably sprayed on ants that are up to 15 feet away. Hire professionals to use it.
3. Borax
Borax is an ingenious way of getting rid of an entire colony as the slow-acting poison interferes with ants’ digestive system. The worker ants get to feed their queen and the colony before they all die from starvation. Without a queen, the colony collapses, and the ant problem goes away. Hire professionals to use it.
A Fun Article: What is the spiritual meaning of ants in your house?
Conclusion
Windex can indeed kill ants. It contains chemicals that are lethal to ants. Furthermore, Windex has a low surface tension, and as such, drowns ants faster than other liquids.
However, Windex is not the best solution; other products are more effective, cheaper, and environmentally friendly.
Joe is a freelance writer for FaunaFacts. Joe has written extensively about snakes for the site, but also contributes content about a range of animals.