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In the spring of 2021, I needed to clean out a plastic Nutella jar so I might recycle it. I discover it very tough to scrub remnants of Nutella, peanut butter, or honey out of plastic or glass jars. And I’d reasonably not wash these remnants down the drain as a result of fat, oil, and grease are dangerous for the plumbing and septic system. Then I heard a tip on easy methods to make a selfmade ant poison, and it gave me an thought about how I might let nature clear meals residue out of my recyclables.
The tip was to combine Borax with peanut butter and put it right into a plastic container with a number of holes punched in it so the ants get in. This known as a protein-source poison. Honey is nice for making what known as a sugar-source poison for ants. Of course, I didn’t need to poison something; I wished to see if the ants would clear residue from meals containers.
First Test: Nutella Jar in My Backyard Woods
I made a decision to check the thought and depart the Nutella jar outdoors the place the ants might discover it and, hopefully, clear it out for me. For my functions, I didn’t must punch any holes; I might simply depart the lid off the jar. Also, I didn’t need to invite the ants inside, so I put the jar within the woods within the yard, away from the home.
Within 24 hours, the jar had attracted a boatload of ants, and I anticipated to discover a good clear jar in just a few extra days.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought-about the assorted small animals that roam by way of our yard — canine, cats, and foxes to call just a few. Nutella accommodates chocolate, which isn’t good for canine and I seen each a canine and a fox close to the jar shortly earlier than the jar disappeared. I’m assuming a fox took it someplace it felt protected. (I hope it wasn’t a canine.) Since I haven’t heard of a neighbor’s canine getting sick, I figured that it wasn’t a canine. But I additionally don’t need a fox or different animal getting sick or taking the jar.
Second Test: a Bit Closer to the House
So, for the following experiment, I left the jar just a few toes from the home beneath some bushes. I hoped it was close to sufficient {that a} fox, maybe, wouldn’t need to come that shut, but in addition far sufficient away that the ants wouldn’t be drawn into the home.
And it labored. The jar remained there for the week or so it took for the ants to scrub it out, so I assume was an excellent location. An even higher place is perhaps close to our mailbox since a nest of ants appears to need to make a house contained in the field.
The Ants Clean Clean Out the Food Residue
Recently, we emptied a butter tub. I brushed some bread crumbs into it and left it on the identical location beneath the bushes. This is what it regarded like earlier than I put it outdoors:
After two days, the ants had nearly cleaned out the bathtub:
I’ve been doing this all spring and summer time with any meals container I assumed the ants might clear for us. I count on that winter shall be difficult; I may have to carry on to these kinds of recyclables till spring in order that nature can clear them.
Honey Jar Tip
While I might do the identical factor to scrub out a honey jar, I received a greater thought. Since I like scorching tea with honey when I’ve a sore throat, I do know that honey is water-soluble. So, why waste the honey left within the jar? Why not combine in some scorching water and switch the honey into honey-water? I simply save the honey water within the fridge for once I’ll want it within the winter.
About the Author
Phil Karras is a retired physics skilled who labored his method by way of school and grad college repairing electronics. Author of quite a few electronics and ham radio articles, he maintains a TV antenna and electronics blog and a ham radio website.
