How to Stop Ants from Getting Into Your Sugar Wash: Four Proven Solutions
If you’ve got a sugar wash bubbling away, you’re already halfway to a beautiful spirit. But there’s one annoying little problem: ants.
They can smell that sugary goodness from a mile away and will do everything they can to get a taste — climbing up the fermenter and sometimes even finding their way inside.
Luckily, there are some dead-easy ways to stop them in their tracks. Let’s go through four simple, effective solutions.
1. Use a Water Moat Barrier
The oldest trick in the book — and still one of the best — is a water moat.
Ants can’t swim, and they can’t cross water. So if you place your fermenter inside a larger shallow tray or bucket of water, the ants simply can’t get to it.
Think of it like a medieval castle surrounded by a moat.
How to do it:
- Find a tray, tub, or shallow bucket that’s a few centimetres wider than the fermenter base.
- Put a brick, stand, or small platform in the middle to keep your fermenter above water level.
- Fill the tray with a few centimetres of water.
(Adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid helps too — it kills surface tension so ants can’t float.)
So Popular it Sold Out, but now IT’S BACK! Global Express Clean & Fast Distillers Yeast
Pros:
- 100% chemical-free.
- Physical barrier — once it’s set up, you don’t have to worry about it.
Cons:
- You need to check the water occasionally to top it up.
2. Apply Food-Safe Petroleum Jelly
If you don’t want to muck around with water trays, another method is creating a slippery, sticky barrier.
Petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) is cheap, easy, and safe around fermenters.
How to do it:
- Smear a thick ring of petroleum jelly around the fermenter about halfway up or near the base.
- Make sure it’s continuous — no gaps.
Ants can’t get a grip on the jelly and either get stuck or turn back.
Pros:
- Super quick and easy.
- No special equipment needed.
Cons:
- Needs reapplying if it gets dusty or dries out.
- Can be messy if brushed against.
3. Set Up Strategic Ant Baits
You can also fight fire with fire — lure the ants somewhere else before they ever find your wash.
How to do it:
- Buy some liquid ant baits (the kind with borax works best).
- Place them a few metres away from the fermenter, preferably along ant trails or wall edges.
- The ants take the bait back to the nest, poisoning the whole colony.
Pros:
- Reduces the ant problem at the source.
- Very low maintenance once placed.
Cons:
- Takes a couple of days to start working.
- You still need a short-term barrier for immediate protection.
Get your order shipped FREE anywhere in Australia… even to Norfolk Island!
4. Draw a Chalk Circle Around It
Here’s an old-school trick that still works: chalk.
Ants hate crossing powdery substances like chalk because it messes up their scent trails and irritates their tiny feet.
How to do it:
- Grab some basic school chalk.
- Draw a thick, unbroken ring around the base of your fermenter.
- Make sure there are no gaps — if there’s a break, the little bastards will find it.
Pros:
- Dirt cheap.
- Totally non-toxic.
- Quick to set up.
Cons:
- Breaks down if it gets wet or dusty.
- Needs checking and redrawing every so often.
Bonus Tip: If you can find carpenter’s chalk or powdered calcium carbonate, it works even better and lasts longer outdoors.
Best Ever Quality Selection of Spirit Essences, Liqueur Essence Flavours, Yeast, Oak Chips and MORE!
Final Thoughts
No matter which method you choose, always double-check your fermenter lid and airlock.
Tight seals stop a lot of problems before they start.
Ants are sneaky little mongrels — but a bit of smart thinking keeps them exactly where they belong: outside your wash.
Until next time… Happy Distilling!
Cheers
Questions about Spirit Essences or Home Distilling?
Phone John direct NOW – 0414 955 743
Visit Our Spirit Essences Facebook Page
Global Flavours’ HOME DISTILLERS CLUB Facebook Group
