topic Re: Ants in Community Chat

Ants

hovis — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:38:48 GMT

I have the little ants that are looking for food. I have cleared everything and I keep on spraying. I don't want to pay an exterminator to do a job that I can do. Any suggestions ? Thanks.

Re: Ants

Big Joanie — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:44:28 GMT

Yup .. its that time of year ....

Re: Ants

PinkyPetunia — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:48:27 GMT

I get the ants in spring but it's snowing here now. I handle it myself. Clean all surfaces in the kitchen, keep it spotless. I spray outdoors at ground level and around doors and windows. I put ant traps in cabinets in the kitchen.

Re: Ants

Meowingkitty — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:08:06 GMT

Grits. Put some grits down where they are and they take it back to the nest. Supposedly when they eat it they blow up and explode and die. I heard this doesn’t work on fire ants but it’s worked for us with just regular ants. Also you could try 1 part Borax to 3 parts cheap syrup or sugar
If using sugar, add enough water to make a syrup like consistency
For instance, I could make up a small batch with 1 teaspoon Borax, 3 teaspoons sugar, and enough water to make it like syrup. Or I could make up a large batch with 1/3 cup borax and 1 cup corn syrup and keep it in a sealed jar to use as needed. Place the ant bait on a flat or shallow surface, such as a piece of cardboard, a used canning lid or a lid from sour cream container. You want to make it easy for the ants to get access.

Re: Ants

summerwind — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:11:27 GMT

DIatomaceous Earth at the entry points (door, window sill). Food grade if you have pets that could get into it. I keep some in one of those plastic ketchup bottles that squirt, from a dollar store. Also good if your pet is exposed to fleas. Amazon or garden store.

Re: Ants

Carmie — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:14:47 GMT

I get them every spring. I hate them.

These work fast and they are effective. They work by killing the whole colony. Do not place them where pets can get to them.

Re: Ants

dragonflyveb — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:27:58 GMT

I second the Terro Bait. It takes a couple days, but it gets rid of them!

Re: Ants

ValuSkr — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:35:21 GMT

The liquid ant traps always work for me. Usually, my problem is ants coming into the house under the kitchen sink. I put a few of the traps under the sink and the ants completely disappear in a few days. I wish it was quicker but it takes a few days because they take the bait back to the colony where it kills them all.

Re: Ants

MorningLover — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:56:56 GMT

I've used Terro with great results.

Borax also works the same way ....

Mix 1/2 C sugar, 1 1/2 Tbs Borax, and 1.5 C warm

water.

Soak cotton balls in the mixture, and put them on

ant trails or areas where the ants are coming in.

The sugar attracts the ants, and they’ll take the Borax

with it back to their home.

Re: Ants

wagirl — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:26:18 GMT

Sorry but I vote to pay someone to get rid of them---all those things that were mentioned to try--didn't work at all for me. Too much hassel and we have been ant free for 5 years. Worth every penny I pay!!!

Re: Ants

excpa — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:38:45 GMT

Bay leaves. Non-toxic. Just toss them around on the floor, in cabinets, on shelves.

Re: Ants

Ainhisg — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:14:59 GMT

You can do your own extermination very quickly and easily and for much less cost than hiring an exterminator...and with better results. I wish I could post links, but anyway... You can go to domyown .com or doityourselfpestcontrol. com to order these products. You will get them in about 3 days time--maybe sooner depending on where you live, and there is free ship no matter how much or little you order. They are child/pet safe after they have dried. You will need a gallon sprayer that you can pick up at Lowe's, Wal-Mart, etc. for the ouside product.

For outside control: Taurus SC

For inside control: Phantom II

Both products are non-detectable to ants so they walk over it and take it back to their nests killing all the ants within days. One application will last several months, so it is economical, as well. In addition, both products will kill other pests. You can read about the products along with reviews on the websites.

If you want more information or "how to" instructions, let me know.

Re: Ants

summerwind — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:30:46 GMT

@Ainhisg, that's another good suggestion. With so many of us having pets with auto-immune problems, anything safe for them is always good.

I keep bay leaves in my cabinets, too, and even in the drawers in my closet and under my bed. Hate bugs, but hate chemicals more.

On the other hand, saw my first ant yesterday, just before company, will keep those traps in mind, for sure. Just in case.

Re: Ants

smb3 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:36:03 GMT

Yep, have them already and its still cold and snowy here. I will try some of these suggestions!

Re: Ants

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:53:25 GMT

I have this every year....on my countertops, I use a bleach/water solution on my countertops, which I keep very clean, it's so irritating!

This year I have them on my carpet in the family room.

I used TERRO (spelling). You put several drops on a piece of cardstock (I hide so the dog cannot get to it) it has almost eliminated the problem.

Re: Ants

chiclets — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 17:47:25 GMT

Besides spraying and traps, and using peppermint scent, and air tight containers for food, there is a habit I follow, I keep my sugar bowl used for tea and coffee in the refrigerator and not in the cabinet.

Re: Ants

Bri36 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 17:50:53 GMT

I use those little plastic bait traps. Takes care of them in a day

Re: Ants

RedTop — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:20:13 GMT

We have monthly service from our exterminator; concentrating mainly on our garage, basement, and exterior. I do not have the main rooms of our house treated.

Last spring we had issues with the tiny tiny ants in our kitchen. The exterminator gave us a syringe of Advion ant gel, and I will tell you this stuff is The Bomb!

I walked in to find hundreds of tiny ants crawling aimlessly on my kitchen floor. I put a small pea size blob of the ant gel on a piece of paper towel in the corner where I saw several ants, and the magic began. Literally within seconds, the ants made a beeline for the gel, and died right there. In less than 5 minutes all of the ants were piled up dead on the gel- - -no ants were still crawling around the kitchen floor. I have never seen a product work so fast! We used this product again on ants in the garage, and around the brick on our front steps.

Re: Ants

SeaMaiden — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:28:40 GMT

@PinkyPetuniawrote:
I get the ants in spring but it's snowing here now. I handle it myself. Clean all surfaces in the kitchen, keep it spotless. I spray outdoors at ground level and around doors and windows. I put ant traps in cabinets in the kitchen.

Yes....I just use the ant traps in my kitchen closets...in the back of them....out of sight. Never see ants any more since doing this. Big lots has great prices on thing like this.

Re: Ants

brewhaha — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:57:29 GMT

Mix orange oil with water and spray the entry points and perimeters. Orange oil is what exterminators use.

Another way is place oatmeal where you see ants. They will eat it and when they drink water the oats will expand and they will burst to death.