Help! I have ants in my house!

[mookie]

I'm looking on the internet for ways to solve my ant problem. We first discovered them last weekend in the garage. Then, a few days ago, they were in our main bathroom. Now, they are all on the first floor of our house!!

I have found a million different ways on the internet to get rid of them, but I'd like to hear opinions on what worked for you. My problem is that I have animals (2 dogs, a cat, and a 10 week old kitten), I'm pregnant, and I have a 3 year old, so I'd like to try to stay natural if I can. Of course, I'm also having a big party here on Sat, and now I'm worried that I'm going to scare all of my guests away.

Any help you could give would be great. Especially if it's something that can make them go away by Saturday!!

 

[Cthia]

I would suggest you call a company like Terminix and have them come and treat your house. We had an infestation of large ants here at work and they came and sprayed the area and we no longer have a problem. They come and treat the building every 3 months.

I also have them come every 3 months to my house preventative for ants, etc. I was also pregnant when they did this, and we have animals in my home.

It really isn't as expensive as people think, it costs me $90 every 3 months to have them come out and spray outside and inside if needed. If I have any problems before the next time they come I just call and they will come out.

I know things like Raid work for a bit but it really doesn't get rid of them for periods of time. You need to find their "home" and get rid of it.

Good Luck.

 

[Microcell]

I have that problem in the kitchen, so I use borax behind the fridge and stove so the animals and kids can't get it. I figured out it was coming from outside, gaps in the door, so I mixed borax with syrup and put it outside the door in a little bowl. The Exterminator might be safest. I found them to be cheap in the past, just not as cheap as borax!

 

[Cantw8]

Here ya go....no need to thank me

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

When killed, ants release a scent that will attract more ants to "bring them home". If you do kill them clean the area with soapy water right away. Wipe them up with a soapy rag.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I get them every Spring! Have tried everything. The things that works best for me are the Raid ant traps - the ones that cost the most, of course.

Little ugly black boxes you set about the floors.

My mother would set a Tablespoon of Smucker's Strawberry Preserves on the floor. All the ants would go to it, then she's clean it up and start over.

I just can't put gunk on the floor like dear old mom.

 

[always quiet]

Wipe everything that you can down with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Yes, it stinks but they won't walk on the surface again. This is great for counter tops, tables...things like this. Then get Ortho Home Defense. You can spray this both outside and inside your home. Spray along all door ways, window sills...wherever you see them getting in. This creates a barrier that they will not cross!! Kills them and also keeps all kind of creepy crawlies outside where they belong!

 

[mookie]

Here ya go....no need to thank me

Thanks for the advice, Cantw8. I guess it wouldn't hurt...my house is a big enough ZOO as it is!!!

 

[dizneegirl]

It won't get rid of them by Saturday, and won't get rid of the nest, but probably the safest way to take care of the ants is diatomaceous earth. It's all-natural, won't harm animals, birds or humans, but it's basically ground marine fossils... the tiny particles cut through the waxy coating on insect bodies, and they basically dehydrate.

There is even food-grade diatomaceous earth for use in de-worming humans & animals, and used in storing corn/grains, to keep insects from infesting the stores.

I've found it at Ace Hardware... you may also be able to buy it at a garden center. I just put some in a squeeze bottle (like you'd use for ketchup/mustard), and squeeze a line around doors, ant trails... you can use it indoors or out.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We had a terrible ant problem. We tried all the home solutions you could name. Finally we called an exterminator. Even that failed at first, but we called him back when teh ants reappeared. We haven't seen them since. BTW, whatever he sprayed seems to be kid and pet friendly

 

[Reflection]

I use an exterminator who makes quarterly visits to spray inside and outside my home.

With the recent onset of warm weather, the ants came creeping out of their nests, and I had to make a call to exterminator for back-up treatment,which helped some.

Less toxic treatments that have worked include:

Draw a chalk line in front of your door, window, and other points of entry. Ants will not cross over the chalk.

Leave sprigs of mint leaves in areas where you see a lot of activity. The ants don't like the smell of mint.

A couple of grains of sugar mixed with boric acid really works, but I no longer use this because I don't want the dog to get into the boric acid.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Are they big ants or small ants? I am going to assume that they are small since you have been on the internet. If they were carpenter ants you would need professional help. Carpenter ants will nest in your house.

Generally "sugar" ants nest outside your foundation. You need to spray the foundation of your house and the source, inside your garage. Remove any dog food, bird food...no food in the garage. If you have food in there, that could be why they are coming in.

Since you have animals and a small child I do not recommend boric acid. This is a dessicant. It works because the ant walks through it and when it cleans itself it ingests the acid and dries up the ant.

You could diatomaceous earth. But you would need alot and I don't think it is cheap. This works by "cutting" the insect. Basically it is like putting very sharp glass down for the ant. I have never used it so I cannot say how well it works.

 

[lucas]

Trust me on this one. We had those little small sweet eating ants all over the place - inside and out. We also had a Terminix contract. Then one day I found out from the Terminix guy that they used something called Terro. I mean, he would place a few drops of this clear liquid on outside window sills and on the outside walls of the house (away from kids and pets) and the ants would pour out from every where to eat this stuff. At first I could only find Terro in our small mom & pop hardware but now it is available other places, including Home Depot. I started using it myself when ever I saw ants. The ants love this stuff and you will see them trailing from where you put the Terro back to where ever the nest is. BUT - and you will be tempted - DO NOT spray the trails or kill the ants in any manner. LET THEM GO. They have to take the Terro back to the queen. That is the only way to get rid of the nest. When you go to buy Terro, do not accept any substitute or anything that looks like it. It has to be Terro. I told someone at work about it, and he could not believe how great it works. The outside of my brother's house was also INFESTED with these ants. I took over a couple of bottles, (it was a big job), and after treating the outside of his house, the ants are gone.

For inside the house:
When we have had ants inside, you are supposed to put the Terro on a little cardboard insert that comes with the package or on a piece of tin foil and leave it where you see the ants. But, I find it best to put the Terro directly on the window sill (away from kids and pets) or where ever you find them. And, then I just clean off the surface the next day.

Give this a try - you won't believe how great it works. Since then we did not renew our Terminix contract and have saved a lot of money.