OT: need help with killing ants!!

[mask_w03]

All of a sudden we have been taken over by ants in our kitchen and now in our laundry room. We are in an apartment so the two are next to one another. I haven't seen ants for a day or two in the kitchen since I sprayed and really cleaned, but this morning they were all over the dirty clothing that were in a hamper in the laundry room (mainly my DD's burp rag that had some food stains). What is the best way to kill ants? And I have no clue where they are coming in from since neither is by an outside wall, both are in the middle of the apartment by our door to our hallway of the apartment building which is enclosed.

Thanks for any tips,
Margaux

 

[bicker]

I like these:

Baits feature two separate sections, each with a different food source to attract ants during their different life cycles
Contains 4 bait stations that can be placed near ant trails or close to areas where ants are present
Bait food is carried back to the nest to kill the queen and destroy the colony

Excellent reviews on epinions.com. And I believe they're safe to use around pets.

 

[ebsbrg]

http://www.terro.com/

We always use Terro liquid ant bait. This is the only thing I've ever found that works. Within a few days, you will be ant free. You can find them at Home Depot, Lowes and I think even Walmart now.

 

[Savsmommy]

http://www.terro.com/

We always use Terro liquid ant bait. This is the only thing I've ever found that works. Within a few days, you will be ant free. You can find them at Home Depot, Lowes and I think even Walmart now.

This is what we use also and it works great.

 

[RumpleMom]

I recently read an article that the bait traps do work the best when compared to the spray.

I also place several whole bay leaves throughout my kitchen cabinets.

 

[stacy6552]

EWWWWW! While I am always up for a good ant massacre, myself (its a long and troubled history), one of the benefits of being in an apartment is that you can call in management to handle that problem.

 

[java]

Yes we have had the best luck with the bait traps- like the Raid ones(we actually just elilminated the annual July ants this past week. It takes about a week to really get rid of them but it does work. (Also a weird antism to note- they will not cross a chalk line so if you draw a line across the doorway they won't cross it)
Good luck and we are going to see Ant Bully to try to get a new perspective on these little pests.

 

[KristiKelly]

EWWWWW! While I am always up for a good ant massacre, myself (its a long and troubled history), one of the benefits of being in an apartment is that you can call in management to handle that problem.

This is what I would do as well. It's very possible the problem could be in another apartment and spreading to yours.

 

[GatorGal]

We use a saucer with Borax and sugar mixture (dry) that has worked wonders.

 

[aj11099]

......without using chemicals (kids/pets in the home) I have also heard the trick about the chalk line but also have done the same with pepper.......a line of pepper and they wont cross it. We had them coming up the drain in the dishwasher, imagine how GROSS that is it.....it worked after a few times of doing it. So might want to try that....GOOD LUCK!

 

[Lizzy2]

We use Grants for Ants and u can get them at Home Depot and they work inside or out. Just make sure you don't have little people or pets that will want to play with them. We think the ants are coming in because its so hot out. Good luck!

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Baking soda doesn't kill them, but like chalk and pepper it keeps them away. I know this because their world headquarters is in the crawl space under my house, and their annual meeting is the third week in March (predictible little critters, aren't they?) Chemicals are out for us because we have pets and (at the time) a toddler.

Anway, our pest control guy told us to put baking soda down the drains in the kitchen and in the bottom shelves of the pantry and the cabinets. It has done wonders. I have seen a couple here and there since then, but nowhere near the hundreds we would see daily.

To really and forever totally eliminate them, you need to get your neighbors involved. Otherwise they just move. And it is quite possible that you could end up with multiple colonies and multiple queens. On the same day, everyone needs to have their dwellings sprayed pretty much at the same time.

Since you're in an apartment, I would call maintenance and have them spray the entire building.

Another interesting ant note: They have an affinity for Clorox. I could bleach my entire kitchen, and they would have an ant-sized Mardi Gras on the kitchen floor in five minutes.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

http://www.terro.com/

We always use Terro liquid ant bait. This is the only thing I've ever found that works. Within a few days, you will be ant free. You can find them at Home Depot, Lowes and I think even Walmart now.

Another vote for Terro. We use it all the time. They also make traps and they are wonderful. I can even put them on the counter and they kill all the ants.

 

[8 Ears]

Another way to keep them at bay is vinegar , they hate it. I would just pour it on the counter and spread it around.
Good luck in getting rid of the little pests

 

[100 acre wood]

Lots of great hints here! Thanks, going to go pepper and vinegar my kitchen! Hopefully it will mean sia nora sweetharts to the little buggas!

 

[mask_w03]

Thanks we are trying the liquid traps since so many people have said that works and I got more spray to just spray the ones I see. Hoping they all go away soon!!

 

[100 acre wood]

I just wiped things down with the vinager and boy, they have gone into hiding somewhere! That was a good tip, kitchen doesn't smell too good right now, but at least the ants have retreated!