Univited ANTS....help

[momxx5]

We have been sharing the kitchen with ANTS for more than a month.

Does anyone have an inexpensive way to get rid of them???

I have tried to follow them, to find the source or at least where they are coming in.

Right now I have a black pepper border around the sink area and it seems to be detering them for now.

If it would rain hard/long enough, or have a good cold snap, or something.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!!!

 

[Sarahlovy]

Terro. It is only a few bucks for a bottle, and it works wonder. It is dangerous for pets and kids, but a few spots of it where you see them will get rid of the ants in a few days.

 

[jwfla422]

Terro. It is only a few bucks for a bottle, and it works wonder. It is dangerous for pets and kids, but a few spots of it where you see them will get rid of the ants in a few days.

I agree if they are ghost ants or sugar ants, Terro is the best product to use, you place a drop on a small pieces of index cards (1" x 1" size) and scatter them around the back splash area by your sink. Once they come in and have their party as they will come in more but once they eat it and take it back to the nest, they usually start to tapper off (within a day or 2). IF there is a window near your sink try scattering drops on the outside window sill first as they may go after it outside if they're coming in from that area.

If that doesn't work you may need to call an exterminator to use a powder substance in the wall. We had a real problem with them last summer and even the terro didn't work (and it usually does). Terminix was out 3x and they kept coming back, finally he poked some small holes in the wall under the window sill and filled them with powder FINALLY gone in a few days. This is the time of the year they thrive. Good luck.

 

[Poohforyou]

Terro is a great product and usually the problem is gone within a few days. Another option is a mixture of equal parts Borax and confectioners sugar. The trick is to use something that will be brought back to the nest.

 

[pooh'smate]

Another Terro fan here. It is the best stuff I have ever found to get rid of ants.

 

[shelly3girls]

When we have an indoor ant problem we put the Terro outdoor bates in the grass on the opposite side of the wall of the room we have the problem (a couple of feet away from the outside of the house). It works wonders and there is very little risk. They are a stake you put into the ground with a cap on top. It stops the ant indoors within a day. We always know when we need to change them b/c the ants come back. I think we replace them maybe once a month. We found them to work much faster and longer than the indoor bates.

 

[Lees3rwe]

We use the outdoor Raid spikes where we see ants outside.
I also read on here about using grits. We poured them on an anthill near our porch and haven't seen one since! Baby powder is also a good deterrant and pretty safe.

 

[jwfla422]

Terro is a great product and usually the problem is gone within a few days. Another option is a mixture of equal parts Borax and confectioners sugar. The trick is to use something that will be brought back to the nest.

LOL, I bet that's what the Terminix guys use, the mixture of Borax and conf. sugar. I know that Borax helps but there's another ingredient which may be the sugar and I'm paying the Terminix guys the big bucks......but we have so many pests down here in South FL you have to do some type of pest control. But I will try that mixture next time the terro doesn't work.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I've had luck with Borax mixed with jam. The trick is getting the right ratio... enough borax to kill the ants, but not too much or else they won't take it.

I also like the Terro ant bait traps... they're great if you have pets, because they're covered and hard to get into. I would use the pre-made Terro traps in low areas, and an old jar lid filled with borax and jam on the kitchen counter... the ants would be gone within 24 hours.

 

[SandrA9810]

If you can see the exact entrance they're coming in and out of, rub a circle of vaseline around the hole. I have yet to see an ant cross that boundary.

And don't wish for rain either, that'll just bring them into your home in droves. It's quite possible what brought them in in the first place. I lived in one apartment complex that constantly over watered the grass. One time I tried to step through the grass and my shoe got stuck in the mud. We had the biggest problem of bugs in that complex. On top of that, all our neighbors had the same issue. Except they'd treat only one apartment every so often, so they'd just scatter over to the next place until it was safe to spread back out.

The ants are either after water, sweet, or grease (surprisingly enough). So don't leave a grease canister on the counter, toss it in the fridge. Make sure all your pantry items are in a seal tight container.

 

[hsmamato2]

in the northeast we don't have the ant problems you do, but when they start swarming out of a hole,like on my porch last week,I sprinkle ground red(hot) pepper around the entrance, they disappear within minutes,sprinkling cinnamon works too...or I get desperate,I spray white vinegar at the entrance

 

[2kids2dogs]

Another Terro fan here. It is inexpensive and is all we have used over the years!

 

[fakereadhed]

Terro is a great product and usually the problem is gone within a few days. Another option is a mixture of equal parts Borax and confectioners sugar. The trick is to use something that will be brought back to the nest.

The active ingredient in Terro is Borax.

 

[dis-happy]

Raid Ant Traps always worked for me. I even stuck one on a nest in the dirt outside my front porch once and they all disappeared forever. In the house I place them in the line of ants or at the point of entry if possible. It's nice when the just disappear and you don't have to clean up dead ants (yech).

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you don't want to go the chemical route, use bay leaves. I get them in a huge container at sams or bjs. I crush them in my hand and sprinkle them outside by the doors, and the garage doors

 

[Green Tea]

Terro. Only stuff that actually works.

 

[momxx5]

Thank you THank you!!!!

I remember my mom used to use bay leavers.

Right now I have a ground black pepper as a barrier and it was working but the ants got smart and found a way around it.

I do get obsessed with them and TRY to track them to where they enter the house, so far I have not been able to find point of entry.

Terro sounds exactly what I need.
Thanks again!!!

 

[dizkids]

all good to know

 

[Leajess99]

I agree with the Terro recommendation. I bought the Terro traps for $5.99 for 9 of them at Target and they worked great. It was cool watching the line of ants in the morning and then it got smaller and then no more ants.

 

[englishteacha]

I discovered today that ants don't like cinnamon. I woke to find ants swarming on my kitchen counter after a cupcake we forgot to put away last night (won't forget to do that again!). After some quick Googling (after much ant smooshing) I found to wipe down the surfaces with white vinegar (it washes away what they're attracted to), and to put cinnamon out as a deterrent. The few I could see RAN from the cinnamon! We also have had good luck with the ant baits you get at the store. I think they're Raid brand? I got some this morning to make sure the ants are gone forever. There are a million places in this old house where they could come in, and I've got ant baits near many, and cinnamon on little paper plates in every cupboard and on every counter, just in case!