ants in kitchen problem

[Darster]

Anyone ever battle ants in their house before?

These ants keep coming into the kitchen (from seemingly different locations) and I have to keep cleaning out cabinets and spraying Raid ant spray....sometimes I use Windex because it seems less toxic.

Does anyone have any solutions that aren't so toxic? I was thinking about calling an exterminator because this problem just seems to be getting worse...but since I'm in my first trimester of pregnancy, I think it's probably better not to have the house sprayed.

These are just plain old picnic variety black ants, and some are small and some are larger (that seems strange to me, almost like 2 different types of ants in cahoots?!?)

Any help anyone can give is appreciated.

[cashhound]

We have had good success using the Combat ant baits. I put them in windowsills and corners of cabinets. It takes a couple of days to notice a difference, but they DO work.

Good luck. Ants are so aggravating!


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[Darster]

Thank you! I never thought of those! I'm going, duhhh! why didn't I think of that?!? Thank you!!!

ps beautiful great dane!!!

[AndersonGal]

ANTS
Vinegar to get rid of tiny ants.

"One clove of garlic, one onion, one tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a quart of water. Steep for one hour, add a tablespoon of liquid soap and spray it around the house" for ant and roach control.

Mixing baking soda with powdered sugar and applying to infested areas.

Wash kitchen surfaces with vinegar solution and sprinkling bone meal, chili powder and powdered charcoal in and around suspected points of entry.

Pour a line of any of the following where the ants are entering the building: cinnamon, cream of tartar, red chili pepper, salt, dried mint or sage, or cucumber peelings.

Apply perfume to the entry point.

Mix a tablespoon of sugar and a tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water. Soak cotton balls in mixture and place on low lids.

Band sticky, adhesive materials around base of plants and trees to deter ants, which can carry and colonize aphids.
Border gardens with bone meal.

Mix 2 tablespoons boric acid, 2 tablespoons sugar and a cup of water. Soak paper towels, place on dishes, and set out for ants.
Mix 4 ounces of mint jelly with 2 tablespoons of powdered boric acid. Cut small squares of making tape and dab mixture on tape. Stick on floors behind cabinets and appliances.

Pour boiling water over the nest

Pour a line of cream of tartar or chili powder where ants enter house and they will not cross it.

For fire ants, sprinkle a teaspoon of instant grits on each mound.
Mixture of 10 1/2 ounces of water, 3 ounces of Tabasco sauce, 2 1/2 ounces of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap liquid (available at health food stores). Spray where ants enter the home.

Combine: 1 part active yeast 2 parts molasses 1 part sugar Mix the ingredients well. Drop a teaspoonful on several small squares of white paper. Place the paper squares along ant trails where they will not be disturbed. How does it work? The ants are attracted to the sugary feast and will consume it readily. The action of the yeast, however, will produce gas their bellies which they cannot rid themselves of. They essentially will pop. The best part of this method of pest control is that it utilizes no chemicals which could harm you or your family.

3 parts Apple Jelly 1 part boric acid crystals Mix ingredients thoroughly. Cut standard soda straws into 2 - 3 inch pieces. Fill a 5 - 10 ml disposable syringe (without needle) with mixture. Use this to fill soda straw pieces. Place in areas that ants have been observed. Keep out of reach of children and animals.


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[sblme28]

Be careful. The really big ones could be carpenter ants...you don't want them burrowing through your wood making it weak...try and get rid of them...

[3tbear]

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Hope this web-site helps. There are tons of remedies. We had them in our bathroom a couple months ago, my DH had to spray the pipes in the basement, and that's the only way we got rid of them, the ant traps didn't work for us. Good luck. I know how annoying they can be.