Getting Rid of Ants

[momof1in150]

We have small black ants in our kitchen. This is our first Spring in this house so I don't know where they are coming from.

I have cleaned the counters with bleach and treated other surfaces with vinegar but they are coming back. Not a lot but 5-6 at a time.

We have a dog and 2 children with asthma so I want to find a way to get rid of them without chemicals. Any thoughts?

[Dingobiscuit]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

We have small black ants in our kitchen. This is our first Spring in this house so I don't know where they are coming from.

I have cleaned the counters with bleach and treated other surfaces with vinegar but they are coming back. Not a lot but 5-6 at a time.

We have a dog and 2 children with asthma so I want to find a way to get rid of them without chemicals. Any thoughts?

Place small amounts of the non-instant Cream-of-Wheat where you are seeing them. my mother-in-law told me that kills them and it worked for me several times in the past.

[marla]

These are the methods I have used in the past - it seems that it depends on the type of ants which works best, at least in my experience. One of these has always worked.

Cream of Wheat: Place a dish of Cream of Wheat (dry) where the ants can access it. What happens they eat it, the cereal expands and the ants will explode.

Sprinkle Comet or Ajax powder around the area the ants are invading. Also where the ants are coming up into the house and sprinkle it there.

Use red chili powder to make a paste using a little water and paste the area where the ants are coming in

[MonkeyMama]

We use ant traps. (Not sure actually what they care called - my spouse buys them). In theory they take little pieces of poison back to the colony and destroys them.

We've tried some of the more natural methods but they completely attacked our house in 2005 when we had a newborn - they were EVERYWHERE, and I lost it when I found them in the crib. Now when I see an ant invasion forming we put out a trap and they're gone within a few hours.

I keep one in my car because we get car infestations at work. Lovely, I know. But I can attest that they work really well.

You can always put it up out of reach of the children/pets. They don't smell.

[garilon]

Like the chilli powder idea - we also have a problem with ants - will try this but can you tell me what is cream of wheat (I'm not from the US) and do you know if you can order ant traps online? I haven't seen them in the shops here

[irmanator]

I have heard that if you mix molasses with yeast they are attracted to the molasses and the yeast expands inside them and kills them.

[bjl584]

I bought some ant traps at Lowes. They were in the clearance isle for 10 for $1. I placed them all around the house in closets and under sinks and cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. i also got some insect spray and went around the entire foundation of my house with it. I haven't seen ant or anything else since.

[momof1in150]

Thanks everyone. DH was leaving the sugar bowl on the counter and it was drawing them in. He now puts it in the refrigerator and now we have no more ants. Strange that they weren't in the sugar bowl, just on the surfaces around the bowl.

[ceejay74]

Originally Posted by garilon

...do you know if you can order ant traps online? I haven't seen them in the shops here

The only time I had an ant problem, Terro ant killer took care of it in a week or so. You put this goo on some feeders, the ants take it back to their lair, and it poisons all of them. But you have to let them get the stuff, so you can't kill them when they're at the feeder.

Looks like you can order their product online: Ant Problem? Terro = Ant Control Solutions
Says it's nontoxic and not harmful to people or pets.

[mom-from-missouri]

We use Toro.

Or, you could bring in a chicken. Our hens love ants!

[Exile]

About the Cream of Wheat solution, I hope that the reason it works is applicable to ants only. I just had Cream of Wheat for breakfast, and I'm starting to fill very full, so I'm afraid that

[kimiko]

We use chalk and baby powder to block their way. The chalk and powder stick to their feet and antenna so they can't find direction well, which means they give up after a while. Mint is also very good at repelling ants. Just crush a few mints leaves and stick them to where the ants are crawling in.

[alw_ays]

We used borax

[Beckiboo]

Originally Posted by ceejay74

The only time I had an ant problem, Terro ant killer took care of it in a week or so. You put this goo on some feeders, the ants take it back to their lair, and it poisons all of them. But you have to let them get the stuff, so you can't kill them when they're at the feeder.

I have successfully used Terro, also. I have heard that ants can't cross a chalk line, like Kimiko said. Also heard that coffee grounds repell them. But I usually use Terro inside, and a powder outside around the perimeter of the house.