[kimmer02]

I have been getting ants in my kitchen for about a week or so, I want them gone but don't want to use anything toxic to my kids. I have been using vinegar and that has helped some, but I want them gone! Any tips or ideas? I'm open to them all!!

[vhermetz]

Unfortunately, you will have to buy the granule ant killer (can't remember name) and put it around the perimeter of your house(OUTSIDE). It is a poison, so you'll have to keep an eye on the kids. This should take care of it. Buy it at Lowe's or other hardward stores. I've learned from experience that the granules are the only thing that seems to work. HTH

[LaLax2]

my landlady told me she uses habanero peppers boil them then put them in a blender strain put the liquid in a spray bottle and spray away just remember to use gloves

[superk]

I use borax (laundry detergent). I sprinkle it around the outside of my house and then have placed it on my counter. They digest it and die from it.

[shadyskipper]

There's a product called Terro that works really well indoors--used a couple times and it really worked for me.

[Jadedmonkey]

hedge apples placed around the outside of your house will work also, keeps out spiders too!!!!

[danielephant]

i just read that tea tree oil is supposed to keep them away...and it would be free next week at rite aid...it is 10 bucks and if you buy 2 bottles they are bogo and you can print the $5 off coupons by entering the codes that are all over the internet at natures bounty.com

dont know if it works but they said it is very harmful to cats if you have it...that is all i know...just looked up ways to use it

[kimmer02]

Thanks for the ideas! Now to try them!!

[Katlady]

Originally Posted by shadyskipper

There's a product called Terro that works really well indoors--used a couple times and it really worked for me.

That's what we use-Works great.

[shellie_wnj]

also - to keep them from coming back - make sure all open packages of food are ziplocked or tupperwared - i had an exterminator tell me that this time of year ants are just as interested in cereal as they are in candy.

[Kayline]

Small dishes of peppermint oil or ground cinnamon placed either where you see the ants or at their point of entry (if you can determine it) work wonders.

[kiasu]

Originally Posted by shadyskipper

There's a product called Terro that works really well indoors--used a couple times and it really worked for me.

Yes, I use that too and they really work. Got rid of all the ants. They are small see thru plastic "boxes" with a syrupy in it that the ants go in to eat or bring to their nest. I leave them where I see the ants. You'll see an increase in activity at first when they find it, then they'll disappear for good.

[Juligan]

Originally Posted by kiasu

Yes, I use that too and they really work. Got rid of all the ants. They are small see thru plastic "boxes" with a syrupy in it that the ants go in to eat or bring to their nest. I leave them where I see the ants. You'll see an increase in activity at first when they find it, then they'll disappear for good.

Best stuff on the market.

[naomiscreations]

When I taught pre-k, I would sprinkle instant grits around the areas where we saw them. It works!

[itsmeagain]

I found terro works great indoors, it is very hard to just sit back while the activity increases and not want to get them. You have to but it in their path. The instant grits work well for fire ants outside.

[timmsa]

Originally Posted by shellie_wnj

also - to keep them from coming back - make sure all open packages of food are ziplocked or tupperwared - i had an exterminator tell me that this time of year ants are just as interested in cereal as they are in candy.

Yes this is true but is also the time of year that ants are looking for any standing water around the house. What I mean by this is, if you wash the dishes and there is water left at the bottom of your sink then they will be after that.
All these things will keep them away for a while but it is not a permanent solution.

I talked to my hubby who is a pest control tech and he deals with these types of issues everyday. He told me that Terro does work. But it will not keep them away forever.

[dnabrewer3]

Terro is a great thing to use, but I recently read that cornmeal works, ants carry back to home and share, but they cannot digest it so.....RIP HTH

[Juligan]

Originally Posted by dnabrewer3

Terro is a great thing to use, but I recently read that cornmeal works, ants carry back to home and share, but they cannot digest it so.....RIP HTH

I read that too, and tried it outside, but all that happended is the corn meal disappeared. Ants? Yup, still gott'em (outside).

[danielephant]

...well guess i am not trying cornmeal...maybe the birds ate it...but i am going to look into the terro though...cause we have big fat black ants...ICK!

[Sullygirl]

I have to get on the Terro bandwagon. We get ants every year and within a few days of putting the terro out, they are mostly gone.

I have tried in the past using cinnamon, grits, peppermint oil and nothing worked as well as Terro. Terro is made from Borax, so if you have that around the house you could make it yourself.

Good luck!

[lms28023]

Have you tried the ant bait like Combat? Just be sure to put them wherer the kids and pets can't reach them. I had ants in my bathroom one time and left one in the tub before I went to work. When I got home, they were dead in the tub! Well, at least I got rid of them.

[Juligan]

Originally Posted by danielephant

...well guess i am not trying cornmeal...maybe the birds ate it...but i am going to look into the terro though...cause we have big fat black ants...ICK!

Big fat black ants sound like carpenter ants, I would check Terro's website to see if it works on carpenter ants. We have those too and those suckers bite if you get in their way. One got me between the toes while I was sitting on the couch watching tv.

[itsmeagain]

I tried borax on the fire ants outside just for the heck of it, It did not work. I'm not suprised though. I did discover a new nest and the only thing I had was wasp spray and that worked, not right away but the nest was gone next day, go figure!

[timmsa]

Terro doesn't work for carpenter ants, I just asked my hubby and he says that nothing over the counter will work. With these types of ants they are not looking for food they are looking for wood. These ants will eat the wood in your homes.

He says the only way to get rid of them is to call a pest control service. ( not trying to plug pest control service), just trying to give some advise.

[love+shop]

I called a pest control service to deal with ants and bugs in my home... I'm a huge bug-a-phob... insects just freak me out. Anyway, they come and spray inside and out, with non-toxic stuff. Sometimes I will see ants in between sprayings (during the late summer months) and they will come out and re-spray for free. They even came and took care of my wasp problem for free (thank goodness!!!!). My service is $70 every two months. If that's in your budget, I would highly recommend it.