Ant problem in townhomes?
Question:We have little ants. Sometimes they are just here and there and other times we come home and there's an army going from kitchen around baseboard in dining room all the way into living room and then going into an area between the baseboard and carpet. Our next door neighbors have them too. Is there REALLY any way to get rid of them if one house has a professional come spray/treat but other houses don't? Dont' they just go from the home sprayed/treated into one that wasn't--therefore still around to return to the sprayed/treated home once the effect wears off?? Is there really any way for me to treat and not keep getting them from my neighbors?
Answers:
They are attracted to something in your house. There is a source like sugar or something in the cupboards. I have a simular problem and I found this works other than harsh chemicals which didnt work at all.
1. Follow them to the source and thoroughly clean the area with a mild bleach and soap mixture.
2. Completely wash the trail they use with same mixture. If carpet you can use a vinegar and water concoction.
3. Lay a thin layer of Quaker Instant Grits onto the trail or at source of the ants desire.
The ants will take the grits back to the nest, ingest it... the grits then react with the stomach juice and expand enormously killing the ant.. it not only kills the workers but anyone they feed it too... do this for a week or 2 you wont have the ants again, unless your neighbor keeps attracting them.
They hate cinnamon - I just tried it the other day and the ants in my conservatory have disappeared. However it won't kill them, it will just move them on. Other than that you're going to have to kill them with sprays, powders etc.
We get them too! They are horrible aren't they? Every year it starts with just one ant roaming around the kitchen and then you get up one morning to find thousands on the worktop. We just put down ant powder all around the inside and outside of the house, is your kitchen on an outside wall? Ours is by the back door which is how they get in. I don't think there is any way of possibly getting rid of all of them long term as any nest could contain up to 20,000 ants. It would just be wasting your money. Continue spraying and putting powder down regularly.
I use ortho home defence, I spray once a month around the perimeter of my house, inside and out.
I don't have a problem with them, But I did notice my neighbour does.
Terro is the best thing I've ever used. They carry it back with them and then die. You can buy a bottle at WalMart. You put a small amount on a piece of cardboard (included) and set it out where the ants travel. They take it back and others eat it. soon the ants are gone for good.
To kill roaches/ants - Lay out bread crumbs/honey and mix with boric acid or borax (be careful b/c this stuff is poisonous) and aspartame; leave it on the trail _ THIS IS A TRAP!
- Also, mix honey with cornmeal and leave it on the ant trail. The ants take it back to their colony, eat it, and the cornmeal expands inside of the ants and kills them. (You can possibly try it with the roaches)
Ants: Leave dried cucumber slices in cabinets and on counters; Soapy water in spray bottle will kill them on the spot; Leave mint tea, baby powder, cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon and coffee grounds in cracks and areas will the ants are. (these are deterrents)
- It also helps to wash down tables and cabinets with a mix of vinegar and water or water and bleach.
(New Edition) Terro Ant Killer- this thing does miracles; gets rid of the colony in a few days, and is a very good bargain. Find it at Wal-Mart, hardware stores, and Walgreens
We have these. I just kill them with sprays etc. I have never found any other way of getting rid of them. People say find out where they're coming from, but I have three kids and I haven't the time or the inclination to follow ants around. Anyhow, they have this irritating habit of crawling down cracks.
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