Ants - Bloomfield,IN

We get ants every spring (and other times throughout the year, but spring seems to be by far the worst), and we always put out a bit of Terro. It seems to clear up the ants in that immediate area. It's definitely not a permanent solution, but it works well enough that we haven't invested in ORKIN or something (yet).
Good luck!!

We use a product called Ortho Home Defense, spray it around the foundation of the house and at openings such as the dryer vent every year around this time. I knoe, I know, not very green.

If I notice some in the house I put ant traps around in hidden places where the dogs can't get them (kids are teenagers), but it's been awhile since we started the spraying.

Really not the best solution, I agree, but it's better than a box of Cheerios filled with ants, eewwwwww-AH!

:)

I've used the Raid home and garden spray for flying and crawling bugs, for years. It's a slender, green can.

One thing to do with ants is when you see their trail you'll want to erase it. The others know where to come in and travel buy the trail the scout ant uses. If you watch them they're usually in a line traveling. Wash the trail away and usually they'll find another entrance. and spray the area where they are coming in at.

Ants start being active again in spring and when it rains. Every time it rains their nest gets disturbed so they will travel to find another one. Or they are out hunting for food. If you even see even one carrying a tiny whie tube looking thing that means they're carrying a baby and looking for a new home, or found one, lol!

A large step to do is caulk. They are so tiny and you cannot see the tiniest of cracks they can come in through so use clear caulk, thin, in every area possible, like around windows, doors, floor boards, etc.

Now if there was a cure to rid the world of stink bugs I'd be thrilled!

**I wanted to add that you must keep counters and floors free of crumbs. Tiny crumbs may mean nothing to us but can feed an army of ants. Watch your trash can in the house too. Keep it clean and closed. Also, outside with your garbage or recycling cans. Don't leave open containers that attract ants. Rinse all recycling before putting it in the bins to keep down the ant and fly population. Rinse dishes directly after eating as well. Keep sinks rinsed and clean as well. The littlest of things can attract bugs.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I made my own with borox and honey and I swear that's the only thing that has worked! I kept buying those store-brand ant hotels and they didn't do a thing.

I took an empty plastic margerine container and on the lid I cut a small hole. I cut a small hole the same size on the container itself so that when you put the lid on there is a small opening where the ants can get it. I put a dab of honey in the middle of the lid and I mixed in a little bit of Borox powder. Then I sprinkled borox powder in a ring around the honey and put the body of the container on (because we have cats) and I taped the container to the floor with the lid on the bottom. The cats don't seem interested in the container other that to bat it around (which is why I taped to the floor). The ants swarm the container for a day or two and then they DIE DIE DIE!!!!

I also use vinegar on all the counters, cabinets and walls to erase any ant trails. I also bagged up my sugar, honey and salt in the cabinets.

My ants must not like what's in the ant hotels and I hesitate to spray because of our cats. This works without spraying poison, although it does take a few days.

Good luck!

We used a product by Ortho and so far it's been working. Try and find where their coming in, and caulk any small cracks before applying the Ortho. You use it around the outside of the house & inside as well. It IS poison, so make sure you wait till the kids aren't around to spray it. We did it about a month ago, and I don't see any ants around. Good luck!

wipe/mop all surfaces with white vinegar. I use the Ortho home defense on the outside. On the inside I use Terro and green tea oil around the baseboards. I have heard that the peppermint oil on cotton balls work well also. Have also used borax, but not around children or pets.

I just went through the same thing. Tis the season for ants. Usually the nests are outside and they have to treat them from outside. That's how it was explained to me. Usually all the rain disturbs their nests so they come inside. I had to get an exterminator, spraying wasn't helping. He just came yesterday. It isn't a spray it was some type of gel he used. It does work, any spray I used did nothing. So far this morning I have nothing.

We have fire ants- blah! I use orange oil- you have to dilute it with water. I put it in a spray bottle and it got rid of the ants inside. I also mixed some up in a empty milk jug and poured it on a couple of mounds outside and they aren't back in those mounds.
Orange oil works great and it's actually good for your soil and safe for kids to be around. You can find it at Lowes or Home Depot or most garden nurseries. Good luck!
~C.

We had the same issue! My 9 yr old was crying, because it was scary, how fast and furious they were crawling around the floor!!

At Lowe's, I found a product from AMDRO. They are little stakes you can use inside or outside. I put them along the floorboard of the kitchen. THey are kind of hidden that way, so that my toddler didn't find them. Even if she did, there's nothing to "get in to". The ants will die AND take what they get out of them back to the queen-that's the key. I JUST told my husband this morning, that I think our ant issue is over. I haven't seen an ant in a day or two. And, before, they were out of control!!! Hope this helps.

Hi J.---First of all you need to make sure that there is NO food open anywhere. I know that the teeny little ants come in in the spring and go straight for our cat's food.

Boric acid works well for bugs. You can get it at any hardware type store, ACE/Home Depot. I think you just sprinkle a barracade around the exterior of the house. I would also google ant extermination or boric acid ants. You'll likely find some great ideas there. Here is one site,
http://www.alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boric_acid.html.

Good luck. D.

We get those little black sugar ants. They're everywhere. I actually broke down in tears the other day because of these little monsters!! I'm OVER IT! I've used terro (spelling?) in the past, and it works, BUT it attracts the ants first so things get worse before they get better. I actually just put little cardboard pieces with that stuff on it all over my kitchen countertop and banned my family from the kitchen so no one comes in contact with it, and I've been making meals on our 'bar' instead of on the counter. I can't stand ants!

Thanks for posting! We have been batteling ants for 3 weeks now in our 1 year old house. We think they are getting in where my husband took the siding off to build the deck. We bought one of those raid traps that doesn't trap, but rather gives them poisonous food to take back to the colony. This actually increased the amount of ants and it was kind of neat to see them working and moving in a line. We then sprayed and haven't seen them from there since. But then last night we discovered they are getting in on another side so we are back at it again today!

Terro. It is cheap and works. But it is borox so poison. You have to keep it out of reach of children and pets...

The little plastic bait traps always seem to work best for me as a do it yourself thing. It they are a huge problem though I call someone in to take care of them. It does cost a lot more but seems to work faster and longer.

Pure peppermint oil. It really irritates the respiratory tracts of ants so much that they wont go anywhere near it. Buy some at the supermarket and then sprinkle it around where you have been seeing them. They also hate talc powder (baby powder) and wont walk through it.

Terro, Terro, Terro!!! I swear by this stuff! We live in the country and the first year we lived there we had so many issues with ants. We tried anything and everything and Terro was the only thing that worked and we have not had an issue since. They love this stuff, it's like candy to them, then they take it back to all the other ants and poof....problem solved! Good luck~

We had black carpenter ants. Then shortly after that, Centipedes and after that Water bugs. there was a waterbug carrying a sack on its back so I called an exterminator. They came out 8 times and sprayed so no more bugs. I am sure there are other ways to get rid of ants.