Ants...

Vinegar! you just put it along the track where the line of ants is and they take it to their nest and it kills them all.

Hi J.,
I just got an email the other day with lots of tips in it and getting rid of ants was one of them! They suggested putting small piles of cornmeal down. Apparently the ants cannot digest the granules so when they eat it, they end up dying. It did say that it would take some time for it to work, but at least kids or pets wouldn't be harmed by it.

Hope this helps! :)

Hi, I also have had trouble with ants! I hate them! I have discovered that Avon's original skin-so-soft kills them instantly!!! Mix it half and half with water, put in a spray bottle and spray around the baseboards it will not only kill them but kept them and other insects from coming in also spray it on your window screens...your apartment will smell like baby powder. I am an Avon Rep. you may go to my Avon website and order some if you do not have an Avon Rep. www.youravon.com/joycemurray1819 I am not just telling you this to order from me it actualy works! beginning of last Spring my kitchen was black with ants my husband mopped the floor with skin-so-soft and I haven't seen an ant since!!!!! I am a happy camper!!!!!!

Hey there! We have this stuff called Orange Guard (http://www.orangeguard.com/) that we use to spray the ants and also their entrance if we can find it. I like it because it's made from orange peel (but really works!), making it nontoxic for us, pets, and children. I know that Whole Foods carries it, and I'm sure there are other places too. It lasts a long time and really works. I found it a few years ago after a roommate and I got raid, sprayed, and had to pretty much leave the house because it smelled so bad and we were coughing. This stuff just smells like oranges! Good luck with your ants; I know it's obnoxious.

J.. The solution to your ant problem is Terro Bait. This stuff rocks and is non-toxic. I got it at my local Ace Hardware store in CA so hopefully they sell it here too. It comes in an orange box and I buy the pre-poured containers that go in the house. They basically look like little plastic containers that have a sugary/sticky clear liquid inside. The ants will gobble it up and then take it back to the nest. The only gross part is that you have to let them go after the baits for about 24 hours and they will come out in droves but then they will go away. The ingredient is borax which is a natural ingredient (boric acid). It's weird becasue it sounds like a poison, but it's totally not. People use Borax to do laundry and boric acid is actually an effective treatment for yeast infections for women. I HATE chemicals, so this was a great solution for us. You can also get larger baits for outside which is great if you can figure out where they might be entering your house. Good luck and happy ant killing!

-B. S.

If you know where they are getting in, spread red hot pepper flakes there and that will keep the ants away. I had problems with ants and did this and no longer have any problems.

Hi J.! I'm J., and boy! do I know about ants!!! We had
swarms of them, and after I hired an exterminator, my son developed a reaction to whatever chemical he used. I mean, my
son COULDN"T BREATH!!! I caution keeping using chemicals. I
found a way to keep the ants OUT naturally. It's called SOLUMEL
and there is a girl I know who can tell you more about it.
Just e-mail Sarah at ____@____.com
Ask her about alternatives to chemicals to keep ants and
spiders, etc. out of your home. She's very helpful and
knowledgeable.
:>) J.

essential oil of clove works well - put it around the the areas where the ants are entering the house or areas that they are choosing to go like pet food dishes. First sprinkle it out of the bottle - it will come out in drops, then smear the drops together to make a continuous barrier.

Best of luck and please limit your pesticide use for your child's sake. Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) is a great resource both for alternatives to pesticides and their effects on humans and the ecosystem - all scientifically based - no scare tactics (it really IS scary - to tactics necessary!)

- Sarah

Hi J.!

I've used the info from this web site a few times for various pest problems. Hope you find something useful here.

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm#a

K.

I'm almost in the process of a divorce---my husband has a girlfriend. Last year I was begging him not to leave and just today I was begging him to divorce me and get it over with so I can move on. Crazy what time does to a situation

I enjoy all the things you enjoy except I don't know how to knit. I have 3 year old son who is autistic. He enjoys being around other children, but he stims a lot and can be very hyper. He's finally starting to talk. I've been busy trying to recover him from autism. I go to a support group once a month where most of the parents do bio-medical treatments for their children. There's a lady whose son will officially be losing his diagnosis this year from doing bio-med!

I also have a typically developing 10 month old daughter.

If you would like any info on some of the new autism organizations moving into the Western Wa area just let me know! There's a new service coming from Californina called TACA (Talk About A Cure). Jenny McCarthy is their spokesperson. There's also a new therapy organization called C.A.R.D. services.

C. M.

I also had ants when I lived in an apartment. I was told they like moist places...our management would only supply us with ant traps. A friend recommended that I use a mild solution of bleach and water and spray down the ant "trail". I sprayed down my entire kitchen and bathroom counter tops as well as the cupboards and that got rid of the ants.

Hello J.. So, what does the exterminator spray (what pesticide?) Or, is this an alternative to pesticide contractor (hard to find!). Pesticides don't just kill ants (and, as you say, the ants keep coming back), so not only is your family exposed to toxic chemicals, but you still get the ants! Yikes. So, do little research, there are alternatives to pesticides. Based in Eugene, OR. is Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides...###-###-####..there are other websites, also. Thanks for listening.

You need to try and find where they are coming in your house. That will be the first step to ridding yourself of them permanently. Cayenne pepper is one product you can use. My friend had them coming in her window, so she just sprinkled it along her windows. Ants, spiders, etc don't like to cross the hot spice. I've also heard you can use it to deter mice, rabbits, dogs, cats, etc.

Good luck!

We have ants in our apartment as well, and the exterminator has been coming every couple of months to spray, and he has also started spraying in other areas of the building. Maybe when he comes, ask him how often it needs to be repeated, and if there is any practical things you can do as well. Also, have him spray the other rooms as well. Just try to pick up things and pull them away from the wall. p.s. I have also heard that they don't like baby powder much!

You need to break their trail. The stuff the exterminator uses probably will be something that stays for awhile and may break their trail. I lived in California for a couple years and it is one giant ant hill. They can't chew through steel wool and if you find the place they are coming in and can put some in the hole that will help. They also will not go through cinnamon. I have a tiny problem here in my apt in the summer and I put it in my sliding glass door way, along the baseboard and windows. Mine come in the kitchen. They are looking for food and water. I would try putting cinnamon along the floor next to your bathroom walls. It is safe for your kids and it doesn't smell bad either. If they are coming in from up above I would try the avon stuff the other person recommended and somehow getting the steel wool over the spot.

Hello J. -

The stuff that the average exterminator sprays is toxic to humans and pets, as well as to ants.

I would suggest finding a non-toxic exterminator. When we lived in Boulder CO we found one who used a sugary paste with the consistency of peanut butter to get them. He would squirt it in their trail space. They would come running from all over, carry it back to the nest, everyone in the colony would eat it and they would all die. It contained a poison that only affected them if they ate it, which they all did and since we didn't eat it, it didn't hurt us, whereas the sprays make me and my middle son both incredibly ill for 2-4 weeks after each application.

The other thing that Scott, our exterminator, taught me was to put powdered cayenne in the spots where they were entering the house. They would take one bite of it and run away. I have used that method in our new home in WA and within a week they stopped coming in.

I would strongly recommend against having an exterminator spray as I notice your son is diagnosed with ASD. I suspect you know that there is a mountain of evidence showing that ASD is linked to toxicity, particularly at the neural receptors. Keeping toxins away from him is key and then using detox methods to remove the toxins currently in his body is the next step. If you would like more info on this, feel free to write me. Also, the monthly publication "The Idaho Observer" runs excellent articles on ASD, detoxing, dietary recovery, etc. Their subscription price is meager and well wroth it for the quality of info their health writer, Ingri Cassell, puts out.

Best Wishes -
D.

White vinegar is the best natural deterrent. Wiping down hard surfaces, or putting a piece of papertowel or cotton ball with vinegar on it at the point of entrance can help a lot. My husband left food out and had a horrible infestation, while I was gone once. He wiped the counters with the vinegar and they NEVER came back to the kitchen. Any mild soap solution sprayed on them will kill on contact; but, to dter them from coming back, the vinegar is the best. I agree that Terro, is one of the best things you can buy, they take it back to the nest and it kills them off, though it takes a little while and you need to be sure to keep it away from pets and children. Be sure to read the cautions if using chemicals.

Bugsrdone.com

This stuff worked for us until we could get the exterminator out.

Cinnamon! This may sound really silly but it works. I had a neighbor (from another country) suggest it a few years ago and it was amazing. I'm not sure if they just don't like it or if they are actually allergic to it, but ants will not cross a line of cinnamon. I would suggest sprinkling a thin line of it around cabinets and the edges of the rooms they are in.

I spent part of last summer working at a pizza place that was having an ant problem and it worked for them, too. Plus it's healthier safer for people.

I have 4 kids, 3 of them on the spectrum, so I understand your concern for their health!

Good luck!
M.

I've heard you can take some oil of lavender some glycerin and water and mix them together in equal parts in a spray bottle if you spray the enterances to your apartment they won't come in they do not like the smell, and lavender is a natural disinfectant, so you can clean with the same mixture as well.

Hi J....don't know much about ants, but if you are looking to connect with other moms, try a MOPS group in your area. I attend one in Puyallup and love it!

C.-a stay at home mom of a 6 year old girl and 3 1/2 year old boy.

Hi J.,

Can't help you out with the ant issue sorry! However my 4 year old son has also been (medically diagnosed) with ASD. He has been in Eary Intervention for the last year but the medical diagnosis just came through last month. We live in Portland OR where it is extremely difficult to find programs/pediatricians etc w/out waiting lists of 3-6 months. About me: 46 - Freddy is my only child and the light of my life! Kickboxing is my main "thing" right now - also working on remodelling our very old house and love being a Mom! Would love to hear from you J. or anyone else in similar straits! Have a good day all!

M. and Freddy

Ants are hard to get rid of. If your exterminator was just spraying along baseboards and high traffic areas where the ants were, and along the outside of the house, that won't take care of it. Trust me, been there, done that. You are going to have to get MUCH more aggressive with them. Ask your exterminator for options.

H.

My mom used to put a little cayenne pepper in the cracks between the door and the floor along the paths where the ants would come in and that seemed to do the trick most of the time. We live in the country and have had experience with several different types of 'unwanted visitors' from mice, to rats, to snakes, squirrels and other insects! It is inexpensive and because it was put in creases along the wall and/or floor it was not a hazard to the many grandchildren my mom always had at her house.

Hi J.,
I HATE chemicals. I freak out if my father-in-law tries to use chemicals in our home unless it's bleach, comet, 409 or windex. I like using the old fashioned methods of cleaning like soap and water versus Lysol with antibacterial ingredients. What a waste of time. No wonder everyone is sick all the time. They don't get exposed to germs and build up the proper immunity so they get sick. I believe chemicals are the reason there are SUPER BUGS.
This last summer we had a MAJOR infestation of sugar ants in our boys room. They were so bad that they were all over our youngest sons bed; we didn't see them, and they bit him all night. He screamed every night and awoke from head to toe with bites for three days. We had no clue what was causing this until I found the ants. They were coming up through the floor and were nesting in a corner of the closet where nobody could see. I also found THOUSANDS of them living in their Nintendo 64 which they played with everyday. (It was warm inside and that's what the ants liked.)
Here's what worked: I bought Hot Shot MaxAttrax Ant Bait. Kills the queen and destroys the colony! Kills in 24 hours. I bought them at Lowe's.
Screw the exterminator and his opinions. He's just trying to sell his chemicals that can make your family sick.

I put the traps in the corner of the closet. Within about five minutes the ant trail went from the Nintendo 64 to the trap and back to the hole. (I also vacuumed up ants off the bed and anywhere I saw them.) By that evening my husband saw that the ants were moving slower and within 24 hours we didn't see them again. I put out new traps and kept them there for about 1 week.
I made sure I washed all the bedding in the room as well as shampooed the carpet and used a diaper wipe to clean all the games and toys that were on the floor. We believe that our boys had juice or some type of food in their room that spilled and attracted the ants. (We don't allow food in any room in our house other than the kitchen. Our sons were sneaky and because of it, our youngest paid the price with the bites.)
This product worked for us. We even used them in our kitchen and around the windows. I wear gloves to handle them because I don't like chemicals and pesticides.
Tarro also makes a liquid gel that you can use outdoors that does the same thing. We used that this past summer for some huge ants that were trailing along the length of our home and nesting in the siding. It worked wonderful and we haven't seen them since. We have had cronic ant problems over the past 14 years and these are the only products we have found that work and won't make our family sick or have to leave the home because of fumes.
Good luck.

See if you can chat with the exterminator before or after he/she starts. Ask him/her what you can do between visits. See if he knows where they are coming in and what you can do to deter them. I know with some pests, if you start doing your own treatments between exterminator visits, you might counteract what they are doing and/or have a funky combination of chemicals that don't respond well together. Good luck!

ACCCCKKKK!!! Sounds like me! I've been living in a small apartment for a little over a year. When my son and I first moved here, there were those little sugar ants ALLLLLLLLLLLL over the place. I mean ALL over. They were crawling on the kitchen floor, in my son's room, by the front door, the living room floor...etc. It was Horrible! The apartment complex do their best to bring out the exterminator to help alleviate the situation, but it doesn't always do the trick as a whole. What I've tried that seems to work, is buying some of those ant traps, the ones they go into, eat, and then leave to die. I also get some of the Raid spray for ants. I make sure that my son is at school/with friends/outside while I do this, that way he doesn't try to pick up the ant traps you lay and doesn't inhale the spray. But I spray the inside edging along the house. Then I lay a trap wherever the ants are at the most. It's a temp solution, but at least will help for at least 3 mos. Another thing is, I've known people who's infestation were so bad, they end up finding a nest in their walls! Just be aware. Hope this helps! Good luck! ~B. :D

J.,

We have ants off and on, they show up in different areas of the house. We tried an exterminator first but I didn't really like having those chemicals in my house. The exterminator told me about Terro Traps. It is a small plastic dish like thing that you put out where the ants are. It contains corn syrup and boric acid. The ants eat the syrup and take it back to the ant hill which poisons all the ants at home. If your kids or animals get in to it it is not toxic to them. I buy them at Bi-Mart and they are reasonably priced.

Good luck!
J.