Does anyone know a good non-toxic ant killer that not only kills them, but keeps them away?
Thanks all helpful. I have a non toxic killer when I spray ON them, but I want something to keep them away! I want something to spray the perimiter of the house (inside). Maybe a vinegar solution will work? Seems they find the smallest of crumb left out regardless of how clean the house is. Grrrrrrrrrr. Thanks ladies!
Hi K.,
Cleaning with Windex (it's the ammonia in it, so don't use the store or other brands)and leaving a trail of baby powder where they are entering has worked as well as the exterminator for us. I wipe down EVERYTHING in ant area with Windex and removed light switch covers (where they were getting in from) and sprayed the baby powder in the wall. No more ants.
Plain old vinegar works best. We used to have an ant problem in our kitchen. I rubbed our counters down with vinegar and they never came back.
We are having SUCH ant problems this year! This is NOT non-toxic, but it will work: 2T sugar, 2T borax. The ants are supposed to bring it back to the nest. Just beware: it will draw more in before they start to go away. We were told it takes about one week for anything to really be effective. We have ant traps everywhere and it's driving me crazy! Every piece of food in my house is in a ziplock bag. Let me know if you find anything else.
You can leave a little jelly mixed with cornmeal on your counter. They cannot digest the cornmeal, they bring it back to the Queen and it kills her.
It depends on which type of ants you have. Most ants will not cross a line of chalk. To test it, draw a chalk circle around an ant and watch him turn circles as if he were confused. My mom sprays the tiny red ants with white venigar and she says they die. Just google a description of the ant and non toxic killer and you should find a lot of information.
I live in Hawaii, and you can imagine we have lots of the little critters!! I use those little disks that you can leave under the appliances, etc. They work after a couple of days. Also, clean the floor with a vinegar/water solution (yes, vinegar!!) They don't like the smell either, and it is not poisonous or anything!! Your house will not smell after the floor dries. Good luck!
There is a chalk you can buy at the swap meets. I usually go to indoor swap meet in Norwalk. They cost 3 chalks for $1.00. (very cheap) It works very well. I also get ants every year. I put it around the edges of windows in the kitchen and it does work very well. The chalk comes in an orange little box with a cockroach on it. Maybe its for roaches but it works wonders on ants too.
K.,
I know that ants do not like cinnamon, so I have that sprinkled around the edges of my big kitchen windows to keep them out. It really works!
I know there are some other natural things I've heard people will put outside for them to eat and it will make them explode, but I can't quite recall what it was, maybe baking powder or soda.
Hello K.,
The chalk does work as well as making sure you have all foods and any food remnants off the floor. If you have pets like cats and dogs it's hard to keep them away because they will be attracted to their food.
To avoid getting the ants from coming INTO your house, make sure to put a bit of Boric Acid (it's a white powder) around your house, especially openings and where you may have water spouts. They also get into your house from small cracks on the exterior of your home. So do make sure that your doors, water pipes and etc are sealed from the inside and outside of your home. Once they are in your home, you can easily try the suggestions of the ladies. They all work!
D.
I do not unfortunately. I have ants and HATE them! So, if any moms know of anything, please help us out! Thanks!
A mixture of yeast and sugar (powdered if they are tiny ants)works well and it does not hurt children or pets if ingested. Most insects (and birds) don't have the ability to pass gas so when the yeast expands they do to. And yes cinnamon works as a deterent. If you find a place where they get into your home (besides a window or door) then caulk the hole.
Try a cheap brand of Hair spray. It kills ants & the smell disapates in a little while.
Big Red Stick Gum
My ex mother in law had gardens for as long as I can remember and she had ants in the kitchen. She would place sticks of Big Red Gum on the cabinets and they would vanish..
I know this was while ago, but just in case. Anyhting with Orange Oil. They make sprays just for ants. Some hardware stores and health food chains care different brands. Ants and other insects are repelled from orange rine. Its all natural so its great for families and pets.
