Ant Problem

I would try to figure out where they are coming into the house and treat the outside of your house...around the foundation to stop them from getting into the house in the first place. There are commercial sprays that you can buy at Lowes, Ace Hardware, places like that. We normally have to repeat the treatment a time or two for lasting results. Just talk to someone there in the dept. and they can advise you. As the weather turns cooler you will find all sorts of critters....we always have trouble with spiders in the fall...that want to come in to get out of the cold!!
R. Ann

I use Terro. The ants swarm to it, then they die. It has always worked wonders anytime we have had ants come around.

Hi T.,
I also had trouble with ants in my dishwasher this past summer. The first time I saw all of them in there, I did spray some Raid all over the bottom and then closed the door (there were dishes in there). Later, after they were all dead I ran the dishwasher. I then took out all the dishes and ran it on the sanitize cycle two more times. Then I did it again with the dishes re-loaded. Then I put a couple of those little ant motels (Torro, I think) on the bottom of the dishwasher while it wasn't in use. I had heard from an exterminator that Windex gets rid of their smell, so that new ones won't follow the trail, so I cleaned the dishwasher with Windex. Something must have worked, because they are gone! Good luck!

Those little ant traps work wonders!

Terro it is a liquid you put drops on a little piece of cardboard, let them eat it and they take it back to their nest. It works great and doesn't have the mess from spray's.

I agree Terro works amazingly. Yes it will be worse for a day or two but then they are gone all dead. It is wonderful.

There is some stuff called "Terro"...it is clear liquid/syrup that you place on little cardboard sections provided on the package. I've used this stuff several different times for those pesky little ants and it seems to work great. Supposedly the leader takes it back to the others?
Give it a shot, it's cheap and easy. Just put where the kiddies can't reach.

J.

One inexpensive solution to try is to pour a line of baking soda across all entrances such as windows or doors, or around any place you can reach that you know the ants are coming in (supposedly ants won't cross it). This worked for us with ant problem in one place we lived. The challenge can be keeping the kids out of it, depending on where you have to pour, but at least it's not toxic. Another cheap solution that worked in a different area were the little cheapest kind of ant trap you can get at Walmart. However, these may be different kinds of ants, but two cheap solutions that may work and if not you didn't spend much.

I've been told to shake Cayenne Pepper around the infested area and outside of the house where the room is located. I've had those tiny little ants too, but didn't know this bit of info. to give it a try. I haven't had another opportunity, so if you decide to try it, I'd love to hear if it worked. Good luck.
A.

Dear T.

hi,sorry about your ant problem.i wnet on line when i had the same problem. One of things i found on line that worked the best was baby powder.ants will not cross over babypowder.if you could find out where they are coming from,you could put the babypowder there and they will not cross it.i never heard of water ants you may have to go on line and read what to do with the ones already in your dishwasher to get rid of those.if you could put the powder at the beginning of where they are coming in at.i hope this helps.

J. judge

I've always used Ortho Home Defense around the house for ants, spiders, etc. with good results.

Use Terro - its a clear liquid gel that you put down for them (or they have it in traps). The ants flock to it and take it back to the nest where they die. But...be prepared to keep doing it. Some seasons are worse (I think the more rain you get the worse it seems to be). We have them intermittently every few weeks in the same spot! Its maddening! But put the Terro down and they're gone for a while. We also put pellets down around the perimeter of our house every spring which does help some.

Terro Ant Killer works like magic! Every time I've had those little ants I've used the Terro and they are usually gone within a couple of days. It either comes in a little bottle filled with a clear, thick liquid that you have to squeeze out onto a cardboard square. Or they have it in little pre-filled traps. Either way you just lay down the Terro into their path or where ever you see the ants. One or two will find it, eat a little then go tell all their "friends" about this amazing food they just found. Before long, the whole trap will be full of the ants. Just let them go about their business because once they eat it they take it back to their nest and spread the poison to everyone else. If you have a lot, they might eat it all pretty quick. Just put some more out if that happens. The active ingredient is Borax so you need to watch out for your little guy and the other kids you watch so they don't get into it. Good luck!

We have always used Terro as well but we have always had problems with sugar ants so it might not work the same for the kind of ants that you are discribing. It isn't very expensive though so you might give it a try. We liked the traps better then the spray. Just put if close to where you think they are coming in and you will be able to tell within a couple of hours if they are eating it or not.

I would recommend just calling an exterminator...usually they aren't as expensive as you think they are and they will treat the whole house, not just your problem area...

I have had good results with Orange Guard, which is non toxic and safe around food. It is made from the oil in orange peels that is a natural insect detterent. It is sold at places like Whole foods.

Im sure you could spray in there and run an empty load in the dish washer. The hot water should remove anything harmful. Then wash all the dishes in there. You could contact the poison control center and ask for advice about this!

Get some liquid cinnamon oil and place in those areas .Good luck and tell me if it works for you .it did me.