12 answers

How Do I Get Rid of Ants in My House

I'm suddenly infested with ants. They're in the wierdest places. Not on food, but on the woodwork and baseboards or crawling up the walls. Even in my dishwasher on the clean dishes! I had to rewash everything. I put fire ant powder down, but the little buggers are still everywhere.

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

I buy the little white--and some are black--ant traps. Within a week or 2 I am sweeping up dead ants and I don't get them back. Ithink Raid makes the white ones. Yu can get them at a drug store or Target/Walmart.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Chalk works too... draw a line where you see them coming in.. and they wont cross that white line

2 moms found this helpful

Yikes! We used sprinkled ground up cinnamon where we saw the ant trails and around the areas where they were entering our home. It took 2 weeks, but it totally eliminated the problem. The cinnamon kills them when you sprinkle it on them directly but creates more of a repellant than anything. We didn't have fire ants, though, but it's worth a try. I couldn't use the ant traps because we have a toddler and baby that would get into anything poisonous.

2 moms found this helpful

We've had the problem this year also. If you aren't against using chemicals, I suggest the liquid ant bait (we use Terro). I just take a plastic spoon and put a couple of drops in the spoon and leave it in their trail. It's sweet, so within a day or so you will see them around the bait eating it. They bring the bait back to the "mound" and they all die. I like using the spoon because it's easy clean up and you can put it most anywhere. Of course, my kids are old enough they know to leave it alone and we don't have pets, so keep that in mind also.

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

I know how much of a problem this can be! We used a mixture of cornstarch and ceyenne pepper, and placed "barriers" everywhere we saw them come in. For some reason this worked I dont recall why but it works! We would even see the ants come up to the "barrier we created and they would turn around. Ants are creatures of habit and they follow very specific trails that they will not break on their own, so you need to help them out! Eventually we they stop coming, so give it a shot!

2 moms found this helpful

If they are black ants, then put down Terro. It's like $4 at Home Depot. Really easy to use and non-toxic. The scavenger ants eat it, take it back to the nest and everyone dies! It's amazing stuff!
If they have wings, they aren't ants, they're termites. Get it looked at.

1 mom found this helpful

I buy the little white--and some are black--ant traps. Within a week or 2 I am sweeping up dead ants and I don't get them back. Ithink Raid makes the white ones. Yu can get them at a drug store or Target/Walmart.

1 mom found this helpful

Beware of using anything made with synthetic chemicals - - especially chemical pesticides. Europe has banned 1000 chemicals that are still used in products sold to Americans. Many of the chemicals banned in Europe are KNOWN to cause cancer, yet US companies are still allowed to use them. For organic or natural methods, visit Elizabeth Anna's Old World Gardens website: www.elizabethanna.net or the "Dirt Doctor's" website.

I had them too and called a company to fix it but over and over monthly charge and cost me $800 before they were gone. They come through the wiring of the home. So I also had them in the dishwasher and microwave. Even washing and using the microwave did not keep them from coming. So I thought about it. I went trhough my pantry and bought a huge plastic ben with a lid and put all the snack stuff I have for my day care in it. I store it in my bedroom closet as there is no other place. All snacks, cake mixes, cereal, and any cheese its or anything. Bisquick I may put in the refer if not in the bin. They disappeared. I am very careful to put any opened packages in plastic zip locks or hard locking containers. I have not seen an ant in a long time. Also thought they liked my toothpaste as they were in the master bedroom. But saved so far anothyer $800 this year. I thought when I called them they would spray and that was it but they were careful because of the kids and put poison inside the electrical switch plates. One time I had a ton coming in around a baseboard into the dog food. I sprayed it and wiped it up and have not had the problem since. Even if you do not see them in the food they may be attracted by the smell. So that is my advice and hope this works for you G. W

Required Fields

Our records show that we already have a Mamapedia or Mamasource account created for you under the email address you entered.

Please enter your Mamapedia or Mamasource password to continue signing in.

Required Fields

, you’re almost done...

Since this is the first time you are logging in to Mamapedia with Facebook Connect, please provide the following information so you can participate in the Mamapedia community.

As a member, you’ll receive optional email newsletters and community updates sent to you from Mamapedia, and your email address will never be shared with third parties.

By clicking "Continue to Mamapedia", I agree to the Mamapedia Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.