Need Help Gettimg Rid of Little Sugar Ants

Updated on January 09, 2009
A.C. asks from Miami, FL
21 answers

HELP!!! my kitchen has been infested with little sugar ants, we've tried everything and they seem to keep coming back..what else can we do?

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K.G.

answers from Miami on

boric acid or borax mixed with karo syrup or sugar water....a few drops makes a bait that they will get on their little feet and carry to their friends. Wipes them right out!!

I learned this trick from a pest control tech.

K. G.

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M.G.

answers from Miami on

I had tiny bugs in my pantry that were making me crazy as I had to zip lock everything. I tried everything with no success until I found TERRO. I bought it at Home Depot, I put a drop on the small square that comes with it and placed it on the floor in my pantry and also put one in the garage since my pantry wall backs up to the garage and in a few weeks no more ants/bugs in the pantry. This stuff really works.

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M.H.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Hi A.,

If they are truly sugar ants, I have been able to keep them at bay with a line of natural cleaning products I have. The products contain a high grade tea tree oil and it not only repels ants, but other insects as well, including roaches and lice. If you're interested in changing your cleaning products (they're cheaper than Wal-Mart) let me know, I'll be glad to help.

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

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S.W.

answers from Miami on

white chalk. Draw a line around the perimeter. White vinegar is also inexpensive and will repel those critters. PS quit feeding them sugar!!!!LOL

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R.C.

answers from Miami on

Hi A.
Let me tell you, there was one reader who asked the same question & I read all the responses. I tried a liquid called Terro & let me tell you within a week to 1 1/2 week I did not see the ants again. They were even getting in my dogs food tray & I placed it behind the tray where the dogs were not able to get to it & they all disappeared. I purchased it in home depot. It is awesome, I would really recommend it. Ant spray did not work. Its been a couple of months since I used it & I have not seem them back since.
Good Luck
Roxy

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P.E.

answers from Panama City on

feed tthem instant frits. it expsands indide them and blows them up. put a ring os pesticide atthe base of the house .Theant tracks he poison and bringes it to the nest Plus cleann the house of all ant food, dishes, wipe counters cle

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K.M.

answers from Gainesville on

For anyone who wants to get rid of ants without poisons or chemicals, there are a few good options- first, ants hate vinegar. I use a spray bottle with vinegar and use it to wipe down counters, along the seams of cupboards (where they're entering), etc. Also, orange oil coats their exoskeleten and they can no longer breath. When I find piles outside, I boil a big pot of water with orange peels and pour it right into their piles. And finally, they don't like to walk on chalk, so you can take regular sidewalk chalk, and run it along doorways, windowframes, or anywhere you think they may be entering the house. Wetting the chalk makes it easy to get a good thick line.
Keeping your foods in sealed containers and making sure food is never left out are the two best preventative measures.
Good luck!
-K.

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M.H.

answers from Boca Raton on

Go to Home Depot and purchase TERRO ant Killer. Be sure liquid in 2.0 oz bottle is clear. Follow instruction. It Works. This is what the Company "Bug Off" uses. It works. It may take about a week. Keep area clean of ant food.

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C.G.

answers from Gainesville on

Use Cinnamon......just plain cinnamon put it everywhere needed. won't hurt any thing or anyone. natural cure

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M.H.

answers from Gainesville on

If you are using a chemical treatment make sure you take the faceplates off your electrical outlets and spay inside. That is one of their favorite access points to your home.

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M.M.

answers from Miami on

I had the same problem and the only thing that worked was a mixture of even parts of dried minced bay leaves powdered cayenne pepper and cinnamon. To illustrate the effectiveness when I was getting married we had the reception at my home. The counter was full of those little sugar ants and my fiancé had gotten the cake which needed to stay out on the counter until the reception. I knew that if we left the cake there it would be completely engulfed by ants. I created a barrier around the cake and for 5 or more hours not one ant dared to come near it. Since then that’s all I use plus its safe and does not affect babies by letting off toxic smells in the air.

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N.W.

answers from Orlando on

I had this exact same post a while back. The only thing that worked 100% for me was calling Pest control. I use a company called Pest Bear ( mainly becuase they are the most reasonable). They spray inside and out of your home every 3 months for $65. Once they sprayed I have not seen not even one sweet ant. The only thing is it seems like whatever they spray will last EXACTLY 3 months.

Good luck :-)

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B.E.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

If you have an open container of sugar, put it in a close container. Spray with clorox and water, this worked for me pluse it does a great job cleaning.

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I.P.

answers from Miami on

Hi :)

Im not sure if this is true at all but I received an email a little while ago that had a lot of household tips and it said to put some cornmeal around where they are because they would take it and eat it and they cant digest it so they die. I havent tried it myself, but I thought of letting you know what I have read :)

Hope it helps. Let us know if it works.

xoxo

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A.A.

answers from Miami on

I heard once that by putting baby powder on your kitchen counter or where they are (of course must be completely dry) they will go away for a little while

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A.M.

answers from Boca Raton on

First you have to clean your whole kitchen - top to bottom, and make sure anything sugary is kept in the fridge or in sealed containers. Then use OFF (the bug spray you can spray on yourself when you go outside) - spray the whole trail, every time you find sugar ants. Kills the ants instantly, and keeps them from coming back if you spray the whole trail - they can't smell the trail anymore and freak out! It is safe to use on walls (test a small area of your wall first - but on mine they just washed right off).

Good luck - they are a pain!

PS - I haven't had ANY sugar ants in over two years now :)

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S.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

UGH!!! I feel your pain. I suffered with these little things for 3 years. I have my house professionally sprayed but it did not work. I found a "recipe" on the internet and IT WORKS!!! I haven't seen an ant in about 3 months!! I made a sugary paste with sugar, borax and water. Borax is in the laundry section of Wal-Mart or Target near the bleaches. I spread this paste on cardboard and put on my counters (where I saw the most ant traffic). I was horrified to see ALL the ants eatting this stuff however the next day they were gone and haven't been back. KEEP THIS OUT OF REACH OF PETS AND CHILDREN. I keep a mason jar with this paste in it on my counter at all times (just in case). Oh, punch holes in the lid of the mason jar so the little burgers can get their snack. You can find out more about this on the internet just do a search on borax and sugar ants. I also tried the vinegar but didn't have any luck. Good luck - this is battle!!!

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

There is a lovely product you can buy at Walmart. It's called: TERRO Liquid Ant Baits. One box contains 6 bait traps. How it works: You snip off part of the ant trap and place the trap anywhere you see the ants. It's best to place a drop of the liquid bait outside of the trap so they are tempted to crawl inside. The little sugar ants will devour this stuff, bring it back to all their little friends and eventually they will all die. I only use this for sugar ants and I guarantee your ant problem will go away.

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G.F.

answers from Port St. Lucie on

We have had the same problem. The amount has decreased since my husband used a Borax powder mixture and sprayed all over the house, especially the kitchen. Windex helps too.

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Terro.
It costs about $3 at Home Depot. It is a clear liquid you put drops of on little pieces of paper. Follow instructions about placement (it is Borax with sugar water, so poisonous.. you don't want your little guy crawling and picking it up). The only extra suggestion with the Terro, is be sure to wipe the area where the ants travel before placing it down. It helps to remove their "scent" trail and they have to search around... they find the Terro faster that way.
I had them in my kitchen and bathroom out of the blue. Used the Terro. Within a week they were gone from everywhere and have not come back.
They look like little cows lined up drinking at a trough... then they all disappear...
:)

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

A.,

I feel your pain. I went through the same thing for so long. I finally got fed up with trying the home remedies myself and called Orkin. It is worth the $79 that I pay every 3 or 4 months. I can't remember. I have not seen one ant in my house in over a year. At this point unless I have a problem when they come out he is only doing the outside of the house to keep the perimeter of the house protected which keeps the critters at bay, which keeps me happy and keeps them out. And if you see any ants or anything else inbetween visits they come out and spray at no charge and whatever they use is not harmful to pets or children, they just ask that you don't let them near it until it dries, which makes sense if you think about it. But I would give Orkin a call, they have made me very happy.

Good luck.

S.
35 y/o SAHM of 3 boys
14, 6 and 3

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