Sugar Ants Won't Go Away!!!

Updated on November 11, 2008
B.M. asks from Jacksonville Beach, FL
52 answers

I have sugar ants (the tiny little ones) that are in my kitchen, master bathroom & van! I've had the pest company out several times & they keep trying new things. I've sprayed, wiped everything down, but nothing is getting rid of them. I try to wipe up ANY crumbs and/or spills immediately, but it hasn't even made a dent in them. As far as the ants in my van, the pest company had no suggestions other than "bombing" it with a fogger. I don't want to do that in the vehicle I take my family around in. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm tired of watching the conga line of ants in my house!!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. There seemed to be an overwhelming recommendation to use Terro, so I decided to give it a try this past weekend in my home. I put it on little cardboard & wax paper pieces and waited.... It was amazing that in about a couple of hours there were TONS of ants "feeding" at the squares. l was shocked at how many there were. I left them alone (the hardest part) and by the next day, there were hardly any around!!!! I have seen a few wandering around this week, so I've put out a few new spots of Terro & I'll see if they completely disappear. I'm trying it in the van this weekend. (I want to completely clean it first). Anyway, I appreciate all the feedback. You've all been a great help!!!

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C.M.

answers from Miami on

Try Ant Kill. It's in a small bottle that is white with blue lettering and a red lid. It's a think liquid and you can put it in small dots where needed. It's a miracle worker.

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi B.,

If you can't find the Terro, then you can use Combat Ant Gel (it's a syringe that comes in a little brown box). Same idea, but it's a yellowish gel. The ants will be all over it, but in a day or two they'll be gone.

I also use the Home Defense in the large red & white spray bottle (I think it's Ortho brand), and that works well too. I only use it outdoors, though. Every now and then I spray it all along the base of the outside wall of the house.

Now we get the occasional bug here and there, but no more of those crazy large-scale sugar ant invasions.

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L.O.

answers from Miami on

You can call Felix, ###-###-####, His company is called "A Best Real Pest Solutions". I highly recommend him, trust him, and have been using his service for 3 years. I also had an ant problem...since he has been to my home we have NO bugs at all...In my experience and opinion he is the best.

Good Luck.
L.

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P.M.

answers from San Juan on

Hi!
Try "Home Defense"; is a white gallon with a red label. I buy it in Home Depot but I'm sure any other store can have it. It can be used indoor or outdoor and has no odor. Also make sure you follow the ants to the main source where the queen is. Is a little bit like the Antz movie... but it will help you. It worked for me.
Good luck!

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R.S.

answers from Miami on

Hi B.;

They actually do go away eventually with or without Terro; however, I like the Terro; what happens is the working ants take the terro back to the Queen and they all die. It might take two weeks and you will see the line of ants where ever you are at; I have a two year old so I have to be careful with where I put the little cardboard pieces. I do not use pesticides. I was going to spray before I got pregnant and then I got pregnant and so I didn't want to take any chances. After having Ethan, I just didn't want to spray chemicals around him.

We live by a lake and we get a lot of creatures; especially lizards.

Every body has crazy ants. I hate using the stuff around the counters but if you want the ants to go away, then use it. It takes longer if you don't. My son is every where.

My husband says that certain times of the year the ants are looking for water not just food.

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B.N.

answers from Boca Raton on

Use a product called Terro. They sell it at Publix and Walmart. Put a small drop on a piece of paper and the ants love it.

HTH

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L.B.

answers from Miami on

Not sure what to do about the van, but I have had good success with the liquid ant killer that comes in a small bottle (I have bought it in Publix before) You put a few drops near the trails of the ants. If you do it a few days in a row it clears them up pretty well. I believe the active ingredient is boric acid...

As with any pesticide, make sure it's something the kids are aware of and don't stick their fingers into...

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A.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Window clean or vinegar works well.

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R.K.

answers from Miami on

I find that a product called ANT KILL works best for these pests. You can buy it at your local grocery store. It comes in the form a liquid. I put little squares of cardboard ( 1" x 1") on my counters and put a few drops of ANT KILL on them at night, I remove them in the morning. I hope this helps, it worked for me.

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S.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

your pest company is a money grubbing one and the pest guy who told you to bomb is a jerk.
Years ago my pest person told me this and it never fails!
go to Home Depot and buy the little bottle of clear-ish liquid that is specifically for sugar ants. Pour a small amount of it in a puddle (dime size or less) on the counter wherever they are coming in. It's something they eat and take back to the hill and die and poison others. I have had this problem many times- it gets worse when it rains because they are looking for someplace dry. But if I keep the area clean and do the poison they are gone for a long while unless I leave a mess!
The car is a little trickier- clean it well and park it somewhere different and try to find the source of the ants for the poison.
good luck!

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J.A.

answers from Raleigh on

Buy Grits. Ground them up till it's extremely powdery. Then lay it where they're tracking through. Give them 1 or 2 days and they'll be gone. They take it back to the queen and she explodes after eating it. This has worked better than any ant killer I've ever used!! GOOD LUCK!

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E.C.

answers from Tallahassee on

For sugar ants I think the best product is Ant Kill. It comes in a little yellow and red bottle. It is a gel that you squeeze in little puddles around the areas that you have the ants. Soon you will see each puddle surrounded by the ants, and then they form a line, taking some back to the other ants. Within an hour or so they are all dead. You should be able to get this anywhere they sell insecticide. Good luck!

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J.K.

answers from Miami on

Do u live in an apt? My mom had them to and couldn't get rid of them. It turned out they came from the apt above hers.

Good luck!

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K.H.

answers from Orlando on

The best thing that I found that works in the house is Terro Ant Killer. Publix sells little ant baits that work too. They are white plastic baits. But, Terro will get rid of them within a week.

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T.K.

answers from Miami on

I had the same problem ...even in my truck. I got them in my truck from parking under a tree. I used cloves in the truck and around the house (the smell seems to repel them).

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C.B.

answers from Boca Raton on

a natural approach is to sprinkle cornmeal in their path. It causes them to have digestive problems and die. It sounds funny, but I actually tried it and it worked.

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D.H.

answers from Miami on

I have 2 little ones 2 years and 6 years and I don't like using sprays. There is a product called Terro and it works very well. You can buy it at Lowe's or Home Depot and maybe even Wal-Mart and Target. We used to have a big problem with the sugar ants but once we used the Terro they disappeared within a few days. Best of all, it's odorless. You apply a couple of drops on the cardboard provided and put the pieces in different places. It attracts the ants and later they seem to disappear. Hope this is helpful.

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T.B.

answers from Boca Raton on

Try Terro! We had sugar ant problems, too and that has seemed to work. Get it at Home Depot. (That's the stuff that the previous posts suggested, too.) Just be careful where you place the drops. It should take a week or less... like the other post said, they'll swarm because they're attracted to it, then they will slowly start to disappear. You may need to reposition the "spots" you put down because the ants will change their patterns.
PS The bugman I called said he'd pretty much be out of business if it weren't for those little ants!

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K.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

I have never responded on here before, but I so sympathize with you and this problem, we had the same problem in our Kitchen and it was horrible. A lady at home depot recommended TERRO ANT Killer. Its amazing and we have had no problems since. All you do is apply a little drop of the clear gel like liquid onto a piece of cardboard (about 1 sq. inch in size and provided in the box) and place it near where you see the ants. you'll see all the ants congregating around the gel and then they will go away and I guess bring it back to their "leader" (lol) but they wont come back. We left the little drops out about a week and the ants disappeared,....we have not seen them since. Yay! Hope this helps

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B.H.

answers from Miami on

Hi B. - We recently moved to Florida, and had ant issues the second we stepped in the door. One of the moving guys grew up here and told me to go "Old School". 1/4 ammonia to 3/4 water works wonders, and does double duty as it's a natural cleaner too. I've also tried a bleach/h2o solution, but the smell lingers too long and bugs my kids (no pun intended. ;)) Here are a couple of links with more info. The 2nd link mentions bugs in drains, tho not ants direct.

http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/cleaner.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257583/using_amm...

I have to admit, I'll buy a commercial product in a sec, but I'm a true convert now when it comes to using vinegar baking soda and ammonia as products au naturale. And it's saving us a TON of money since we buy the costco size versions! Good Luck!

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J.K.

answers from Miami on

Try Bestec Exterminators out of Hollywood. I've tried Terminix and also Guaranteed Floridian but they are all the same...spray, spray and nothing. These guys from Bestec out of Hollywood, FL really have been great for us and much more affordable than the others. ###-###-####

J. K

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L.W.

answers from Orlando on

When we first moved to Florida my bug guy told me that in order to remove them, I had to eliminate the scent of the ones that were there previously. I used the bleach solution, and tracked down where they were entering the house. I had to do it a couple of times but it did work. I do think I will go get some of that Terro stuff just in case; that stuff sounds great. Maybe if you did a combo of the two??
Good Luck!

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B.W.

answers from Melbourne on

Terro is the magic stuff for sugar ants in your kitchen. Comes in a little orange box. You put the liquid on a piece of cardboard and the ants will eat it(they look like cattle at a watering hole). They will then go away! Works great!!!
Hope this helps.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

Hi my name is T. i've had them in the past in England you need to find out where there nest is and pour either hot water over it or ant killer but if you disturb the nest they usually go away and build it some where else, mine was behind the back board on the kitchen sink unit we just smothered the place in ant killer powder if you cover some of the ants they will also transfer it back to the nest hopefully, good luck.

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K.G.

answers from Miami on

borax(or boric acid) and sugar water...set little "traps" with just a few drops of this mixture. They will eat it and die. I learned this trick from a pest control company and it really works!!

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T.H.

answers from Miami on

Buy TERRO for ants it works really good for me.
Good luck :)

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L.H.

answers from Miami on

I can certainly relate, we live in East Fort Lauderdale on the water and have had our share of ant problems. We have NEVER used a hired service and the best remedy I have found is TERRA. You can find it at Walgreens I think or maybe even Home Depot. It is in a bright orange box and you put a few drops on a piece of cardboard, they eat the poison, go back to the nest and leave your home. Since you have children you need to put it up and where they will not mess with it.

Hope this helps.

L.

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R.M.

answers from Daytona Beach on

We had the same problem here. We used Terminex and they had to come out several times before they were gone. They called them farrow ants, but they looked like sugar ants to me. We are only charged quarterly and if they have to come out 100 times before it's better, we only pay that one fee. We also had roaches after all that rain from TS fay and they came out once and we've had no problems since. About the ants... they said, sometimes they'll move around. If you have to leave for the day or longer tell them to dust the house or whatever it takes to get rid of them.
R.

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J.P.

answers from Port St. Lucie on

They may not be sugar ants, they might be white footed ants. Anything you do for sugar ants won't get rid of them. Ask your pest control company about treating for white footed ants instead. As far as your van, I am not sure, maybe you can find something on the internet for a better way to get rid of them. Good Luck!

Jill

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P.E.

answers from Panama City on

FEED THEM INSTANT GRITS. aNTS EAT THEM THEN THE GRIT ENLARGES AND THE ANT DIES. SPRAY AROUND THE BOTTOM OF OUT SIDEYOUR HOUSE.

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A.Z.

answers from Boca Raton on

Go to Walgreens or Publix and look for "Terro Ant killer". It's in a small orange box. It's a clear liquid that you just put a dime size drop on a piece of cardboard in the places that you see the ants coming or going. Within a week they'll be gone! Guaranteed!! Just dont put any down where a pet or your children can get to it.
I've used this product a over and over and had excellent results every time! Good luck!! This really should take care of your little problem!! :)

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C.J.

answers from Gainesville on

We bought rat poison cubes from Lowes and put them in the attack, behind the stove, and in a whole in the bathroom (before we fixed it, there isn't a whole anymore) and in the backs of cabinets that don't have food or things we cook with in them. That took care of our sweet ants in about a month. I noticed they were all coming to the showers and sinks to drink leftover water and then they'd die.

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L.D.

answers from Miami on

This has worked for me and I read it on-line. Wherever you don't want them to go, apply talcum powder. I do this around my dog's food bowl and it works. They do not cross the talcum powder. I don't know about your car though. Now-a-days, there are lots of non-toxic products that can be applied. Call some experts in your area and get their input.

I hope this helps a little.

L.

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T.S.

answers from Pensacola on

go an get you some red pepper and put it around your doors and around the base board and in your van. I have done this around the outside of my trailer and i had no problems with ants. ants dont like the smell of red pepper.

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M.H.

answers from Melbourne on

Try orange oil or lavender oil.

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K.O.

answers from Orlando on

we had the same problem in our car. with small children, we had a lot of crumbs in the car. i cleaned, vacuumed but
i didn't get rid of them. finally we took it to be "martinezed" -- i think that's the term. it was well worth the $$ (? $ 75 i think) -- done in an hour & never saw another ant.....and the car looked brand new. (we went on 436 and howell branch - - near the wal-mart there in casselberry.) the men said they had never seen so many crumbs in their lives (and i had vacuumed/cleaned prior)-- in the car seats -- in the storage area underneath the car -- in the trunk -- ugh. it was pretty gross. oh, and from one of our beach outings, we accidentally left a half bag of cheetoes in the bottom of the trunk that i missed (??) when i cleaned out the car.......that was their main source of food.
we don't "snack" in the car anymore......just drink water:)

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G.V.

answers from Orlando on

Hi B.,

I have the same problem and I find that vinegar works. I haven't had that much of a problem with them since last summer when I also asked how to get rid of them. Don't get me wrong they still show up but not as bad. Not sure how to get rid of them in the van, sorry

Hope it works for you
G. V

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T.S.

answers from Panama City on

I have intentionally lured them by placing a potato chip or other food item that they are attracted to on the floor where they are more prevelant and then, when they are all over it, I scoop them up and place them in a ziploc bag and throw them out. It's a bait and destroy tactic. Sounds sneaky, but it works. When there are only a few of them left, I spray them with a little spray and poof, they're all gone.
Take Care,
T.

K.N.

answers from Miami on

mix Borax (large yellow bottle) in pesticide aisle, with sugar and water. Place into bottle caps ect and place around house were pets or children can't get to them. It works for us every year! We melt the sugar in a pan with a small amount of water and then stir in a large amount of Borax! Happy Hunting!
Kathy N.
PS: the ants like the sugar water and the borax kills them! It's mixed in so they are clueless that they are eating their last meal..

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K.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

There is some stuff they sell at Home Depot. It's a clear solution that sugar ants LOVE. It's really sticky and they take it back to their mound and it kills the colony... wish I could remember the name of it but I'm sure someone at HD would know. It's in a small bottle about the size of elmer's glue and it's clear.

Good luck...

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G.S.

answers from Miami on

The sugar ants are called white-footed ants and are pretty pesky to get rid of. I use Terro Ant killer. They eat it, take it back to their layer and share it with everyone back at home. within a day or two, they're all gone. Just a few drops of this stuff where you see them pass by, and keep away from food, pets and kiddies.
FYI:It's clear and you don't want to mistake it for a water droplet and wipe it across your counter or use the sponge you use to clean dishes or cabinets/ floors with.

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A.G.

answers from Orlando on

Hello B.!

I have had success with a two part attack. :> First my kids tracked down where the ants were coming in at, in my case it was a crack in the tile floor caulking. Then we filled in the hole. Also, I mopped the entire house with a water and bleach mixture. The bleach smell seems to disrupt the conga line and they can't follow the trail the other ants left behind. After that it is important to keep up on any spills or crumbs, so that new ants won't find your house and start the whole thing over again. I have 4 little ones, so I know how that can be, but in the morning before we leave I sweep up under the table & kitchen to make sure nothing is left behind for ant snack time! A swiffer helps alot, as you can just quickly pass it around and go.

That did it for us, hope it helps in your house!

A.

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J.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

i highly recommend Larry of the Bug Hunter Pest Control...he is AWESOME!

###-###-####....he uses safe products and knows alot about bugs! i dont have bugs at all because of him....

J.D.

answers from Boca Raton on

I am going crazy with the same issue!!! Inside the house I spray Home Defense for ants, big red and white sprayer got at home depot. I have never tried it but many people tell me that cornmeal works................Let me know if you find anything!

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L.M.

answers from Boca Raton on

Have you tried the terro ant drops from home depot they usually work great. Put the drops in a cap and put them around those areas. Good Luck!
www.DiscoveryToysLink.com/LisaRyan LisaM

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C.M.

answers from Boca Raton on

Exterminators won't work on sugar ants. Try Terro - clear liquid that comes in an orange box. It is sweet and attracts the sugar ants, then they take it back to the nest. Once you put it out, just know that they will SWARM like crazy to get it. Keep rereshing it daily (it does dry out) and putting it out till they are gone. It may take a while b/c sugar ants have four queens instead of one like most other ants. Once the queens are dead, the rest will die as well. Good luck!

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C.B.

answers from Melbourne on

I have the same problem in the kitchen and we spray raid..they still dont go away....they are everywhere and in the bathrooms we have the darker, flying, thicker ants..no clue what they are called..ahhhh...ya know i use to leave out grits, cause the ants are suppose to eat that and ca-pow they die..but that just attracted moths..its never ending..so then we had to get rid of the moths which took for ever..and of course the ants are back.

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A.M.

answers from Daytona Beach on

Please don't be offended as that is NOT my intention. I've had this problem before and after months of torture I realized that the ants keep coming because there is something there that they want. You might have soda (sugar) under your carpet that they can get to, in the crevices of your counter tops, in the tiniest places that are so hard to see.

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C.S.

answers from Orlando on

I worked for an apartment community. My pest control company said the only thing that works is Boric Acid. It is a poweder that you can find at Home depot or Lowes. It is very poisious though. We had them in a lot of cars so we suggested putting a little in a bottle cap under a seat where no-one can get to it. As far as inside your house maybe the same but in the corner behind applainces or something. Luckily your kids are old enough you don't have to worry about them putting everything in their mouths. We only had to use it once and they never came back. God Luck, hope this helped.

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D.R.

answers from Miami on

Hi B.,

I have the same problem, but just at home in my kitchen!!! they are getting to me and i cant seem to get rid of them (frustrating)

if you find out how to get rid of those pesty insects, please let me know.

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C.G.

answers from Gainesville on

Hey got an easy safe fix for all you areas.....Ants hate Cinnamon.....England does not let them use chemicals....I have alot of animals and I won't use poisons....So try cinnamon buy it cheap and sprinkle it around doors and windows and where ever they come in.....no harm to anthing but the ants
Good Luck

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V.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi B.,
I had the same problem with all kinds of ants, not any more...thanks to my friend.
In Homedepot you can get granules "Amdro" for the ants. Put it outside aroud your house, all ants will go away in a few hours. It REALY works for a long time. And you don't need pest control anymore.(I used them a few times, they don't help, just making a lot of mess in the house.)

Good Luck!

V..
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