I have scrubbed my counters with lysol, bleach, and other cleaners...I moved the stove, cleaned behind and under it, I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed the floor (just incase the mop missed anything. No matter what I do they keep coming back. Last night there I had just cleaned the counters again, walked outside to let our dogs out, came in about 10 min. later and there were probably 100 of them on my counter again. Does anyone have any ideas of how to get these darn things to go away for good. I am honestly tired of cleaning my kitchen counters 50 times a day to get the ants to go away. I am open to any ideas!
Oh My I'm dealing with the SAME problem. I went to Home Depot and brought all kinds of things and NOTHING has worked. I even went online and tried some homemade remedies and they are still here. I cleaned, scrubbed and even moved dishes from cabinet to cabinet and we still have them. My husband said he thinks there may be a nest behind the wall and the sink, but how do you get to it. I will post if we find out something and please do the same. Oh and I don't keep ANYTHING on my counters anymore.
I have some of what I'm going to mention but haven't tried it yet, but what about Diatomaceous Earth. You can find it at home depot. Although the one we have is food grade and we bought ours from here. Watch this video here...he even shows you ants. My husband takes it internally. http://www.earthworkshealth.com/
When we had this same problem the only thing that worked was repeated applications of poison. The first few times we only sprayed inside, in the kitchen, around the baseboards. But they didn't go away until we sprayed all outside around where our kitchen is. That was the trick for us, spraying outside as well as inside.
Good luck!
It's the story of the ant and the grass hopper. They're just trying to find food to store for the winter. And they're looking EVERYWHERE!! My lady even had them at her job... which is a hvac warehouse!
Just stomp them, LOL
I was a tech at a pest control co. I suggest you spray outside of your home around the base and windows. It really has nothing to do with being dirty they are looking for food and water. You may have to break down and spray some baseboard areas inside your house. I however with that description of the problem with them would suggest spraying the outside first.
we had these the only thing that worked was the ant traps that have liquid and food in them. it may take a couple of trys to get um all but that's what worked for us.
Putting baking soda on the counters worked for me when I lived in TX. I'm not sure why it worked, but someone had recommended it to me.
Definitely spray outside, but try some vinegar inside. We sparay a half vinegar/half water solution where we see ants, and it seems to at least slow them down, if not get rid of them in that area.
I have the same problem when it gets dry like it has been around here.
Ant Terro. They sell it at ACE Hardware. Works like a charm.
We used to get them too. We use Ortho Home Defence MAX. It is safe to use inside you house and out, and last for 3 months. The cost is about $10.00 at Home Depot. I spray around the foundation every few months and then spray inside as needed. It works great! I sprayed it under my kitchen cabinets and the ants came back one time but they died instantly. No more sugar ants YEAH...hope this helps!
I have always had great success with Terro. Here is the website that shows where you can purchase it http://www.terro.com/store-finder.php Once you have it down, the ants will come to it and it will look like a black blob from all the ants, but after they have gotten some and take it back to the nest, you will never see another ant. Never is a long time, but you won't see any until next year probably. You just have to make sure that your kids know not to eat or touch it and place it where the ants are walking so that they find it fast!
I'd get some ant baits and place them on the counter top and lower cabinets and where ever you can locate their entry. See if that helps or you can buy this stuff called Hot Shot from Lowes (I think they are the only place that carries it) for under 10 bucks for a gallon and spray that on your baseboards that are exterior walls, the backside of the lower cabinets if they are in there and on the outside of house-windows, doorways and foundation with it. That should do the trick!! Most importantly, you need to find their point of entry and get that taken care of!!!
Good luck!
Sharie
We use a natural exterminator, and I think he uses oil of wintergreen. Since then we've never had ants! We use Nature's Own Exterminating.
My Dad used to be an Exterminator for most of all my life and we had this issue at the beginning of summer. However, the trick is to spray the outside ALL around. Also we have ant hills in our yard so we also have to treat our yard as well and I apologize for not remembering the name of the stuff you put down like seeding your yard but they sell it at Home Depot-someone there should be able to help recommend something.
As far as taking care of the issue "inside" I would suggest putting some ant baits down. The ones that they carry to their stinking nest and it KILLS em all! I have not tried this in awhile but I heard once GRITS-yes good ole southern grits. They go to eat it and it swells in their tummy and it kills them - I did try this once at my old house with some ants in the garage and by golly it worked but I'm not quite sure if the hubby sprayed too. IT could just be an old wives tale but I know how frustratin those lil boogers are and what desperate measures you are willing to take! lol!
Jacque,
You have to find where they are coming in outside and spray with ant spray at that point on the outside of your house. That is really the only way to get rid of them.
I understand your frustration. We had them in our home in California and they even crawled through the seal on our freezer and into our ice tray. In heat they search for water.
The one time we had them here in GA our exterminator used some type of poisoned sugar water solution in small saucer cups. The saucer cups were left out on the kitchen counters and the ants would go back to their colonies with the poison. You may want to check at Home Depot or Lowe's to see if they carry that product. It took a couple of days but it worked.
Good Luck!
Equal, the deadly chemical sweetner, works great on killing ants.
you can also try boric acid.
I feel your pain on this one and like some others recommend Terro. Definatley watch placement with small kiddies and pets but works very well. I would find them in the dishwasher all the time. Also my husband sprayed the yard with some kind of fertilizer/ant killer (Lowes)and we sprayed all around the outside of the house. These things have been brutal this year!
I had that problem, too until I started to do my own termite spraying each year. it is sold concentrated at wal-mart for about $20. buy an empty spray bottle and mix it. spray it around your doors, windows, dryer vent, on the outside. also, for the first time, you might need to get some indoor spray that lasts up to six months. this should fix the problem. the termite spray is very strong and kills the black widows and other pests you won't want to come inside.