Ewww, Help With Ants

[TheGoodLife]

So I went to lay my DCB down in his PNP, and I saw 2 ants in there We bought this house last year in April, opened up the DC in September (never used the basement until then since it was just for DC) so I'm not sure if there was an ant problem in the past or not, but I'm freaking out!!!! I got out out personal PNP and got the bedding out of the DC one (found about 6 ants total there). I've seen a few ants in the bathroom and by the trash can once a couple weeks ago. The big thing was about 4 weeks ago I found what looked like a raisin or something in the carpet COVERED in ants. I don't do any food or snacks down there, and hadn't had any raisins so I'm assuming either it was stuck to a DCK's clothing or maybe an interviewee brought it in. Anyways, with our carpet I never saw ants again after that except the 2 times (bathroom and trash) I already mentioned. WHAT DO I DO?! I'm so grossed out, I am not about to keep my DCKs down there if I think there's ants hiding in the carpet! I did have it steam cleaned in December as well. Any and all suggestions appreciated! TIA!

[KnoxMom]

Unless there is a huge ant hill on the exterior of your home, I wouldn't worry about calling pest control just yet. Spray your carpet with the foaming cleaner, let it settle and then vacuum it up. It'll look great, smell great and be clean with minimal effort. Check all of your basement windows and doors for cracks. This can easily be filled with a sealant and/or weather stripping. Here is a nice little article from Reader's Digest that gives multiple resolutions. http://www.rd.com/home/13-common-ite...g-rid-of-ants/ (I'd skip the Boric Acid though, if the little ones can get to the cracks, you'll be calling the Poison Control Center)

HTH!

[melilley]

I think the ants are in full force this year! I have had them. I sprayed Orkin Home Defense spray (I think that's what it is called) and it seems to work well. You can spray it inside along walls and outside along the exterior of your home. I have only seen some here and there since I have sprayed.

[Springdaze]

I started to see thm today too, they are the big ones. I keep telling my kids not to say anything, but they yell when they see one. I told the pest controller (hubby) so he will spray tonight. Ill have to spray inside for the little ones this weekend i guess

[TheGoodLife]

Not sure if it makes a difference, but it's the really small ants, not the regular (bigger-sized) ones you see most often outside. We would get them around our dogs' food bowl at our old house. I thought if I didn't have food to attract them down there, I wouldn't have a problem.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I'm having a sugar ant problem here, too. I read that there's a bait made by Terro that can be bought on amazon that is great.

[melilley]

Not sure if it makes a difference, but it's the really small ants, not the regular (bigger-sized) ones you see most often outside. We would get them around our dogs' food bowl at our old house. I thought if I didn't have food to attract them down there, I wouldn't have a problem.

That's what I had, and especially around the dog's food, but I have only seen a few here and there since I sprayed.

[TheGoodLife]

I used little ant traps at my old house, but I can't do that now due to my 10 month old who would put it in her mouth What sprays do you guys use?

[AfterSchoolMom]

Windex kills ants immediately, on contact. I guess you can't go spraying that willy nilly with the DC kids around though.

[canadiancare]

I do the borax and sugar water on a cotton ball.

[VTMom]

I'm having a sugar ant problem here, too. I read that there's a bait made by Terro that can be bought on amazon that is great.

Terro is like lethal crack for ants! After leaving a bunch of those ant traps around without success one year, we tried terro (I think I googled it). It was amazing, while kind of gross! You put out a drop of this stuff on a piece of cardboard and put it somewhere where you've seen ants, making sure it's definitely out of reach from kids/animals. They swarm to it, gorging themselves and carrying it back to the nest. I think we saw drastic results within 3 days. This was a couple years ago and we haven't had a problem since.

[MsLaura529]

I think the ants are in full force this year! I have had them. I sprayed Orkin Home Defense spray (I think that's what it is called) and it seems to work well. You can spray it inside along walls and outside along the exterior of your home. I have only seen some here and there since I have sprayed.

We just did this, too ... I've woken up in the morning to ants crawling on our kitchen table!! They are crazy this year! The Orkin Home Defense Spray seems to have worked pretty well so far. I've seen a couple here and there since we sprayed ... but we just did around the perimeter of the kitchen, and now I've only seen them in one other room, so were going to spray in there, too.

[missjenny]

I have the same problem. It seemed for like a week if there was a crumb anywhere there would be a trail of ants to it and I am sure it is from under my house since they are coming from spots in the base bored. We sort of noticed it when we moved in late last august but I guess we forgot about it.

I tried all the natural methods and then got some bait traps which they avoided like the plague. Finally I was so fed up that Friday night I spayed all the borders where they were coming from (multiply locations) and haven't seen them since. I still feel kind of bad since I hate to use poisen and stuff but they were getting everywhere.

[mamac]

I just learned that ants will not cross a chalk line. If you happen to know their entry point you can draw a line with chalk around the doorframe, window frame, etc. I also read that a sprinkle of cinnamon will also repel ants if you put it near their entry points.

I'm assuming you could also draw a chalk line around the foundation of your home if you aren't sure of their exact point of entry.

[Unregistered]

cucumber slices collect ants and then you can swipe them up w/ paper towels, etc. and dispose of them.