How do I get rid of ants!

[3girlsmommy]

We have ants in our kitchen and I need to figure out a way to get rid of them w/ out endangering my kids. ANyone have any good natural suggestions??

Thanks!!

[ajsgirl]

I hope someone responds because we have ants too! They're getting into the dog food and in the dishwasher! I have heard there is some spray that you can get at Home Depot to use around the perimeter of your house outside. haven't tried it yet tho.. sorry... baby bouncing in lap

[Brisen]

We usually get the ants coming in once or twice a summer. This is what has worked for me:
1. Be super vigilant about putting away all food scraps. Kids are only allowed to eat at the table, the counter, or outside.

2. Look for places where food might be spilled that aren't so obvious -- we had kiddie table at the end of our counter for the kids to stand on & help with food prep. Found a bunch of stuff btwn it & the wall...

3. Figure out where they are coming in and the route they are following. I doused the point of entry liberally with white vinegar several times a day. I also sprayed vinegar on and around their path & wiped all surfaces where food had been with vinegar several times a day.

They usually stopped in a few days. I've also heard from a mom who buys a gallon of cheap syrup and puts it outside somewhere that her kids won't be playing so the ants will eat that all summer instead of coming into the house.

[Simplicity]

You could do a Honey Trap

2 Teaspoons of Honey
1/2 cup warm water

Dissolve the honey in the warm water. Pour into saucers. The ants attracted to it will drown.

You could also put out one of these, Mint leaves, ground cloves, or chili powder and the ants will avoid that area. Ants avoid these things.

You could also try this...

Several drops of Peppermint oil may be sprinkled strategically along counters and walls to deter ants. It is very important to test surface area to make sure the oil will not destroy the finish.

Spray this solution in areas of your house that are hard to reach and where the ants are getting in. Ants don’t like the peppermint scent and stay away as long as the scent lasts. 16 oz. spray bottle ½ full with water, Add 2 teaspoons peppermint oil.
Shake

[3girlsmommy]

Thank You!!!

[Trishy]

Go get yourself some Terro Ant Killer. It's non-toxic and pesticide free, made from Borax and cornstarch. It might take 1-2 weeks for the ants to be gone but when they are they won't be back. I swear by this stuff.

[Indigo73]

I second the vinager suggestion. I noticed a major change in ants when I started using my homedade cleaner of vinegar, water and peppermint eo.

[vein]

Every year for a few weeks we get an ant infestation. They show up suddenly one day and go between the kitchen and bathroom. They go literally an inch away from the cat food every year but never have gotten in it. The bathroom has nothing to eat in it and so really, we have no clue as to what to do differently each year to keep these nasty things from starting in the first place. And like clockwork, a few weeks after they first show up, they suddenly disapear completely for the year.

This year, with Gavin walking I did NOT want then anywhere near the living room, but the path they take goes right by the doorway to the living room and ever year a few make their way into the living room. So, I found that they dislike cinnamon and sprinkled it liberally around the floor and wall where they were coming up. (they are apparently climbing up on the vents - not IN them, just on them) I washed the whole floor with vinegar and water, and was all smug that night because I didn't see any more.

Next morning, they were coming up on the OTHER vent that goes into the kitchen.

At any rate, I wasn't going to sprinkle any more cinnamon around there, as it would likely push them to the bedroom which has carpet, and I do NOT need ants crawling anywhere near me when I'm trying to sleep. To keep them from getting on top of the fridge where a few were trying to go, I sprinkled cinnamon around the edge of the top, and in front of the microwave just for good measure. They really really hate it and WILL avoid areas if they have to cross cinnamon.

If you know where the nest is, I've heard dumping grits on the entrance will get rid of the problem as well.

[livinwithmcs]

Try this. Works wonders. Save your water bottle tops, milk bottle tops, etc.

Take 1 tbsp of honey and 2 tbsp of boric acid (you can get it at any compound pharmacy) and mix together and then put paste into the little tops and place wehre you see the ants. Be sure to keep away from kids and animals though.

The ants take the bait back to the queen. They all eat it and it explodes in their stomachs.