Any natural remedies for ANTS?

[cdmaze]

I am being driven insane by ants. dH wants to buy some nasty sprays- and I am just yucked out by them and I'm worried about my 8 month old who crawls and it all over the place.

ANy natural ways to get rid of them?

[beachbaby]

: for ideas, too....I think the warm(er) weather has brought them out and....ARGH!

[allnaturalmom]

Do you know where they're coming from? Are they isolated in one area?

Fortunately, we've only had them one time... coming out of a corner of woodwork around our fireplace. I read that they will not cross a line of something powdered. I tried to confine them in with a salt line. Some still crossed, but it was easier to vacuum them up because the salt would slow them down. Cinnamon will somewhat repel them also.

I read this in a yahoo search... put out instant grits (they must be the instant kind) and let them eat them. The theory is that the next time they're around water or drink water, they will expand/blowup and die. I tried this and slowly they never came back. It took a few days. I have read that yeast will do the same thing. Also read in the same search that the idea is to kill the queen ant. The others take the food back to her. Once she's gone, the others won't make it.

Good Luck. Exhaust every avenue before resorting to those nasty sprays. Ants Suck.

[Ann-Marita]

Diatomaceous earth is good for crawling insects. It's a natural, mined, substance created when diatomes died a long time ago. The bugs crawl through it, it scratches their exosceleton (the hard covering on the outside of their bodies) and they die of dehidration.

No poison involved.

Be sure to get "food grade", not "pool grade". The pool grade is used in pool filters. I buy mine at plant nurseries. You might want to call and make sure they carry it before you drive anywhere.

It's so safe, you can even give it to your pets as a de-wormer.

However, I've seen warnings not to BREATH it, since the tiny scratchy pieces can sort of scratch your lungs.

I put it in a recycled large-ish spice jar with a shaker lid. Then I just put it around whatever I'm trying to protect (like around the foundation of the house, or surrounding a pet's food dish).

One negative, it goes away when it gets wet - just washes harmlessly into the dirt. Not a problem during the long hot, dry summer here, but might make it less useful during spring.

[philomom]

A second on the diatomaceous earth. Go see if you can find the "line" of ants as they enter and leave your house. Sprinkle the earth all over this line area. They don't like it. Re-apply often if it's been raining by you.

If you find their mound, plain old boiling water helps get rid of them.

Seal up any wall cracks near your home's foundation. I personally like that foamy spray in a can. It has some odor when applied but disappears quickly. Use it one morning and then take the kids off somewhere for a couple hours if you have any fume worries.

I've been enjoying your blog!
Take care,
philomom

[avendesora]

Is it true that the diatom... earth is borax?

Aven

[kamilla626]

We used chalk when we saw ant last year. Just drew around all the places where they were creeping in, and very few crossed the line.

[sasntappy]

Celery water(water from boiling some celery-like for stock) erases the chemical trail that the ants leave for more ants to follow. I put some in a spray bottle and use it to clean any surfaces the ants seem to be going for. It really seems to work well.

[intorainbowz]

regular old stinky Vinegar and water. (equal parts) Put it in a spray bottle. Spray where they are, where they are coming in, on the trail, and on the nest. The chalk thing works too.

[A&A]

They hate lavender.

[CandyApple]

I have done no research, but my mom always sprinkled a mixture of sugar and borax around the exterior perimeter of our house growing up. Seemed to work for her.

[reillys_mom]

We use corn meal/polenta and have gotten rid of some really bad ant infestations. We didn't have instant grits around, but I was amazed at how quickly it worked. My aunt, who lived in TX, would pour boiling water over chili peppers and garlic, let that steep and then put that around the perimeter of her house.

[Irishmommy]

Cinnamon worked for me. The stuff to dehydrate them doesn't seem any more humane than poison.

[littlecityfarmer]

I've heard of Tansy and Pennyroyal being good ant-and-crawling bug repellents, but not sure of safety w/ crawling babies around...

I've also heard that a chalk line works, since chalk is similar to diatomaceous earth...

Good luck!

[U2can]

Originally Posted by avendesora

Is it true that the diatom... earth is borax?

Aven

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae.

It works great on flea infestations too. Just sprinkle over the carpet, sweep in with a broom. May need to reapply after a few vacuumings.

[boobybunny]

We had ants until last week.

My husband did some research, and this is what he came up with Borax with sugar water.

OR while at Down to Earth he found this stuff... terro ant killer. Borax and sugar water in a 1 oz bottle, cost him 3.49http://www.terro.com/products.php?product=liquid_ant_killer



The ants swarm, let them eat, they worker ants take it back to the nest, feed the queen and presto! no more ants. The swarm was less than 2 inches wide, and we placed it in a corner, behind the kitchen aide.

yes, it is a chemical, but a naturally occurring one, and the safest pesticide out there. After being religious (hard for an atheist like myself) about keeping the kitchen clean, and bleaching all the counter tops daily, I thought this might be less toxic to the family.