Ants

[JamesMama]

We have an ant infestation (YAY for country living)...

DH bought some traps but I'm *terrified* to put them out because I have crawling babies and little puppies running around...

How can I keep the ants at bay WITHOUT killing my kids and pets?

I've tried the 50-50 vinegar mixture and they just traipse right through it. :

Oh, and something reasonably cheap please...we're poor folk round here.

[cottonwood]

We use borax. Mix some with corn syrup and a bit of water so it's not so thick the ants get stuck in it. It poisons them. It works only temporarily (I think other ants pick up the trail eventually,) but it does help quite a bit.

[JamesMama]

Is borax harmful if licked up by puppies? My dogs are into EVERYTHING. They actually lick up the vinegar water...nasty butts. LOL

[wendinbill]

Yes, Borax is harmful to pets. But you can put it in a jar-like an ant trap-with a small opening. They are attracted to the sweetness, but then get stuck. I put some borax & sugar on a shallow lid under my couch. We have ants BAD right now too! (the big black ones) Ugh-so frustrating!!

[JamesMama]

Thanks, I'll try the jar. They are coming in through a crack in the front door, I tried to plug it up but then the door didn't open right. And Eli likes to hide under the kitchen hutch right by our front door (even though he just barely fits)

[tracyhos]

We've got them too. I was chatting with one of my neighbors the other day, and they have them too. She told me, that pretty much everyone she knows has them right now....because the ground is so saturated with water. (I saw you're in IA too--- in the Flood thread in T.A.O.)

I've tried washing around my windows and doors with Peppermint Dr. Bronners liquid soap. I read on here about ants not liking peppermint... I also have used Shaklee liquid concentrate (diluted) to wash around my patio door, I read somewhere ants don't like it either.


So, anyhoo, you're not alone...and I'm not sure anything will fully get rid of them at this point.

[maxwill129]

Aspartame. My friend used this last year and she got rid of all ants in her basement. This year she had a ton of ants by her compost pile that grossed her out so they took some Equal and put a bunch around where the ants were crawling...no more ants!

[amber913]

What about honey with some borax sprinkled on top?

[DesireeH]

I use this: http://www.sznorinco.com/chemicals/i...agic_chalk.htm

It works great. I get it at swap meets in Orange County. I just googled it though and apparently it is illegal in the US.

I question that it's really "non toxic" but we've never gotten sick (granted I put it in places where my children do not play.) I line the locked cabinets, closets, higher up outlets, the garage, etc.