Help!! Ants!!

[irishserra]

I have a terrible ant problem in our kitchen. Awful! They are everywhere. My cupboards are practically empty, and were even scrubbed AGAIN a few days ago. EVERYTHING is kept in my refrigerator (as of course I've mostly got fresh fruits and veggies and herbs in the home) and the few condiments or supplements I've got in the cupboards are kept clean AND stored in plastic storage bags. My counter tops are clean and dry. I feel like I'm living some cheesy low-grade horror movie...

Does anyone have any suggestions for ridding your kitchen of ants without purchasing and spraying toxic bug killer? Are there any herbs or foods that will repel ants? Garlic? :p **she asks hopefully, as if ants are little vampires**

Seriously, though...besides seeing if David Wolfe would like to come over for dinner **couldn't resist**, has anyone on these forums any experience successfully and humanely getting rid of ants?

[ViolinCyndee]

I used white vingar and water in a spray bottle. I also mop with it. Seems to help but you gotta do it pretty often..

[juliebove]

Here are some suggestions:

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980528a.cfm

[spicyfull]

Here are some suggestions:

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980528a.cfm

I don't have a problem but Thanks for this link, it has a lot of useful things.

[Colorawdo girl]

Seriously, though...besides seeing if David Wolfe would like to come over for dinner **couldn't resist**, has anyone on these forums any experience successfully and humanely getting rid of ants?
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hahahahahahahahha I found that so clever and so funny.

Ants have been a challenge at times. I love them and do not want to kill them. Many suggestions are for killing them. I have had success with ground cinnamon. They do not like it and go away. It takes patience so usually by the end of the season, they are gone...haha.

Seriously I hear you and what a pain huh? Much success for you in that!!!

[T-Bird]

Yes - vinegar!!!


Vinegar actually get's rid of the chemical signal ants leave for others to follow

[Ants]

18 - At length, when they came to a valley of ants. One of the ants said: O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.".

This is from 14 centuries. From the glorious Qura'an. It should be time for those who have doubts about Mohammad to question themselves...

Ants talk here:
http://home.olemiss.edu/~hickling/

More to read here:
http://www.bismikaallahuma.org/archives/2005/talking-ants-in-the-quran/

[oceanluv]

I have used the artificial sweetener Equal to rid my pantry of a horrid ant infestation. I sprinkled it liberally everywhere they were. They were all gone by the next day, and haven't come back since. I don't know if they all died or what, but they sure didn't like the little blue package sweetener.

[JennaBoBenna]

This is exactly the reason I wanted an apartment on the 2nd floor!! I have ant problems no matter where I go and how clean my environment is! I've tried cinnamon, cayenne, gooey ant traps, corn meal, baby powder, everything! corn meal works, but kills the ants and colony, ant traps work but can be messy and also kills the ants. The ants at my house became immune to the cinnamon and cayenne :confused: drove me nuts!
best luck to you!

[oceanluv]

something else that works well is diatomaceaus (sp?) earth, not the kind that is used for pools, but the kind that is used for gardening, etc.

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I have been trying to fight these ants for the past month. I hate to kill them. I just want them out of my kitchen. I have tried peppermint oil, vinegar, eucaliptys (sp?) oil, cinnamon oil, and citranella oil. My mom told me to use a cucumber. She said to rub the cucumber in the cracks and that would get rid of them. That did not work, I came back and some of the ants munching on a seed that was left behind!

[spicyfull]

I have been trying to fight these ants for the past month. I hate to kill them. I just want them out of my kitchen. I have tried peppermint oil, vinegar, eucaliptys (sp?) oil, cinnamon oil, and citranella oil. My mom told me to use a cucumber. She said to rub the cucumber in the cracks and that would get rid of them. That did not work, I came back and some of the ants munching on a seed that was left behind!

For sure, use the Equal, the artificial sweetner, that what Humans consume. Thanks Ocean Love.