Ants in my house—how do I get rid of them?

[WS4fun]

A few weeks ago I noticed a line of tiny ants marching in my basement along the wall. I also had them in my bathroom and they all appear to be coming from the baseboard on the exterior wall. I bought “Grants Kill Ants” and thought that was working but now the problem seems to be getting worse. Any recommendations–or the name of a good exterminator?

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[austin]

I don’t have any suggestions as our infestation last year was the fruit flies, but there was some discussion about ants a couple of seasons back-

https://westseattleblog.com/forum/topic/odorous-house-ants-help

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[Franci]

I had this problem a few years ago. Someone recommended an exterminator to spray the exterior perimeter of the house. That worked for me.

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[JanS]

my apt. bldg. recently had an invasion of carpenter ants…the big black kind. Landlord called exterminator, who treated the building from the outside…twice…and haven’t seen one ant since. I only know him by “mike”…but I can get you his particulars , if you want. He’s an older guy, nice, friendly, competent.

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[WS4fun]

Jan and Franci, I’d really appreciate getting more information on the exterminators that were used so I can compare costs. I’m happy to hear they were both successful. Austin, thanks for the link!

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[Franci]

Evidently the exterminator I used in not in business anymore.. Sorry!

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[WSB]

We have had this problem two years running. The small black ants are “odorous house ants.” (I call them “ODIOUS house ants.”)

We do not want to use toxics but have just started trying something relatively nontoxic that seems to be getting good results so far: Terro Liquid Ant Baits. They’re filled with a syrup that includes borax – yup, that same stuff used as soap/detergent – the ants go in, slurp up the syrup, don’t die immediately, go feed it to the queen and their colonymates, and theoretically they all die. First day after we bought them at a hardware store (roughly a buck a trap, sold in boxes of six), they drew big crowds. Now it’s slowed down. We’re warned not to get complacent, but this is the stuff you can use without harming kids, pets, etc. If you are hesitant to haul out the heavy artillery, I recommend it! Our house is almost 70 years old and the ants were *everywhere*.

The other thing of course is to just keep cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. We’re doing that too. If you have a crumb ANYWHERE, they will find it.

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[2krazy4words]

Ant deterrent:

Ant invasions can sometimes be deterred by washing counter tops, cabinets and floors with white distilled vinegar.

http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html#1e

have also heard mint is suppose to deter them

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[jissy]

WS4fun — had the same problem this time last year and again a couple weeks ago, they’d enter near a window frame and wander all the way to the kitchen.

B/C I have little ones that like to eat EVERYTHING we called Frank w/All-Pro Pest Control, 206-762-3959, a West Seattle guy. He did a “crack and crevice” treatment and has been back for 1 follow-up although we didn’t see anymore ants after the initial treatment.

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[acemotel]

Terro bait boxes have always worked like magic for me. I haul them out at the first sign of ants.

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[Mookie]

Terro ant bait on sale right now at the Junction Tru-Value – $3.49/box, the sixpack box. :-)

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[Blend]

the chemicals are so bad for us and the environment. I worked at a place with a long time ant problem. They would appear at my desk..and I would squish them with a tissue. I realized they smelled like pesticide after they were squished. The people I worked for always used that stuff to get rid of them. Well now they were back and are immune to the pesticide and have it in their bodies. It’s like it made them stronger in the end. It might get rid of the problem but they will come back and when they do..they will be bigger and more immune to the pesticide. It’s just not worth it. I used the stuff at the store that is all natural and is made from a citrus type base. You spray it where the ants are coming in..and it works. You just have to re-do it a few times. But it’s ok..cause it’s not harmful to you or the environment. I don’t know if they will get immune to this stuff..but if they do..I would just change to something else all natural that they don’t like.

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[JoB]

the tiny ants living in the window wall next to my bed have consumed nearly two tubes of Combat Source Kill Max gel and though they stumble drunkenly i seem to have more takers every time i part the curtain to replenish their banquet on my sill :(

hubby installed the new version of firefox and i have lost that comforting little lock icon that tells me it is safe to disclose my financial information…

and i have discovered to my dismay (by watching for the little s at the end of http ) that the purchase transaction at groupon may not be on a secure connection :(

my dogs have shed at least 5 fur coats and there seems to be no end in sight :(

i either have to turn off the heat or the spring drapes i climbed through the garage to find will have to be hemmed :(

the rain keeps pouring down :(

i am late starting my tomato seeds :(

my feet are cold even with socks :(

It’s going to take more than a new haircut to make me feel young and beautiful again :(

they found a swelling behind my friend’s eye that is likely to end her struggle with cancer :(

I am ready for tomorrow.

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[DP]

Ants in my house—how do I get rid of them?

Stomp like crazy, man!

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[hoffanimal]

I just used Green Choice Exterminators and so far have been happy. They use something that is safe to pets, people and the environment, but bad for ants. He sprayed inside where we have the problem and he said they walk through the stuff and carry it back to the nest where it is supposed to wipe out the colony. He told me a colony typically contain millions of ants so I don’t think the local kool-aid treatment will work. They have a $99 coupon right now.

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[kmweiner]

There is an environmental exterminator, Yohan of Progressive Pest Control 206-444-6250 who uses bait that is not toxic to people and pets. I have an ant problem every several years and have tried all of the advice I’ve gotten and after months of battling them I call Yohan. Try it you’ll like it. And tell him I referred you. Kayla

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[JoB]

how many teeny tiny ants do you think it would take to consume a ounce and a half of killer gel? a million maybe?

they are still eating though they have slowed down considerably…

I only brushed half a fur coat out of two dogs this morning..

hubby is home to look into the security issues on the PC

my feet are warmer

i still have time to start my tomato seeds on top of the water heater

the sun is trying to shine

who needs heat.. the drapes can drape.. i can tie them up if i need to..

and my friend requested a sugar free non-fat latte with no ice today…

it’s tomorrow now :)

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[Forest]

If you can establish their travel path, sprinkle boric acid powder across it. You may need to apply it a few times over several weeks, but eventually enough of the ants should walk through the powder that they carry it back to the nest and it kills the rest of the colony.

That’s what worked for me.

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[JoB]

Forest…

unfortunately their travel path is mostly inside the wall…

and what isn’t is within licking distance of my pups..

which is also why i haven’t used something around the perimeter of the house..

i have very opportunistic pups

by the way.. the hoards have trickled down to small gatherings.. but they are still munching away on the toxic goo…

getting higher than kite from from looks of it…

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