Question

Anyone experiencing a recent infestation of ants in your home? we've been killing them left and right since the weekend when we had warmer weather. I don't want to call an exterminator because of the chemicals they might use around my baby. Is it time for ants already?!  

Answer 1

Try sprinkling cinnamon on the trail where they passes. if you have cinnamon oil its much better. I used it in my kitchen when I see ants  when it started getting warmer. Its been very effective cause I haven’t seen them back for 2 yrs now. I called the exterminator before, I let him spray out side the house because I have little kids and dogs. So I read up in natural things to kill ants  and cinnamon came up. Now I can’t use cinnamon for my aunts ‍cause they seem to like the flavor and they keep on coming back  Plus killing the Aunts is a life sentence in the big house.  

Comments

Something about the cinnamon oil that if they bring in their hive that the queen or the other ants  stay away from. Try googling it.  

Answer 2

It is usually the uncles I have to worry about. JK. I couldn't resist.  

Comments

@agitprop91 I didn't want to correct anything, but this spelling error cracked me up!  

Answer 3

We used Eco Tech Pest Control and they were *really* great about giving us options (and being truthful about the toxicity level of each option). They asked us how aggressive we wanted to be, and chose different level of toxicity for inside in bedrooms, outside in yard (around play areas), and downstairs in basement. Our house had been empty for a couple years, and the ants had formed quite a few giant hills, so calling the exterminators was super helpful to help us those first 2 years. Now, we can control them through more natural means.  

Answer 4

We use this any time we've see trails and it works every time!  
https://www.mashupmom.com/yes-borax...ants/

Answer 5

Spraying peppermint oil and water works to :) Good luck!  

Answer 6

Baby powder works too!  

Answer 7

Red pepper works great!  

Answer 8

Isn't salt a thing? Like you make a line of salt where they are coming in and they won't cross it? I remember back in college I'd have glasses of whiskey or rum around so they would all just crawl in there and die. What a waste of good liquor.  

Comments

@vitavitaceous39435 Hmmm. perhaps.  

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I've heard the same for baking soda

Answer 9

I love my aunts! I would never want to get rid of them  

Answer 10

Baby powder

Answer 11

This happened to me one year when it was still cold. I use a spray bottle with water and borax, it's been the most effective for all bugs in my house

Answer 12

We had a big problem with ants in the summer. We tried every natural remedy we could-- cinnamon, peppermint oil, etc. --then borax, but they were no match for the ants. Ultimately we did call out an exterminator who gave us treatment options with our son and dog in mind-- we took his recommendation of a conservative approach that involved spraying a lot outside of our house, placing bait and spray in the house where it was out of reach/access to our kid and dog, and then fixing some worn out caulk around our window that he found that was allowing them to get in. He offered to come back and pursue a more aggressive option if that didn't work, but it had worked great. Hopefully you can find a solution you're comfortable with but, if not, wanted to put out there that the exterminators can help with kids/pets in mind!  

Answer 13

Yes they're everywhere! We don't want to spray Raid all over because of the kids.  

Answer 14

I just found my first one yesterday! We get the tiny little sugar ants pretty bad, but spraying the outside of the house with Ortho Home Defense does a pretty good job of getting rid of them. Then I set up traps under the couches where the cats/kids can't get to them for the rest. I haven't yet resorted to an exterminator, but we might if I decide I can't handle it this year, haha.  

Answer 15

Yep they showed up this weekend

Answer 16

I took everything out of the kitchen cabinets and pantry. Double zip locked bagged all open flour sugar cereal etc. wiped down with a mixture of vinegar and water. We cleaned the table 2-5 times a day and mopped 2-3 times during the week. They disappeared working a week & half.  

Answer 17

When we moved into our house 4 years ago, we had flies like crazy in the middle of February! It was crazy.