CLPowersWife

So we have a serious ant problem at our apt, and our management doesn't seem very concerned with it so it's up to us. We've put out ant bait traps, we've stuffed up all the holes in moldings and things with ant-spray-soaked paper towels, and we are vigilant about keeping crumbs off the counters, but they're still everywhere. It's gross.

So my boss suggested using Windex to get rid of them, because it's supposedly the best trick in the book, but I'm curious as to how... is it better than ant spray? Should we use it instead of, or in addition to, our ant spray? Also, will Windex stain the paint on my walls, or our furniture? Is Windex leather-safe? The ants like the sofa, much to my chagrin.

Any additional suggestions?

dom

Pest control or move.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Found this on Yahoo.

Getting rid of ants

frenchcu

I use a cap of antifreeze at my work. It works everytime. Not sure how safe it is around the house but if you don't think it is too risky give it a try.

phipark

Don't try anything until you try this...http://www.ortho.com/index.cfm/event...97d662624a3365

You can get it at Wal-Mart. The only bad thing is that I've only used it once and I still have a gallon of this stuff. We used to have a horrible ant problem. Haven't had ants in over two years. I spraying my parents house as well. They used to have these big ass carpenter ants. They were gone in a day. They also have two cats, so it's safe for the animals.

This stuff is unbelievably good.

soopa

Im gonna try tha Ortho stuff. I have big carpenter ants due to the trees hanging over my house I refuse to cut down.

JLatimer

I had a carpenter ant infestation. I found out lots about them including that they will travel hundreds of feet from the nest for food. The nests were in my house, they were travelling from my house on the overhead telephone wires that ran across the branches and ate the sap from the tree. I destroyed the nests by demo-ing the portion of the house that the nests were in (joists/studs/all) and eliminated the source of moisture (roof leak). There were about 10-12 nests full of larvae, as soon as the nest was exposed, they picked up the larvae and ran for cover. Some of the ants in the nest were a full inch long. I found one more nest this spring that I missed, the ants seemed dormant, but were still alive (after 2 years).

In any case - remove the source of moisture first. This keeps most any ant colony alive. Check for leaky windows, doors, roofs, etc. Also dont neglect under the sink, behind the counter, dripping A/C. Then, after that get out the killers - but if you dont remove the moisture the colony will stay.

GunnmeTaLCURA04

What about those microscopic ants taht you dont see until you feel them on you, and you only feel like a tickleling (sp) feeling and when you look closely its a tiny ant. We have ALOT of rain here, and I was told that aunts try to find shelter, so they welcome themselves into my home!!

Fibonacci

Be a good broad and keep your place spotless, is that too much to ask?

CLPowersWife

We have pest control coming out today; we'll see how well they do. Apparently ants are a recurring problem at our complex so I think we're really going to have to move to get rid of them. However, that Yahoo link was EXTREMELY helpful. Who'da thunk ants won't cross a line drawn with chalk?

Thanks for the help guys!

05TLTony

This reminds me of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

soopa

There was an old retaining wall around my driveway that collapsed and was taken in by the earth. Yesterday, I dug all the stones out to rebuild the fucker. I must have stumbled across 3 billion ant eggs. There were tons and tons and tons living in the rocks. I spent half the day batting ants off my arm.

Thank god for Raid.

SilviaGTO

NO!! she has cats. they will drink it and die.

soopa

i dont think he was suggesting leaving it in a puddle.

it would soak into the soil, i doubt the cats are going to eat dirt.

soopa

or maybe he was saying literally leaving a cap of antifreeze out? yeah.. dont do that. scott will drink it.

cl_jay

An alternative for Windex is just getting an empty bottle that has a spray nozzle (ie,Windex) putting dish washer soap and adding water.