Question from Caroline
Hi Debra,
My home is prone to ants; and this time , as well as regular foundation spraying with Termidor, and placing advion ant bait in heavily infested areas within the home 3 x over the past month, it has been over a month that the ants invade the master bath daily to the point of being unusable. Usual spraying of vinegar and water, sprinkling black pepper or cinnamon was to no avail. I had to call in a professional exterminator who is trying to work with me because of MCS.
Debra’s Answer
I’m going to say something that may sound obvious, but have you tried filling the holes where they come into the house?
This has been my tried-and-true method for controlling ants for almost 40 years and it always works. I even did it when I lived in an apartment building in San Francisco. All the other units were sprayed for ants, but I wouldn’t let them in my unit and did this instead. Even with the spraying the other units had ants. Mine was the only one that did not.
All you need is a bottle of Elmer’s White Glue and a damp sponge.
Trace the line of incoming ants back to where they are coming into your house and make note of the spot. Then wipe up the ants with the sponge. Fill in the hole with Elmer’s Glue. Then go to the next entrance and do the same.
The ants will continue to find new ways to get in until you’ve sealed all the holes. Then you will never have an ant problem again.
We use diatomaceous earth to control the ants on the outside of the house. You can buy it at a gardening store. It is not poisonous, and it kills the ants by getting into the crevices in their exoskeleton, and it impossible for them to move about. You can just sprinkle it around outdoors where you see trails or mounds, or you can get a contraption that sort of squirts it out. It is a white powder, and you should probably be careful not to inhale it.
For in the house, we simply cannot find out all the places where they are entering, so the glue idea does not completely solve the problem for us. Putting Terro ant bait in little drops on a small piece of paper right in their trials works. It is made from borax and sugar, and they love it! It will kill any ants that eats some, and they carry it back to the nest too.
Both good suggestions as well.
Lets hope that works for you. Ants are the worst. I tried the glue thing and it worked some in the kitchen but I live in a 1939 built home and it would take 1000 bottles of Elmer’s to help me. I used Terro Ant stakes outside my home all around the base of the house for the last 2 years and did not see 1 ant. Going to do it again this year. I am not sure how toxic the stuff is but it was easy to use and worked. I do use the Elmer’s inside the house when I see something that needs a seal.
Acccording to their website, Terro Ant Stakes contain 5% borax and 95% nonspecified ingredients. In this case I’m assuming these other ingredients are relatively benign, since it is not a liquid product. the other 95% would be fillers and such.
this is the BEST solution I’ve ever ever heard! ty, debra!
Thank you! It really works. 🙂
I see ants AND mountains of sand or finely crumbled concrete, probably from the concrete patio on the other side of the basement door. I look them up to find they are “pavement or concrete ants.” I tried cayenne and read the recipe for borax and sugar water. We have an elderly cat and don’t want him poisoned. Your idea, Debra, for plugging the holes is great. I still wonder where they go once they are inside and why the concrete “sand” is part of their work.
Don’t know about their habits, but I would try plugging the holes.