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How to get rid of stuff » Pest Problems » How to Get Rid of Ants
 

How to Get Rid of Ants

February 25th, 2006 by admin
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If only people worked as hard as ants. These amazing insects cover the earth and perform essential tasks in our environment. Even so, there aren't many people that appreciate them performing those tasks in their personal environments. This article will detail the process of removal.

1. Are they really ants?

Ants and termites are commonly confused so it is important to figure out which one you have before you go any further. Take a look at these two pictures and compare them with the insects present in your infestation. Ants have very thin waists and bent antennae while termites have thick waists and straight antennae.
ants termites
This article does not cover carpenter ants, which can be identified by:
  • Foraging ants that vary greatly in their size.
  • Piles of sawdust collecting around slitted openings.
  • Large, winged ants appearing in your home in the spring time.
  • A faint rustling noise that can be heard within the walls near the nest.
If you want some really nice pictures of ants, check out myrmecos.net.

2. Ant-proofing your home

The first step in battling an ant infestation is to eliminate the things in the environment that are attracting them. Know that ant-proofing your home will also decrease the number of cockroaches (Learn the Seven ways to exterminate cockroaches) , moths and beetles, and by extension predators like spiders. Different species of ants eat different things, and with over 15,000 species on this planet it would be very difficult to list them all here. The important things to know are:
  1. What are they eating?
  2. How are they getting in?
  3. Where is the nest?
  4. Do they bite?
Harvester and fire ants bite and can cause allergic reactions, but rarely enter homes. You will likely have to clean up live ants during the ant-proofing process. When you need to kill a quantity of ants, use either a sponge soaked with soapy water or a spray bottle filled with soapy water. The soap helps to kill the ants while you clean them up so you don't have to squish them all. When you do locate a string of ants, take a few moments to study them before you start smiting. Attempt to understand where they are going and from where they are coming this way you can eliminate the sources. Seal up any openings that they are coming in through with silicone caulk .

Eliminate food sources

Ants are normally found in locations with a high food concentration - kitchens, so this is where we will start. Follow these steps to ant-proof (and cockroach-proof) your food:
  • Store food in rubbermaid type plastic containers, jars with lids that have sealing gaskets, or jars with tight-fitting hinged lids.
  • Refrain from storing anything in the open or in bags.
  • Jars without sealing gaskets can permit ants to enter through the threads, so replace any that you find with the above mentioned containers.
    • cookie jar candy jar cookie jar
  • Clean out your toaster or toaster oven after every use.
  • Clean (with soap) all of the surfaces in your kitchen at least once a week to remove crumbs and food residue.
  • vaccuumSweep or vacuum the kitchen floor weekly.
  • When throwing away food wrappers or containers, rinse out any remaining organic material first.
  • Save all of your organic waste in a sealed container and dispose of it separately. Either compost it in your garden (Tips on how to make a compost), or throw it in the trash bag as you take the garbage out.
  • Use trash liners (bags) and ensure your trash can has a tight-fitting lid.
  • Rinse out the trash can if it ever gets grime or garbage on it.
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Related Keywords

 
  1. Ants
  2. Termite
  3. Roaches
  4. Ant Control
  5. Fire Ant

 

 
Previous Tips »
  1. September 19th, 2009 at 10:59 pm    Laurie Says:

    I have used Terro ant killer it is sold in stores. Its a plastic tray of some form of ant killer, they come into the plastic thing and die. There is also another one that you put some liquid on a dot and they eat it or something like that. My family has used it for years and years and it is what I am currently using. I have a huge infestation and am trying to figure out where they are coming from and this is atleast attracting them so I can try to find where they are coming from.

  2. May 22nd, 2009 at 6:34 am    Michelle Langford Says:

    I noticed large black ants on my patio,and garage door sprinkle the hottest red pepper you can find, get an big bag,or jar crushed or powdered,is fine as long as its dry,I did this 6:00 this morning, it is now 8:32 not an single ant or anything, Ive gone out to check an few time,if the peppers set your mouth on fire think what it will do to them.try it,

  3. September 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pm    sylvia ramirez Says:

    Boric acid can be found in most dollar stores for only a few dollars. I’m going to try it outdoor, where we have a huge red ant mount.

  4. September 19th, 2008 at 2:21 am    Victor Says:

    We have ants coming out of our ceiling, around
    our skylight. These ants have wings and last
    July and August they flew from the ceiling all
    over me. We purchased an ant killing liquid to
    spray on them and the wooden ceiling cracks but
    they are still around. They show up dead on top
    of my window sill. Tonight I heard some kind of
    munching over our kitchen light. Are these
    carpenter ants? They look just like regular ants
    with segmented bodies, but have wings. Most are
    small, a few are large. Help! What can we do to
    get rid of them?

  5. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 pm    joseph Says:

    non-cooked grits kills them very well it works like birds eating dry rice they explode its that simple

  6. September 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm    Chad Says:

    You can purchase borax at any Wal-Mart. The last time I checked it was in the cleaning supplies department and the brand they carried was 20 Mule Team Borax. You can also sometimes buy it in the pest control section in the form of boric acid. However, it is more expensive per ounce than the 20 Mule Team and it is the exact same thing.

    Your grandma probably knows all about the stuff. They used to use it in washing clothes. They didn’t mess around with stains back in the day. Just throw a low grade acid on it. :-)

  7. September 5th, 2008 at 11:12 am    chris Says:

    Dumb Question…where can one purchase borax? I have only found Boraxo which has soap mixed in…I’ve been overrun and need some soon.
    Thanks

  8. August 17th, 2008 at 10:25 pm    Jeff Says:

    Yeah i have fire ants too but i find them everywhere and i don’t know where they are but i found some in my sister’s bedroom,my brothers computer desk, my staircase, the floor, the kitchen, bathroom, and i am even scared to get bitten by these ants everywhere and my parents don’t know what to do and i am looking online to search for solutions. But i did a test and i found out that hot water doesn’t always work. It depends on how much you pour, and how hot it is because the hotter it is it will kill the ants easier. and i am going to try the vinegar. and sugar with borax and water. and i am going crazy. and my brother is telling me to tell my mom to hire a professional to do it. Red ants are really annoying -_-

  9. August 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm    Laura Says:

    I don’t know about customs etc, but Chinese Chalk is still sold in Canada – usually in China Town or any Chinese/Vietnamese corner store.

    I’m using Borax now…so far it’s successful. I’m going to try the homemade ant bait this weekend.
    Thanks for the how-to all-natural tips!

  10. August 4th, 2008 at 10:19 am    asrsjb4ever Says:

    I USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER OR VINEGAR THE BOTH WORK WELL

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