[net.consumers] Getting rid of ants

andy@altos86.UUCP (Andy Hatcher) (11/25/85)

*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***

Some time ago I remember seeing an article about controlling
the little black ants that hang around kitchens, without
using nasty chemicals.  (We have a 9 month old, who is just
starting to get into everything).

I need someone who either has the article, or remembers the
method to please send me some mail about it.

	Thanks,
		Andy Hatcher
		Altos Computer Systems

		ucbvax!dual!vecpyr!altos86!andy

ibyf@ihlpa.UUCP (Scott) (11/28/85)

> Some time ago I remember seeing an article about controlling
> the little black ants that hang around kitchens, without
> using nasty chemicals.  (We have a 9 month old, who is just
> starting to get into everything).
> 
> I need someone who either has the article, or remembers the
> method to please send me some mail about it.
> 	Thanks,
> 		Andy Hatcher
Try using Uncles!!

rcook@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU (11/30/85)

My father is a commercial Exterminator, and he takes care of this problem 
constantly.  I would suggest calling one because the "stuff" your going
to buy in a hardware store (or whereever) just isn't going to work.

I would suggest the following advice.

Call a SMALL (I emphasize small) Pest Control company and explain your
situation.  Tell them you have a small child and don't want any harmful
chemicals around. (none of the chemicals my father uses is toxic except
for the chemical he uses for termites, which is probed into the 
foundation)      
	
I have to warn you against a BIG Pest Control CORPORATION, because they
often seem to be more careless with their work. (why shouldn't they,
they're after the money, and can afford to lose the few customers that
get bad service.  or I should say the few customers that REALIZE they are 
getting bad service.

If you are stead-fast(sp??) against calling an exterminator, I would 
have to say you're just going to have to wait it out.  Ants are one
of those seasonal pests, and will usually go away after it gets a 
little cooler (asuming it gets cool where you are.)



	 Rob Cook						
							
UUCP:	 {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!rcook          
						
					
      'Life is just a cocktail party on the street'        
			-Mick Jagger-                     

pmd@cbsck.UUCP (Paul M. Dubuc) (12/02/85)

I tried to mail this to the person who originally posted the
article, but it bounced.  Seeing as it may also be  of interest
to others with the same problem, I'll post it:


We had a problem with black ants in our kitchen a couple of years ago.
We tried spraying in the kitchen but had a hard time getting rid of them
until one evening I noticed a trail of them coming from their nest (a hole
in the ground) in our back yard and up the back wall of our kitchen.  I
sprayed a good dose of Raid Ant and Roach Killer all along that path, and
we haven't had a problem since.  So I think the trick is to find where they
are getting into your house.

Good luck,

-- 
Paul Dubuc 	cbsck!pmd 	\/-\
				/\-/

kpk@gitpyr.UUCP (Kevin P. Kleinfelter) (12/02/85)

A few years ago in The Mother Earth News, someone detailed a method for
getting rid of ants without pesticides.  I do not recall the article,
but the magazine is available on microfiche, so your local library should
have the back issues.  

    I think the author used an aromatic substance such as cinamon powder.
The basis of his reasoning was that the ants used a sense of smell to determine
where they wanted to go and that an aromatic substance would confuse them.

Disclaimer: I have not used this method, the magazine may or may not be
worthwhile, etc.

There is one bright spot...if the method fails, at least your house will
smell nice! (:-)



Disclaimer of responsibility: I am irresponsible.

plw@drutx.UUCP (KerrPL) (12/02/85)

I don't know if this has been posted before or not, but.....I know
it works. The next time you peel a potatoe, take some of the
thinnest peeling and dry it out completely. Put this in the spot
the ants are coming from. They will not enter where the peelings
are at. My parents had a problem of ant after they built on to
their house and was told of this. It is amazing to see the ants
leave.
		Patti Kerr
		ihnp4!drutx!plw

essachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (12/02/85)

I've found that the best way to keep ants out of the house is to
spray OUTSIDE the house (ants live in the ground and are coming
in and out all the time) with insecticide (I hope you don't object
to using it outdoors).  If I can, I try to look around the foundation
to see where they are coming in, and just spray there (often at
the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, where you see them
indoors).  Failing that, just spray around the entire foundation
(I usually have to do this 2-3 times each summer, but within a
day after doing so, the ants are all gone for several weeks, at least).
-- 
				Ed Sachs
				AT&T Bell Laboratories
				Naperville, IL
				ihnp4!ihuxl!essachs

rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) (12/02/85)

> 
> My father is a commercial Exterminator, and he takes care of this problem 
> constantly.  I would suggest calling one because the "stuff" your going
> to buy in a hardware store (or whereever) just isn't going to work.
> 
> I would suggest the following advice.
> 
> Call a SMALL (I emphasize small) Pest Control company and explain your
> situation.  Tell them you have a small child and don't want any harmful
> chemicals around. (none of the chemicals my father uses is toxic except
> for the chemical he uses for termites, which is probed into the 
> foundation)      
> 	
> I have to warn you against a BIG Pest Control CORPORATION, because they
> often seem to be more careless with their work. (why shouldn't they,
> they're after the money, and can afford to lose the few customers that
> get bad service.  or I should say the few customers that REALIZE they are 
> getting bad service.
> 
> If you are stead-fast(sp??) against calling an exterminator, I would 
> have to say you're just going to have to wait it out.  Ants are one
> of those seasonal pests, and will usually go away after it gets a 
> little cooler (asuming it gets cool where you are.)
> 
> 
> 
> 	 Rob Cook						
> 							
If you want to try home remedies first, I've tried two things in the
past, which was effective when done together.

1.  Found the probable entry point of the ants, and used Raid (or Black
Flag, etc. ) Ant/Roach spray on that small area only.  In my case, this was
only on the outside edge of door sills, stoops, etc., as we have a child and
a cat, and I didn't want any toxic substances inside the house.

2.  For longer term, I sprinkled Diazanon crystals around the outside
foundation perimeter.  This shouldn't be a health hazard to pets, assuming
your pets don't eat or chew the grass, etc. right next to your foundation.
Again, use restraint in using Diazanon where it might be ingested by
animals, etc.

With winter approaching, step 2 isn't really necessary anyway.

Bob Schleicher
ihuxk!rs55611

judy@phoenix.UUCP (Judy S. Snow) (12/13/85)

Cinnamon works really well!  We spread it all over the kitchen
counters (use a lot).  Your kitchen looks bad, but smells great.
The season changed and they went away - in the meantime, it sure
beat the smell of Raid!

	Judy Snow (phoenix!judy)