Ants (1 Viewer)

[TheIronSheik]

We have a mild ant problem in my house. I'm constantly walking around quoting Archer.

Now, our house is pretty clean. It's your average clean household. But no matter where I go in the house, there will be a couple ants roaming around. Hell, I see them in our master bathroom. I'm not sure what they could possibly be doing up there.

We've put down ant traps and they don't really seem to help.

I have noticed that outside, both back yard and front yard, there are ants everywhere. And I've talked with our neighbors and they have the same issues. Which leads me to believe that no matter what is done on the inside, it's going to need to start with something on the outside.

My question is this: If I want these damn things gone, what is the plan of attack? Is there stuff I can buy or should I just call a professional? I assume that I'll need to do this once or twice a year.

TIA

TIS

 

[Parrothead]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

 

[MC Gas Money]

Sprinkle some cinnamon at the entry points. They wont cross it and it also makes your house smell nice.

I believe cayenne and bay leaves keep them away too but if you have pets dont go for the cayenne

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Just buy a few of these and your problems are over: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/aardvark/

 

[TheIronSheik]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

 

[johnnycakes]

My link.

 

[dgreen]

Put some traps outside.

 

[eoMMan]

Throw some pants on the ground. They like to go in them.

 

[Parrothead]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

yep.. use the bait that they take back to the nest..

or adopt an anteater

 

[MC Gas Money]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

yep.. use the bait that they take back to the nest..or adopt an anteater

An anteater will just tear up his walls and property looking for them

 

[Foosball God]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

yep.. use the bait that they take back to the nest..or adopt an anteater

An anteater will just tear up his walls and property looking for them

Yeah, but at least his ant problem will be taken care of.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

yep.. use the bait that they take back to the nest..or adopt an anteater

An anteater will just tear up his walls and property looking for them

Yeah, but at least his ant problem will be taken care of.

Exactly.

 

[MC Gas Money]

if you spray outside, you will chase them inside..

Is this true?

yep.. use the bait that they take back to the nest..or adopt an anteater

An anteater will just tear up his walls and property looking for them

Yeah, but at least his ant problem will be taken care of.

Its no guarantee, and I think anteaters prefer termited.

Maybe he should move in some termites to go to go to war with the ants and then get the anteater to eat the termites.

When that is done he can just drown the anteater in a garbage pail and put him on the curb

 

[SeaDogStat]

I used Ortho Home Defense around the whole perimeter of the house. It comes in a large shaker bottle and is inert when first shaken out. It doesn't activate til you spray with some water and then it is like a 2-3 ft barrier around the house. I use it each spring and we've had damn few ants in the house.

I usually do it on a day it's going to rain so I don't have to lug the watering can around the other side of the house where there is no spigot.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I used Ortho Home Defense around the whole perimeter of the house. It comes in a large shaker bottle and is inert when first shaken out. It doesn't activate til you spray with some water and then it is like a 2-3 ft barrier around the house. I use it each spring and we've had damn few ants in the house.

I usually do it on a day it's going to rain so I don't have to lug the watering can around the other side of the house where there is no spigot.

I saw this for sale and was wondering if they worked. I may have to try this. Thanks.

 

[gianmarco]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

 

[Kraft...]

I used Ortho Home Defense around the whole perimeter of the house. It comes in a large shaker bottle and is inert when first shaken out. It doesn't activate til you spray with some water and then it is like a 2-3 ft barrier around the house. I use it each spring and we've had damn few ants in the house.

I usually do it on a day it's going to rain so I don't have to lug the watering can around the other side of the house where there is no spigot.

I spray around my foundation every year in early spring and it works great. One Spring I forgot/waited to long and we had loads of ants(with kids food is everywhere). I'll never forget again.If they're already inside there isn't much you can do but put down traps(in and out).

 

[TheIronSheik]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

No branches. But I can see on the patio and the walkway out front that there is a steady stream of ants moving towards the house. It's crazy.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I used Ortho Home Defense around the whole perimeter of the house. It comes in a large shaker bottle and is inert when first shaken out. It doesn't activate til you spray with some water and then it is like a 2-3 ft barrier around the house. I use it each spring and we've had damn few ants in the house.

I usually do it on a day it's going to rain so I don't have to lug the watering can around the other side of the house where there is no spigot.

I spray around my foundation every year in early spring and it works great. One Spring I forgot/waited to long and we had loads of ants(with kids food is everywhere). I'll never forget again.If they're already inside there isn't much you can do but put down traps(in and out).

What about patios? Do you put it around the perimeter of the patio?

 

[Kraft...]

I used Ortho Home Defense around the whole perimeter of the house. It comes in a large shaker bottle and is inert when first shaken out. It doesn't activate til you spray with some water and then it is like a 2-3 ft barrier around the house. I use it each spring and we've had damn few ants in the house.

I usually do it on a day it's going to rain so I don't have to lug the watering can around the other side of the house where there is no spigot.

I spray around my foundation every year in early spring and it works great. One Spring I forgot/waited to long and we had loads of ants(with kids food is everywhere). I'll never forget again.If they're already inside there isn't much you can do but put down traps(in and out).

What about patios? Do you put it around the perimeter of the patio?

Don't have one but assume it would be a good idea

 

[MikeIke]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

No branches. But I can see on the patio and the walkway out front that there is a steady stream of ants moving towards the house. It's crazy.

Maybe build a tiny fence to keep them out?

Post a little "No Ants Allowed" sign on the walkway?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

No branches. But I can see on the patio and the walkway out front that there is a steady stream of ants moving towards the house. It's crazy.

Maybe build a tiny fence to keep them out?

Post a little "No Ants Allowed" sign on the walkway?

http://thumb7.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/840328/175645745/stock-vector-no-ants-sign-no-ants-symbol-with-a-funny-running-ant-175645745.jpg

 

[TheIronSheik]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

No branches. But I can see on the patio and the walkway out front that there is a steady stream of ants moving towards the house. It's crazy.

Maybe build a tiny fence to keep them out?

Post a little "No Ants Allowed" sign on the walkway?

Interesting. I'm going to start calling the ones in the house "illegals."

 

[Parrothead]

catch one and rip its head off, and put the head on a toothpick

 

[TheIronSheik]

catch one and rip its head off, and put the head on a toothpick

I tried the tactic of killing one and leaving it for the rest of his buddies to see. But I think they just end up eating him.

 

[E-Z Glider]

you talking little ants or the big ones?

eta - if its the big ones, ffa helped me with this a few years ago

 

[Parrothead]

catch one and rip its head off, and put the head on a toothpick

I tried the tactic of killing one and leaving it for the rest of his buddies to see. But I think they just end up eating him.

woah.. you're next

 

[meatwad1]

Pour bleach where ever you see them. They will never come back.

 

[Osaurus]

Another yes for the Ortho spray. I spray the inside and outside perimeter every 6 months and rarely see any bugs. And I live in Tampa.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Terro drops. Buy at home depot

 

[Tom Servo]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

My wife absolutely freaks out at the sight of ants, particularly in the kitchen. So I have Terminix come in 4x a year at $95/visit to spray inside and out.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Another yes for the Ortho spray. I spray the inside and outside perimeter every 6 months and rarely see any bugs. And I live in Tampa.

The inside too? Like the basement?

Again, maybe you would know, I ask: When doing the perimeter, how would you do things like a patio? Would I use it wear the patio meets the house, or would it be a perimeter around the patio as if that were part of the house?

 

[TheIronSheik]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

My wife absolutely freaks out at the sight of ants, particularly in the kitchen. So I have Terminix come in 4x a year at $95/visit to spray inside and out.

Wow. That seems expensive.

 

[Tom Servo]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

My wife absolutely freaks out at the sight of ants, particularly in the kitchen. So I have Terminix come in 4x a year at $95/visit to spray inside and out.

Wow. That seems expensive.

Keeping the wife quiet about bugs, ants and flying things makes this a good investment...if you know what I mean.

 

[Osaurus]

Another yes for the Ortho spray. I spray the inside and outside perimeter every 6 months and rarely see any bugs. And I live in Tampa.

The inside too? Like the basement?Again, maybe you would know, I ask: When doing the perimeter, how would you do things like a patio? Would I use it wear the patio meets the house, or would it be a perimeter around the patio as if that were part of the house?

No basement here. Just the perimeter on the inside and then the outside. I have a Lanai/screen room attached to house. I spray along the house in there as well. I don't go beyond there as there is no point since I have a healthy crop of lizards in the yard doing their thing. I would do the basement too if you're seeing them FWIW.

 

[Copeman]

Whats this about spraying the Ortho spray with water to activate it? I never saw that on the label, have never done that, and it still works for me.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Whats this about spraying the Ortho spray with water to activate it? I never saw that on the label, have never done that, and it still works for me.

It's the one that is a shaker. The water activates it.

 

[Brony]

I've farted around with little traps around the kitchen, sprays, outdoor ant traps, Ortho Home Shield and got OK results. The past 2 years I've used Ant Shield and I've been amazed by the results. I sprinkle around the perimeter of the house in the spring and WA LAAA no ants. Used about 1/4 of the bottle for the annual perimeter.

 

[JohnfrmCleveland]

We use a service (Terminix, I think) that comes out and sprays (outside only) 4 times a year. Not only are there no bugs in the house, but there are almost no friggin' spiderwebs around the outside of the house anymore, either. It's actually pretty cheap, and it's completely worth it.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I've farted around with little traps around the kitchen, sprays, outdoor ant traps, Ortho Home Shield and got OK results. The past 2 years I've used Ant Shield and I've been amazed by the results. I sprinkle around the perimeter of the house in the spring and WA LAAA no ants. Used about 1/4 of the bottle for the annual perimeter.

Cool.

Is this stuff good to use at any time? Or have I missed the window for this season? The ants are here year round, but they are by far the most noticeable in the warmer months.

 

[TheIronSheik]

We use a service (Terminix, I think) that comes out and sprays (outside only) 4 times a year. Not only are there no bugs in the house, but there are almost no friggin' spiderwebs around the outside of the house anymore, either. It's actually pretty cheap, and it's completely worth it.

Looking on their site, it says $115 a quarter. Is that what you pay? I had no idea it was this much. I would have thought about half that.

 

[popeye]

We use a service (Terminix, I think) that comes out and sprays (outside only) 4 times a year. Not only are there no bugs in the house, but there are almost no friggin' spiderwebs around the outside of the house anymore, either. It's actually pretty cheap, and it's completely worth it.

Looking on their site, it says $115 a quarter. Is that what you pay? I had no idea it was this much. I would have thought about half that.

That's about what I'm paying. Plus they clean any exterior webs from the house, clear outside vents and even treat inside if you'd like. If the pests reappear, Terminix will come back for free between scheduled visits.

 

[MC Gas Money]

Check for any tree branches or plants that might be touching your house. Great entry point if they are. You can try to spray yourself around the edges of your home, but you might be better served calling an exterminator to do an exterior spray. It'll run you about $50.

My wife absolutely freaks out at the sight of ants, particularly in the kitchen. So I have Terminix come in 4x a year at $95/visit to spray inside and out.

Wow. That seems expensive.

Keeping the wife quiet about bugs, ants and flying things makes this a good investment...if you know what I mean.

Cant put a price on silence