Posted: 4/18/2009 6:14:51 PM EDT
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Well spring has sprung here in metro Chicago and I have a problem that I have NEVER had before. Within the last week, there seems to be a steady stream (not literally) of ants in my living room. Last weekend I applied a perimeter of Ortho Max Home Defense around the foundation of my house, like I do every spring. Now I have ants in the house. I have applied a line of Home Defense spray around the base boards of my living room, but that only kills them on contact. Does anyone have a proven solution for an ant problem?
Mike F And no, KILL THEM WITH FIRE won't apply here. |
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Step one: RELAX.
Step two: find what they are eating. It is probably candy or spilled sugar. Step three: Clean up the food source. Step four: For those of us who have dealt with this before, we have Torro Terro brand ant killer. It is basically corn syrup and borax. The ants eat this, take it back to their nest where they share it with the colony, and they all die. About twice a year, I go to the store and buy a bottle of boric acid and a bottle of Karo corn syrup. I make a pint of cheap "sugar loving" ant killer, and spread it around the foundation of my house. My property is somewhat sandy, and these ants are everywhere. |
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they've found a food source in your house. This, plus keep up with outside repellent outside the house. I've used ortho max and tetracide with good results. I would hit the foundation with a liquid concentrate, the spread some of the dry stuff around the house (I put it on the lawn and on the concrete) |
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they've found a food source in your house. Well this seems reasonable. We have a 20 month old that throws more food on the floor than he gets in his mouth. You think it is all cleaned up, but there must be crumbs. I guess we will have to double our efforts. Also, more ant killer will be on the way tomorrow. I will spread this around the outside of the house. Thanks for the advice. Mike F |
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I forgot, I encountered "grease loving" ants once. Deep fryer spilled on the counter, and I missed some when I was cleaning it up.
They wouldn't touch the sugar baits. They looked almost identical to the sugar loving ants, so I was quite frustrated when they wouldn't take the bait. The only thing that worked for that was just cleaning up the mess. Which would probably work for the sugar loving ants, but I got much more satisfaction giving them tainted food. |
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Terro. Not Torro. Terro. And it works. Terro is amazing. As luck would have it, I did purchase some ant traps today (I forgot that in the original post). I went down to see what I bought, and they were the Terro liquid traps. I guess I will have to go pick up some of their outdoor products tomorrow. Mike F |
If you neede help, i work for Teminix, and my buddy is the branch manager in Chi town, I'm in Peoria, but I can handle all your paper work and pricing is a little lower here than chicago. If you want some help, just get a hold of me. Already doing it for some ARFCOMM guys with termites.
Glad to help Mike |
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Wow, I was going to start an ANTS! thread tonight too. I was going to put it in Team or Do It Yourself, though.
I'm fastidious with foodstuffs at my home so I've been puzzled by my ants. I do leave catfud out in the cat bowl, which is an uncovered food item, but I've never noticed the ants over there. I had also been leaving out my iron skillet on the stovetop (since I use it almost nightly, and of course, it is never cleaned) but I've never noticed the ants there too. They're only on the sink island area! What gives. They love my water faucet? The little guys seem to be interested in making a beeline for it. |
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Wow, I was going to start an ANTS! thread tonight too. I was going to put it in Team or Do It Yourself, though. I'm fastidious with foodstuffs at my home so I've been puzzled by my ants. I do leave catfud out in the cat bowl, which is an uncovered food item, but I've never noticed the ants over there. I had also been leaving out my iron skillet on the stovetop (since I use it almost nightly, and of course, it is never cleaned) but I've never noticed the ants there too. They're only on the sink island area! What gives. They love my water faucet? The little guys seem to be interested in making a beeline for it. Same thing goes fro you, I can get Terminix to help you out and give ya "Arfcom" special pricing. Sounds like you need yard bait and a very good outside border spray done, then "crack and crevis" in the home. Ants are a little harder to get rid of than people think, that's why you want a "unlimited retreat" for free claus in your contract. DO NOT take a "one time" treatment fromn some one. ITS A WATE OF YOUR MONEY! Contact me if ya want some help...
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