Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Debbie, Last year we used sliced cucumber all around the doorways. It worked right away. I don't know why it works, it just did. Maureen IF OUR CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN THE WAY WE TEACH, THEN WE MUST TEACH THE WAY THEY LEARN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Debbie, Last year we used sliced cucumber all around the doorways. It worked right away. I don't know why it works, it just did. Maureen IF OUR CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN THE WAY WE TEACH, THEN WE MUST TEACH THE WAY THEY LEARN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Hi Debbie, According to my research, ants don't like mint, cayenne pepper, and baby powder...I'll keep looking. Maggie ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Hi Debbie, According to my research, ants don't like mint, cayenne pepper, and baby powder...I'll keep looking. Maggie ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Where and how are you applying the arsenic? We used arsenic with fantastic results when I was a teen, but I havent' been able to find that stuff in forever. We used the liquid type that you put on paper then stick it in a very inconspicuous place. lil dable do ya. > Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and > finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the > base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's > hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. > > Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my > kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but > the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching > them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines > across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. > > What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping > termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here > know???? > > PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning > scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with > shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. > I'm losing it. > > Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start > taking over. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 , I had a professional exterminator come in because the ant problem was more than I could handle last year. I'm assuming that the chemicals he used contained arsenic, but I'm not entirely sure. Apparently arsenic is very common in exterminator products. It's in small quantities but with my son's hair tests being so high in it, I really didn't want to add any more exposure. I talked to my doctor and we went through all the possible sources of exposure. The only one I could say " yes " to was pesticides. It could be from the ant extermination last year ... or it could be in my well water since I live on farmland (who knows what's in the ground from past farming). We're testing our well water in the near future (gotta kick DH in gear on that). I just wanted to thank everyone who gave me ideas. For a short term fix, I wiped down the trails with windex to erase the scent lines and then sprinkled cinnamon on the entry & congregation points. It appears to be working, amazingly. Who would've thought cinnamon? Bonus, my kitchen smells like cinnamon buns! ;-) I've got a ton more ideas from people to try if that doesn't work well enough. Thank you all for helping me in my time of absurd panic, lol. Debbie with twins - Jordan (ASD) 2.5yo - (NT) 2.5yo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 , I had a professional exterminator come in because the ant problem was more than I could handle last year. I'm assuming that the chemicals he used contained arsenic, but I'm not entirely sure. Apparently arsenic is very common in exterminator products. It's in small quantities but with my son's hair tests being so high in it, I really didn't want to add any more exposure. I talked to my doctor and we went through all the possible sources of exposure. The only one I could say " yes " to was pesticides. It could be from the ant extermination last year ... or it could be in my well water since I live on farmland (who knows what's in the ground from past farming). We're testing our well water in the near future (gotta kick DH in gear on that). I just wanted to thank everyone who gave me ideas. For a short term fix, I wiped down the trails with windex to erase the scent lines and then sprinkled cinnamon on the entry & congregation points. It appears to be working, amazingly. Who would've thought cinnamon? Bonus, my kitchen smells like cinnamon buns! ;-) I've got a ton more ideas from people to try if that doesn't work well enough. Thank you all for helping me in my time of absurd panic, lol. Debbie with twins - Jordan (ASD) 2.5yo - (NT) 2.5yo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 , I had a professional exterminator come in because the ant problem was more than I could handle last year. I'm assuming that the chemicals he used contained arsenic, but I'm not entirely sure. Apparently arsenic is very common in exterminator products. It's in small quantities but with my son's hair tests being so high in it, I really didn't want to add any more exposure. I talked to my doctor and we went through all the possible sources of exposure. The only one I could say " yes " to was pesticides. It could be from the ant extermination last year ... or it could be in my well water since I live on farmland (who knows what's in the ground from past farming). We're testing our well water in the near future (gotta kick DH in gear on that). I just wanted to thank everyone who gave me ideas. For a short term fix, I wiped down the trails with windex to erase the scent lines and then sprinkled cinnamon on the entry & congregation points. It appears to be working, amazingly. Who would've thought cinnamon? Bonus, my kitchen smells like cinnamon buns! ;-) I've got a ton more ideas from people to try if that doesn't work well enough. Thank you all for helping me in my time of absurd panic, lol. Debbie with twins - Jordan (ASD) 2.5yo - (NT) 2.5yo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Baby powder, salt, chalk, anything like that -- ants can't cross a line of it. Reapply as necessary wherever they're coming inside. You may have to do all your doorways & windows or you might get away with just wherever they're coming in right now. They will probably look for other ways in though. But eventually they will give up. Also make sure you're keeping everything sealed away. Remove the food source & you remove the reason for them to come in. We had EVERYTHING either in tupperware, canned, or in the fridge for some time last summer. Between those little grey moths, the fruit flies, and the ants...sheesh! But it really helped. Eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and citronella essential oils are all good insect repellants. I list those in order of my personal preference for their scents. Good luck! OIf you need more help please feel free to write me privately or on the list -- I'm on a couple of lists with LOTS of nontoxic alternatives for things like this and I would be most happy to pass along your questions. There are som epest control companies out there who use less toxic methods which generally don't cost you anything extra, but you have to know what you're looking for and ask the right questions... -Sara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 > Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and > finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. > I know you're not looking for poison but did you try Terro last year? http://www.terro.com/ It's worked great for us for the little ants. You only put a few drops on a piece of cardboard and put it where the ants will find it. They take the poison back to the nest with them and it kills the entire colony. I like it because I can hide the little piece of cardboard under the counter and there's very little risk of my kids coming into contact with the poison. It doesn't coat everything like spraying does. Unfortunately it doesn't work with the big black ants that are invading my kitchen and computer corner as I type. >:[ Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Flea powder works that you would use on a cat or dog. No arsenic. Georga Hackworth Men, can't live with them, can't trade them in for their weight in chocolate. April is Autism Awareness Month! Enter to win $50 in free books at www.ubah.com/F1549 HELP! Ants! > Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and > finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the > base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's > hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. > > Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my > kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but > the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching > them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines > across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. > > What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping > termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here > know???? > > PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning > scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with > shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. > I'm losing it. > > Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start > taking over. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Flea powder works that you would use on a cat or dog. No arsenic. Georga Hackworth Men, can't live with them, can't trade them in for their weight in chocolate. April is Autism Awareness Month! Enter to win $50 in free books at www.ubah.com/F1549 HELP! Ants! > Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and > finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the > base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's > hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. > > Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my > kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but > the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching > them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines > across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. > > What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping > termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here > know???? > > PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning > scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with > shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. > I'm losing it. > > Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start > taking over. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Flea powder works that you would use on a cat or dog. No arsenic. Georga Hackworth Men, can't live with them, can't trade them in for their weight in chocolate. April is Autism Awareness Month! Enter to win $50 in free books at www.ubah.com/F1549 HELP! Ants! > Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and > finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the > base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's > hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. > > Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my > kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but > the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching > them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines > across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. > > What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping > termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here > know???? > > PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning > scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with > shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. > I'm losing it. > > Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start > taking over. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 This has to be the same stuff I was talking about...thanks so much for the name, Tina, because I want more of that! > > I know you're not looking for poison but did you try Terro last year? > http://www.terro.com/ > It's worked great for us for the little ants. You only put a few > drops on a piece of cardboard and put it where the ants will find it. > They take the poison back to the nest with them and it kills the > entire colony. I like it because I can hide the little piece of > cardboard under the counter and there's very little risk of my kids > coming into contact with the poison. It doesn't coat everything like > spraying does. > > Unfortunately it doesn't work with the big black ants that are > invading my kitchen and computer corner as I type. >:[ > > > Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 Debbie... Can you tell how/where they are getting in??? Penny HELP! Ants! Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 I'm not sure hwo to get rid of the ants but I read that they will not cross over a chalk line. So to keep them from going on the counter try drawing a line with chalk. I have no idea if it really works. I haven't had the chance to test it but it's worth a try. Tina Reese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 I'm not sure hwo to get rid of the ants but I read that they will not cross over a chalk line. So to keep them from going on the counter try drawing a line with chalk. I have no idea if it really works. I haven't had the chance to test it but it's worth a try. Tina Reese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 > This has to be the same stuff I was talking about...thanks so much > for the name, Tina, because I want more of that! You're welcome. I'm going to see if they have anything that works on the big black ants. I'm really tired of them crawling out of my dishwasher. >:[ Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2003 Report Share Posted April 2, 2003 > This has to be the same stuff I was talking about...thanks so much > for the name, Tina, because I want more of that! You're welcome. I'm going to see if they have anything that works on the big black ants. I'm really tired of them crawling out of my dishwasher. >:[ Tina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Jacquie H HELP! Ants! Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here know???? PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. I'm losing it. Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start taking over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Jacquie H HELP! Ants! Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here know???? PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. I'm losing it. Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start taking over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Jacquie H HELP! Ants! Last year we had a horrible ant problem. We tried everything and finally resorted to having the pest company spray insecticide behind the base boards. This did stop the problem. However, I tested my son's hair this year and he's nearly in the red for arsenic. Well spring is here ... and the ants have found a new way into my kitchen. :-( I can't bring myself to put anything arsenic down ... but the ants drive me CRAZY! (notice the all caps? I get insane watching them crawl around). I can't just let them go. They form black lines across my kitchen, there's literally HUNDREDS of them. What are safe alternatives??? I just read about catnip oil stopping termites ... is there something similar for ants?? Does anyone here know???? PLEASE HELP!!! I'm literally going nuts. I just spent all morning scrubbing down my kitchen in pure OCD fashion ... complete with shrieking at my children to get out of the kitchen and leave me alone. I'm losing it. Debbie with twins, who loses her mind when these little ants start taking over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 For the little ones, just a regular drawn line like sidewalk chalk. For the great big ones, baby powder is probably a better choice. It dehydrates them. Sucks all the juice out of their little exoskeletons. Muahahahaha... -Sara. > I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk > line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 For the little ones, just a regular drawn line like sidewalk chalk. For the great big ones, baby powder is probably a better choice. It dehydrates them. Sucks all the juice out of their little exoskeletons. Muahahahaha... -Sara. > I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk > line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 For the little ones, just a regular drawn line like sidewalk chalk. For the great big ones, baby powder is probably a better choice. It dehydrates them. Sucks all the juice out of their little exoskeletons. Muahahahaha... -Sara. > I have heard of using chalk. Anys supposedly wont cross a chalk > line but I cant even imagine how much chalk it would take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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