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LockedAnts!!!!!!!

posted on July 27, 2009 at 07:43AM Inappropriate?

I live in a wooded area.  I have been battling with ants coming into my kitchen for what seems like forever.  I keep everything really clean.  It seems like they are coming from under the sink and under the kitchen counter.  I have used traps, spray, and just about anything you could find at Sears Hardware.  I was wondering if anyone had any more idea's that may help before I break down and call an exterminator.  I could live with them, they don't eat much, but the wifey says they got to go.  Please remember I keep the kitchen clean, no dirty dishes left in the sink.  As weird as it seems, they like to hang out in the bottom of the dishwasher.  Please help.

replies: 17 latest post: September 18, 2009 at 09:40AM by SHC-StevenK
Displaying all 17 posts
posted on July 27, 2009 at 08:29AM
 

We had this same problem last summer. Found them in the dishwasher too. We had to call an exterminator and they took care of the problem. I found a coupon in our yellow pages that saved us $35 dollars too. Our cost was $215. Very expensive but they never came back. Good luck.

posted on July 27, 2009 at 09:04AM
 

I had ants in the dishwasher one year. It's incredibly bizarre, but I believe they go after the bits of undissolved food that get trapped inside. Have you cleaned inside the dishwasher? Taken apart the wash arm assembly and cleaned it all out? Run Dishwasher Magic through the machine?

Also, I found that Terro ant poison was very effective at ending the ant invasion. Like you, our home was clean, but the ants wanted in. They got their fill of Terro, took it back with them, and that was that. I used the clear liquid stuff.

Don't bother trying to seal up cracks or anything; they will find another way. You have to make your home a place that doesn't benefit them. Only then will they leave you alone. Also, you may want to consider putting down an insecticide lawn treatment around May, which would help take care of the ant population, or, if you want something more targeted, get insect granules/spray for around the outside of the house and apply liberally.

Good luck!

posted on July 27, 2009 at 10:56AM
 

Rubbing alcohol and a "match".

Magnifying glass...

Oh! Rubber mallet!

There are several Craftsman models, available in different "weight" heads.

I've got two dogs.

So, the poison route is pretty much out for me.

Dogs will eat almost "anything".

posted on July 27, 2009 at 10:58AM
 

Try beer.

Or, is that for garden snails?

Oh well.

If you drink enough beer, them ants wont bother nobody.

Does O'Doules count?

posted on July 27, 2009 at 03:13PM
 

LMFAO!!!!!!  I cleaned the dishwasher a million times but never ran Dishwasher magic through.  I will do that and try the Terro.    F.Y.I.  I gave my son the rubber mallet and let him go to town when it gets crazy, actually keeps him busy for about an hour.  Thank you to all!!!!

posted on July 27, 2009 at 04:30PM
 

Guessing the dishwasher is on the north side of the house and they are after the water. Try spraying the foundation inside and out.

posted on September 11, 2009 at 01:41AM
 

Hate ants.

They're always after my Peanut Butter!

posted on September 12, 2009 at 12:31AM
 

Get out the blow torch!

posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:13AM
 

Ants are bad.

Wasps are WORSE!

posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:59AM
 

One of the best things to control ants with is plain old Boric Acid powder that is available in most drug stores. Many of the "poisons" that exterminators use is made from Boric Acid. I had a bad ant problem this Spring, and every bug spray I bought killed all the ants that crossed its barrier, nut it never did much to kill the ants that were actually nesting in my attic. I did not go up in the attic to spray them, but I "puffed Boric Acid Powder into some hi hat light openings and inconspicuous holes I drilled, using a insecticide duster I bought from epest control dot com. there are many online exterminator supply outfits. The Boric acid killed 'em all dead. No more and problem. The important thing here is that Boric Acid is not really toxic to us and is supposed to be as safe as table salt. Too much table salt is toxic. Anyway, I did use a dust mask when I did this and cleaned up any powder dust I saw. 

posted on September 14, 2009 at 03:44PM
 

I lived in FL for awhile and battled ants and roaches. This really works. Get a spray bottle and mix bleach with bayleaves. Let it set for awhile so the beach mixes with the leaves and clean around cracks and it's safe to use in the dishwasher. Make sure you use the dish washer without dishes in it once or twice to washout any left over bleach.

If all else fails find their hills and burn them with Karosene... =)

posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:35PM
 

I got one, I might be trying on the underground wasp nests.

Rig a microwave so that it will run with the door off of it and put the microwave, face down, over the wasps' nest.

With luck, the pests' venom sacs will boil and EXPLODE in their nest.

I did mention being caught in several wasp "swarms", didn't I?

posted on September 15, 2009 at 06:27AM
 

So you are saying vengeance is sweet?

posted on September 16, 2009 at 03:15AM
 

More like a preemptive strike, with a 100 percent kill ratio.

posted on September 17, 2009 at 01:09PM
 

You need to do a perimeter treatment around your house with a product such as Scotts Home Defense or a Terro granular product.  This will stop the succession of ants entering and exiting the house.

Also - what do the ants look like?  If they are bigger black ants it is likely that you have wet, rotting wood somewhere and if this is the case then it is necessary to call an exterminator.

posted on September 18, 2009 at 07:36AM
 

Small and black, not the bigger ones.  We seem to be doing alright with cleaning out the dishwasher every week.

posted on September 18, 2009 at 09:40AM
 

Glad to hear things are getting better!

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