Best Way to get rid of sugar Ants?

Question

I found a couple of ants nests out in the garden by moving potted plants around, and now I have seen a few inside the house? What is an effective way to get rid of them? I did have the foundation of the house sprayed a couple months ago. Many Thanks for your insight!

Thanks so much for all of the great answers. Glad I am not an Ant...

Answer 1

Mix oil with sugar and leave a dish of it out. They will all be gone.

Answer 2

This may sound like a joke, but cinnamon is a natural -- and safe -- ant repellent. We also have ants outside where we feed our managed colony of cats. We will not use toxins because of the kitties and have found cinnamon to be a safe way to control (and even kill) the pests.

I've also read how ants will not cross a line drawn with chalk; if you don't have a hard surface onto which you can rub some chalk, this won't be helpful.

Definitely give the cinnamon a try. Try it outside at the source, and sprinkle some in the cupboards where you've noticed the bugs. Seems natural: sugar ants and cinnamon!

Dunno where you live; by us, the CVS sells its own brand of common spices, cinnamon among them, at very affordable prices. Sometimes they go on sale for $0.66.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Since ants follow a chemical scent trail, the absolute best way I've found is to see where the line is coming in from the outside at. That sounds very complicated if not impossible but start at your window sills. The ants will literally be walking in a line when entering and leaving before dispersing when finding the food supply. It is at the entrance point where you'll stop these nasty creatures from entering. Plug the holes where they're entering. Also, take vinegar and destroy their scent trail.

This is obviously the least restrictive method of getting rid of this problem (you could always use poisons . . . ).

Good luck!

Answer 4

I've also read how ants will not cross a line drawn with chalk; if you don't have a hard surface onto which you can rub some chalk, this won't be helpful.

Definitely give the cinnamon a try. Try it outside at the source, and sprinkle some in the cupboards where you've noticed the bugs. Seems natural: sugar ants and cinnamon!

Answer 5

Carefully observe the little darlings to discover where they enter your house. Then regularly wipe the runways with chlorox or other suitable bleach. that will destroy the chemical signals that the workers lay down for others to follow. If there are nests in your house. use the following poison bait. Heat some water and dissolve as much table sugar as you can to make a syrup. Add common borax to the solution, . (20 mule team or some other brand. Lay drops of that solution where the ants walk or near the opening to their nests. The workers will bring the "food" back to the colony and slowly poison everyone. Be patient it takes time but it works. Do not use that bait if you have pets or young children. Or put the drops in an inaccessible place. Store the bait solution in the fridge, and mark it prominently so no one uses it accidentally. (otherwise yeast might grow in it).
Doc Dan.

Answer 6

My dad & uncles used to pour bleach in and around the nests. My mother in lawa swears by using a vinegar spray and I personally use a bleach water mix inside the house to clean anywhere that they have made a trail and I set out combat traps and use the gel. Doesn't take long and they are all gone. Don't waste your time and money on a expensive Pest Control services...I'm in property management and they just simply come out and spray and tell you that they will need to return for follow up treatments. They will do this indefinately. The spray chemicals are unsafe for pets and children and the cost is outrageous.

Answer 7

I used a product called andro, that I've found at the hardware store, I just sprinkle a little bit near or around the trail area and if you know were the nest is sprinkle a circle around it, they will take it in the ground to eat and once the queen is gone so are the rest of th ants. I also know that sweet-n-low and equal will work about the same. When the ants are gone wipe down the area they traveled inside your house with a solution of bleach and water this will keep then at bay. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 8

I use these small "miracle chalk" sticks that I get at the dollar stores for about 1.00 for 3 sticks that last for several years...that's how good these are. One stick (in box) is about 3"x3/4" and the box is orange n yellow with oriental writing on it. Not sure of the ingredient is but its non-toxic. I have used it also to draw a circle around chair legs and dog bowls. The ants hate this chalk! I rarely get any ants.
I track their trail and draw a few lines thru them and walk away. When I come back in a few minutes theyve disappeared and stay gone for months. Check at the swap meets, 1$ and asian markets.

Answer 9

This is cheap and it works, 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry soap, put the soap in one of the ketchup squirt bottles that you can find at any dollar store, you might have to enlarge the hole on the bottle a little, put the dry soap in the ketchup bottle, apply along baseboards anywhere you see ants, leave it lay for a few days until you no longer see any signs of the ants, then vacuum up the excess laundry soap and use the rest of the box to do laundry with...I have used this remedy for years.

Answer 10

I have found that if you mix boric acid and sugar in a 50/50 ratio the consistency of peanut butter and place this at a spot where the ants can get to it, they will carry the poison back to the nest and sometimes the Queen dies. But in any case it will greatly reduce the ants.

Answer 11

We have a similar problem and were told that a mixture of boric acid and sugar will attract the ants and they'll bring the poisoned sugar back to the nest, killing the colony. I know it sounds kind of harsh, but if you really want to get rid of ants, you have to kill them at the source.