Ants

So, even in the middle of winter, after our big snow storm and subzero temperatures, I still have an ant problem.

Due to both chemical sensitivities and just not liking using harsh chemicals because of the environmental effects I can't/won't use insecticides.

They've become immune to tea tree oil. Originally, five drops to a gallon of water was enough to kill them in seconds, now even straight tea tree oil on them has no noticeable effect.

Mint and mint oil have no effect. Same with spices. Same with salt. Actually, they like the salt.

Rubbing alcohol works, but that stuff is flammable and the critters seem to have made one of their main homes or points of entry in the room with my furnace. I don't want to leave it sitting that close to them.

Vicks works as a deterrent, but there are only so many things I can put that on.

Same with dish soap, but only if I keep it damp, which would mean refreshing it every fifteen minutes....they walk right over it once it dries.

I did try one of the bait traps, they ignored it completely.

Their main concern right now, from observing them, appears to be getting water, thus they are most drawn to my bathtub and my kitchen sink. The kitchen is just around the corner from the furnace and hot water heater, and the vent through which the furnace draws in air is right outside the bathroom door....I have occasionally left rubbing alcohol (in very small amounts) in the water (tub is uneven, so it puddles at one end, even after wiping it out), but they simply ignore that puddle upon finding it, and I don't want to spry the alcohol over them due to the furnace issue and due to the fact that one probably doesn't want to breathe rubbing alcohol suspended in the air.....

They do however enjoy it if I miss cleaning up a dab of honey when I've made my morning coffee.

Two things I have yet to try: hot sauce and citrus oil.

Coexistence would be nice, but it's rental property, first of all, and second, the ants smell bad, it burns my nose a little, and third, whenever they manage to find it, they swarm the cat's food. Which makes him upset, so that he starts pawing at me to try to tell me there's a problem with his food bowl. Thus far I've found that they seem to not like carpeting, so his food and water are on a slab of wood a few inches from the wall in my living room, though every so often I have to relocate it because they find it....

Surprisingly, they haven't swarmed my kitchen table....yet...but I'm sure that's a matter of time.....maybe I should put vicks around the table legs before they get to it.

Any advice for how to deal with them in winter? I've started cleaning up all puddles of water in bathtub and sinks, but closing all the entrances into the house is impossible, not to mention they're already well-established inside). The house is definitely not sealed to the outside, the foundation settled at some point leaving an eighth of an inch gap between the interior walls and the floor (which is rather drafty) and I want to decide whether or not I'm going to stay there before I go to the trouble of dealing with that particular issue.

youre gonna have to use the stuff you dont want to use....

trying to combat a natural creature with a natural substance equals the natural creature finding ways around it. cause its only natural. thats how nature works. ah, the problems with being ecologically friendly....

Rudas Starblaze wrote:

youre gonna have to use the stuff you dont want to use....

trying to combat a natural creature with a natural substance equals the natural creature finding ways around it. cause its only natural. thats how nature works. ah, the problems with being ecologically friendly....

Probably.

I guess later this February will be a good time, since I'll be in AZ for two weeks and that'll give the stuff time to dissipate.

Problem is, if I use the chemicals, I have to be out of there for a few days. Last time I had to deal closely with insecticides....it had unpleasant and painful effects that a s a guy you probably don't want to hear the details of, which lasted a few weeks after the initial contact....I'd rather put up with the ants than deal with that again. It seemed also connected with the mood issues I was having at the time, though I can't quite establish that for a fact....my upstairs neighbor in the apartment I lived in before turned out to be bug phobic, and being in the basement apartment I think all the insecticide she used settled into my apartment...

well, me as a guy, being married twice now, there isnt anything about female anatomy and processes that grosses me out. so no worries there! you want gross out, ill give you gross, ive pulled bloody tampons out with my teeth!! im comfortable! trust me! lol

back to the topic though! lol

i cant think of the name of it, but theres a paste type poison that comes in something that looks like a toothpaste tube that kills cockroaches, ants, you name it. and it also kills their nests or hives or whatever theyre called. you might ask around for it at farm and home supply, home depot, lowes, etc etc. they should carry the stuff im talking about but cant remember the name of.

I have heard that boric acid is great at getting rid of ants. You can pick some up at your local drugstore. It used to be kept in the First Aid section. If you can't find it there, ask someone in the pharmacy to order you a bottle. It acts as a barrier, and keeps them out of places you don't want them to be. Give it a try.