The Ants Come Marching and How You Can Put A Stop To It!
So there you are preparing a nice meal in the kitchen when you notice something out of the corner of your eye. Is something moving in the fruit salad? Eeewwwww!
Yup, sure enough, whether they're so tiny you have to squint to see them or whether they're the larger kind, you've got invaders----it's ant season!
They don't come marching two by two either, as the nursery rhyme goes, it's more like 1,000 by 10,000! It's not pleasant to have to kill any living creature, but in this case, if you don't do something fast, these little invaders will soon take over. They have their rightful place out in nature, but they are very inconsiderate house-guests.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THESE LITTLE BUGGERS?
So do you reach for a can of toxic insecticide spray, poisoning your self and your family in the process? Are there safer, more environmentally friendly and perhaps even more humane methods that actually work?
Absolutely!
Here are the methods I've put to the test and they've proven very effective........
THE 3 THINGS YOU NEED
- Isopropyl Alcohol and a Spray Bottle
- Clear Duct Tape - preferably waterproof, but any strong duct or packing tape will work
- Diatomaceous Earth --Food Grade
That's it! Put the isopropyl/rubbing alcohol into a spray pump bottle and spray directly on the ants. It kills them instantly and hopefully as humanely as possible. Isopropyl alcohol is a much safer alternative to commercial pesticides which are toxic to humans and pets as well as the 'pests' you're trying to get rid of. It dries very quickly too.
You're probably wondering about the clear tape. What could that be for? If you can locate the insects main access points, you can tape over it to block their entry. For example, I noticed an army of invaders entering through small cracks around the kitchen window sill. So I taped over this area thoroughly with a good quality waterproof clear duct tape. I chose clear for aesthetic reasons. I made sure to seal up all the tiny cracks and crevices. This 'worked a treat' as they say here in UK.
As for the Diatomaceous Earth, just dust/sprinkle a small amount of it around baseboards where insects tend to travel, or along obvious ant trails. Make sure it's just a light dusting or they will just go around it. It works on other insects as well.
In case you're not familiar with it, Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a powdery substance derived from algae-like plants known as diatoms and is prized for its natural insecticidal properties.
Here’s how diatomaceous earth works: each particle of DE contains microscopic sharp edges. When insects contact these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are damaged and the diatomaceous earth dehydrates them.
DE is safe and non-toxic, but just be sure to wear a dust mask when applying it and of course make sure pets and children can't eat it or breathe it in.
Result? No more ants! Yaaay!
@eyeofthestorm that was very great advice! I will definitely give it a try. I've used vinegar, water and dish soap which seems to work but I want to try your method. Thank-you for a great post! I hope your week goes really well for you! :D
Thanks, cabbagepatch! Please let me know if it works for you. Hope you have a wonderful week also! :)
I'm going to try this. Here in Florida there are lots of ants and if there's anything in a house that will attract them, they come in like you said, "not two by two, but thousands..." I've read all kinds of different natural ways to keep them away from the area directly around the house.
There are also "crazy ants," that look like sugar ants, but they are really something. I read that they are not indigenous to the USA, but are in Africa. And those ants even eat through wiring and electronics.
Here's a link with a little about them: Article Link
Those crazy ants sound scary! Before I ever move anywhere I'll make sure they don't have them - lol! Let me know how the techniques work for you livingwaters.
Hope you had a great time with your family!
Great tips @eyeofthestorm. I had heard that Diatomaceous Earth but I've never tried it.
It works very well, it's just a matter of placing it in the right areas---just remember not to breathe it in when applying.
Good advice. Best to use less pesticides.
Thanks manorvillemike, that's what I think too. In my experience, these more natural alternatives actually work even better.
I AGREE with most of what you wrote but you also wrote: "and of course make sure pets and children can't eat it or breathe it in."
Of course we must always look out for what our pets and children eat, so that they don't eat something that can poison them.
But "food grade" diatomaceous earth is definitely not a poison, and in fact there are many benefits to "eat" a teaspoon of diatomaceous earth mixed with water or juice.
In the first place, it does inside our intestines what it also do to the ants mentioned: It gets rid of many parasites. Plus, the minerals in diatomaceous earth (FOOD GRADE) is good for our nails and our skin.
but thank you for your article. I will take note of your suggestion to use isopropyl alcohol, which I didn't know.
Thanks for your comment rejuvenation! Food grade DE is of course not a poison per se, and I am aware that some people actually take it as a mineral supplement and for other health benefits. However, if it's being used for insecticide purposes, it's best to keep pets and children away as it's not a good idea to breathe in the dust while it's being applied. Hope the isopropyl works well for you. Let me know how it goes. Thanks
WOW thanks for the tips
Glad you found the tips helpful. I took a look at your blog and I'm now following you. Grammar is becoming a lost art in great need of a resurgence. I have no doubt I need help with it too--lol
Thank you so much for this excellent article. I'm very happy you alerted me to it when you visited my blog, and also delighted to give it the most powerful up vote that I could during its "rewards window" period.
😄😇😄
Thank you creatr! Knowing something I've written has been helpful really makes my day! Hopefully, now you'll be able to get some sleep without those pesky little invaders.
I appreciate you too! :)
We have other good "indoor spray remedies," but they are all commercial and quite costly.
Things that have worked well include a soybean oil preparation, and also a mint oil preparation. Both of those are non-toxic, but cost a lot in commercial pressurized or pump spray bottles. Also, they leave a messy residue.
I'm looking forward to trying the isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle because it is relatively quite inexpensive. Can you tell me what percentage solution has worked for you? Recently in the U.S. they have been "watering down" the alcohol to a considerably lower concentration than used to be readily available over the counter...
75 percent should work fine, that's what I used. Interesting they're watering it down in the U.S. I wonder why. At least it's still relatively inexpensive there, unlike here in UK, where it's the equivalent of about 5USD/bottle. Hard to find here as well. I have to go to Amazon UK because it's not available in pharmacies or supermarkets. Weird! I had a problem with adulterated product too but finally managed to find a reliable supplier.
Thanks for the additional feedback!