Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? #3248621
07/31/24 01:23 PM
07/31/24 01:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,325
New Jersey
P
Powerflow Offline OP
pro stock
Powerflow  Offline OP
pro stock
P

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,325
New Jersey
We noticed ants on our kitchen counter and need some ideas on how to get rid of them. I set a few Terro ant baits and sprayed the counter with a 'kills on contact' aerosol spray. It made them go away for a few days and now they're back. My wife says 'call an exterminator' but I believe they'll use pretty much the same stuff we have (plus I'm frugal...). Any suggestions on what to try? Thanks for any guidance.

Harold

Last edited by Powerflow; 07/31/24 01:40 PM.
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Powerflow] #3248623
07/31/24 01:27 PM
07/31/24 01:27 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,131
Wills Point, Texas
Hugh Jorgan Offline
master
Hugh Jorgan  Offline
master

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,131
Wills Point, Texas
Demon works on just about all pests. You can buy it at Tractor Supply and mix it in a pump sprayer. twocents

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Powerflow] #3248624
07/31/24 01:28 PM
07/31/24 01:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,921
A collage of whims
topside Offline
Too Many Posts
topside  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,921
A collage of whims
The sprays are toxic to pets, if you have any. It's attractive to them.
There are granules you can use around the perimeter of the home that'll keep ants & etc out - worked great when I lived in the woods.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Powerflow] #3248628
07/31/24 01:51 PM
07/31/24 01:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,403
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX Offline
I Live Here
IMGTX  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,403
Looking for a way out of Middl...
I have had good luck with the Terro but it will take a few days.

How long have you had the Terro baits out?

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: topside] #3248629
07/31/24 01:53 PM
07/31/24 01:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,579
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
The Doctor is in.
Neil  Offline
The Doctor is in.

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,579
Eagle, Idaho
Find the hole they are getting in and block it off. Ants go where the food is, so no food that means they will find a better opportunity elsewhere.

Last edited by Neil; 07/31/24 02:55 PM.
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: topside] #3248631
07/31/24 01:57 PM
07/31/24 01:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,043
GA
roadrunninMark Offline
master
roadrunninMark  Offline
master

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,043
GA
If you are getting a lot of rain, it causes the ants to seek shelter. Most sprays get washed out for all the rain too. A good product is Ortho Home Defense. You can spray inside and outside, says it is safe for pets after the areas have been treated. I've used it for a few years, mainly outside but some inside. I do have pets and they weren't affected by it. It will keep the ants out for a while until it gets washed off (outside) or needs reapplying (inside). The best thing is to find the ant mounds outside and eliminate them.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: roadrunninMark] #3248635
07/31/24 02:14 PM
07/31/24 02:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,497
Warren, MI
71TA Offline
I Live Here
71TA  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,497
Warren, MI
I had rentals (and an old porus house in an old Detroit area neighborhood). I swear the pest control companies were spraying sugar water because the ants never left and the pest company had a new life long customer.

So I searched the web. Foud DIY Pest Control in FL. I bought their professional products and a GOOD stanless spray pump jug. Would spray around the permieter of my house and damn if the ants didnt tell thier buddies to stay the hell away from THAT house. Just sprayed once or twice a year and NO ants.

I recently moved to an island. Its bug central. Mostly spiders and carpenter ants (THOSE ARE THE BIG BLACK ONES ANY THEY ARE BIG TROUBLE - they eat your house from the inside out and are like termites). I have to spray monthly out there because of so many pests, so much moisture and all the end of the world rains we've been getting.

The store brand stuff is a GIGANTIC waste of money. Like store brand medicine vs prescribed stuff. NO comparison. Just wasting money.


www.DetroitMuscleTechnologies.com Mopar body and heater box restoration gaskets
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: 71TA] #3248672
07/31/24 06:02 PM
07/31/24 06:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,907
fredericksburg,va
C
cudaman1969 Offline
Itch Nutz
cudaman1969  Offline
Itch Nutz
C

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,907
fredericksburg,va
Spray counter and ants with Windex, kills on contact, the vinegar type. You could mix up some cheap. It Leaves no trails to go back home, they have their own GPS, scent or taste, whatever they call it. Could get a big magnifying glass and burn each one also. Set up a picnic in the yard they’ll go there first.

Last edited by cudaman1969; 07/31/24 06:03 PM.
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: roadrunninMark] #3248755
08/01/24 09:24 AM
08/01/24 09:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,800
St. Louis, Missouri area
Cometstorm Offline
"Beat It"
Cometstorm  Offline
"Beat It"

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,800
St. Louis, Missouri area
Originally Posted by roadrunninMark
If you are getting a lot of rain, it causes the ants to seek shelter. Most sprays get washed out for all the rain too. A good product is Ortho Home Defense. You can spray inside and outside, says it is safe for pets after the areas have been treated. I've used it for a few years, mainly outside but some inside. I do have pets and they weren't affected by it. It will keep the ants out for a while until it gets washed off (outside) or needs reapplying (inside). The best thing is to find the ant mounds outside and eliminate them.


iagree

That’’s my “go to” as well.

Each Spring and Fall, I spray the outer foundation, and all window/door frames.

Also the basement (floor perimeter, and basement ceiling perimeter).

Sometime in a hot mid summer, we’ll get kitchen counter ants.

I just spray some Home Defense (not much) at the kitchen backsplash surround, and under the sink.

Zaps ‘em good!

up


Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Cometstorm] #3248770
08/01/24 10:04 AM
08/01/24 10:04 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,578
Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda Offline
master
340Cuda  Offline
master

Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,578
Tulsa, Oklahoma
We have ants most every spring, very tiny ones that would be impossible to block if you could find where they were coming in. Only see them in the kitchen.

We use Terro traps and spray inside and spray completely around the house outside with Sevin spray.

This always works although this year I had to spray outside twice which was a first.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: 71TA] #3248773
08/01/24 10:14 AM
08/01/24 10:14 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
Holland MI Ottawa
2
2boltmain Online content
master
2boltmain  Online Content
master
2

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
Holland MI Ottawa
Originally Posted by 71TA
I had rentals (and an old porus house in an old Detroit area neighborhood). I swear the pest control companies were spraying sugar water because the ants never left and the pest company had a new life long customer.

So I searched the web. Foud DIY Pest Control in FL. I bought their professional products and a GOOD stanless spray pump jug. Would spray around the permieter of my house and damn if the ants didnt tell thier buddies to stay the hell away from THAT house. Just sprayed once or twice a year and NO ants.

I recently moved to an island. Its bug central. Mostly spiders and carpenter ants (THOSE ARE THE BIG BLACK ONES ANY THEY ARE BIG TROUBLE - they eat your house from the inside out and are like termites). I have to spray monthly out there because of so many pests, so much moisture and all the end of the world rains we've been getting.

The store brand stuff is a GIGANTIC waste of money. Like store brand medicine vs prescribed stuff. NO comparison. Just wasting money.



I had to call a pro for carpenter ants in 2018. All my store-bought stuff did nothing. It took him two visits and they were irradicated. He told me what he uses is not available to the public. Since then, I go around my house with granules once a month to keep a new colony from entering. So far so good.


Keep old mopars alive.
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: 2boltmain] #3248780
08/01/24 10:33 AM
08/01/24 10:33 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 630
boston mass-moving to long isl...
M
massdaytona Offline
mopar
massdaytona  Offline
mopar
M

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 630
boston mass-moving to long isl...
we get em at the beach in the spring... this year none.... but... out there 3 weeks ago, and they are on the counter, so i took everything off the counter, and sprayed home defense in every crack and left- went back this weekend, and not one seen on the counter where they were.... but... they were on the other side of the counter... no food there... sprayed again... saw none when we left.. they were crawling up the side of the cabinets - i'd see them in the middle of the wood... can't figure out where they are coming from .. they can't just appear thru a sold piece of wood (or can they)... also sprayed with vinegar, which kills them, but they kept on coming, so doesn't seem to block whatever trail they have.. i have hot shot foggers, but then every sq inch of the kitchen needs to be thoroughly cleaned ... pita...

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Powerflow] #3248890
08/01/24 08:56 PM
08/01/24 08:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 8
West Coast
S
Synchro Offline
member
Synchro  Offline
member
S

Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 8
West Coast
Boric acid powder is sold as insecticide in what resembles the same type of plastic containers that gear oil comes in. Mix 1/2 cup Sugar, 1 qt hot water and 1 teaspoon boric acid powder and shake well til dissolved. I make little bait stations by pouring it into bottle caps or plastic lids. Then set it out and top off with water if they start drying out. Key is they need to take it back to the nest and feed the queen, then it's lights out. Terro bait stations are essentially the same thing.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Synchro] #3248894
08/01/24 09:09 PM
08/01/24 09:09 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,359
St. Louis, Mo
3
318 Stroker Offline
master
318 Stroker  Offline
master
3

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,359
St. Louis, Mo
I've had good luck with Terro Liquid Ant Baits. Comes in a small clear plastic container. Break off the end and put them on the kitchen counter. Takes a few days but they carry it back to the nest and they are finally gone. Works well.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: 318 Stroker] #3248924
08/02/24 05:24 AM
08/02/24 05:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 630
boston mass-moving to long isl...
M
massdaytona Offline
mopar
massdaytona  Offline
mopar
M

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 630
boston mass-moving to long isl...
Originally Posted by 318 Stroker
I've had good luck with Terro Liquid Ant Baits. Comes in a small clear plastic container. Break off the end and put them on the kitchen counter. Takes a few days but they carry it back to the nest and they are finally gone. Works well.

i have 1 dozen of em all around the counters, behind draws.... and they still keep coming..

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: massdaytona] #3248930
08/02/24 07:09 AM
08/02/24 07:09 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,325
New Jersey
P
Powerflow Offline OP
pro stock
Powerflow  Offline OP
pro stock
P

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,325
New Jersey
I bought some Ortho Home Defense and sprayed it on the counter and cabinet. We'll see how it goes.

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: Powerflow] #3248943
08/02/24 08:17 AM
08/02/24 08:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,440
St. Charles, MO
wingman Offline
Uncreative Title
wingman  Offline
Uncreative Title

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,440
St. Charles, MO
We use the Advion and Optigard gel baits. Professional stuff. It attracts them to feed, Then they take it back to the nest and feed it to the ants back at the nest. Takes a week but they are gone for good.

We had no luck with the Terro and the homeowner-level stuff from the big-box stores. The ants ignored it.

Sprays like Home Defense will kill the ants you can see but does nothing to get rid of the nest that you can't see. They kept coming back. twocents


Last edited by wingman; 08/02/24 08:18 AM.

1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 A4
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 440 FC7 (sold)
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: wingman] #3248998
08/02/24 11:09 AM
08/02/24 11:09 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,700
north of coder
moparx Online content
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Online Content
"Butt Crack Bob"

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,700
north of coder
get a flame thrower....................... weld panic biggrin
beer

Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: moparx] #3249000
08/02/24 11:14 AM
08/02/24 11:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,751
md
M
mopars4ever Offline
I Live Here
mopars4ever  Offline
I Live Here
M

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,751
md
Throw some food on the floor and they won`t go up on the counters


Time just gets away from us
I`m here until I`m not
Re: Ants on Kitchen Counter----How to Treat? [Re: mopars4ever] #3249031
08/02/24 01:00 PM
08/02/24 01:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,064
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY Offline
I Live Here
ZIPPY  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,064
S.E. Michigan
I use triazicide around the house perimeter outside, and diatomaceous earth on the inside perimeter in known trouble areas.

The drier the weather is overall, I find the more often I have to apply. They are pavement ants.
When the weather is wet like it's been here lately, they tend to stay away and I hardly have to do anything.
If I run sprinklers outside often enough/thoroughly enough during dry spells, I see alot less.

The real trick is to find their trail(s) from outside to inside and to learn their behavior and likes/dislikes and what they are attracted to.
Once you recognize a potential trail, if you dust that with diatomaceous earth they will stop very quickly. Plus it's non-toxic to pets and humans.


Rich H.

Esse Quam Videri




Page 1 of 2 1 2






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1