Ants - Del Rio,TX

Updated on December 11, 2007
T.Y. asks from Del Rio, TX
21 answers

I really hate bugs! I have some ants on two of my counters in the kitchen. I keep wiping up every bit of food I can see and I have ant baits out. They aren't really getting into anything as far as I can tell and they don't swarm all over the place, but I can't rid of them. also, there seems to be a different type in the bathroom. They kept going to the mouthwash, but I moved that, wiped the counter and they are still there. it is soooooo gross and I do clean my house. I am grateful for my house, but military housing is yucky!!

1 mom found this helpful

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

T., I have used a company called American Services for years (their phone number is down stairs right now) but the owner, Russell, has a degree in bugs literally he is an expert. they also do chimney repair and cleaning as well. they are professional and afordable.

th eonly way to get rid of the ants is to call an expert. Good luck, A. J

1 mom found this helpful
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N.M.

answers from Austin on

Ants hate strong smells. I've had the best luck getting rid of them by sprinkling cinnamon in the areas I see them roaming around. It also helps if you can find out where they are coming in the house and seal it up.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

T.-

Hey there! We had the same problem. I am really against using toxins and pest control from other companies since I have a toddler that touches and gets into everything. What we use is all natural and safe and if he digested he would be okay. What we use it a product called PreSpot and Sol-u-Mel I tell you they work great at killing them but also preventing them as well. And like I said they are all natural and safe for your family.
Just a suggestion. I know I can not stand any bugs in my house!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi, let me just say I feel for you! I have been battling the rover ants for about 5 months now and I am just now seeing some relief. If you have the kind
I have(very small black ants commonly called sugar ants), they are VERY hard to get rid of. I have had ABC out every month, and they have told me that they change their eating habits and go for sugar as well as greasy food. They require a special bait so you should contact the housing administrator to see what they will do.
Good Luck
M.

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F.G.

answers from Austin on

We just bought our first house this year and there hasn't been any time to get an exterminator out here (because the house wasn't lived in for a year or so before we moved in) and we've had the same problem. It's just been spiders and ants, but the ants I have mostly taken care of myself. I went to the store and bought Raid Ant Killer Spray. I went home and just sprayed around the edges of the kitchen or where I thought they might be getting in. This stuff kills them on contact, and they don't EVER come back to that spot. It's worth a try and it seems to be the cheapest solution until we can get a professional out here. Also, make sure your yard is treated as well. If you eliminate the piles outside, then it really helps eliminate them inside.

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A.J.

answers from Killeen on

i've learned that some bugs will come in your house whether it's clean or not. ants and cockroaches are 2 that will do that and i HATE it! if you are in military housing, they should come out and spray for bugs at your request. or you can try doing it on your own. try to find where the ants are coming from and spray all along that spot. i recommend trying to find a spray made for kitchen use, because they are safer to use around kids! other than that, i really don't think there's anything you can do

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K.L.

answers from Dallas on

T.,
We had ants in our kitchen and my mother in law told me about Terro Ant Killer. The box says it will "kill all common household ants". I tried it and my ants were gone in about a week. It is really cool stuff. It is a liquid that you put on a little square that comes on the package and the ants eat it and take it back to the nest and feed it to the rest of the colony. I have had very good luck. I got it at Walmart. Good Luck.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

My mom's house was having the same issue. She learned that ants die with soap. She would mix some dish soap and water in a spray bottle and aim. That way she wasn't spraying chemicals on our kitchen counters. They will go away for a while. Hope that helps.

C.

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J.I.

answers from Dallas on

I have the same problem. I have been told they are probably in my walls. My husband is going to take the switch covers off and spray in the walls this weekend. For me they are coming in at water sources. I've heard to use cornmeal inside on the counters. Non-toxic to the kids and animals and it expands and kills the ants. I'm getting some today to try. I did hear that you need to be patient. It may take a week or two for the cornmeal to rid the problem. I guess it depends how bad it is.

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C.C.

answers from Austin on

I had the biggest battle with ants last year and they started to come back this year but I nipped it in the butt before they got bad. Here is what I did. First, I got a yard treatment, I don't remember what brand, it was a red bag. It is the kind that you broadcast over your yard and then water it. Then, I got some granuals that you sprinkle around the perimeter of your house. It is the amdro home defense or home block. It works on 15 different kinds of ants. Finally I got some ortho bug b gone. It is a powder that comes in a cylinder bottle. I sprinkled that on the perimeter of my house as well. I also put that on the counters in a corner where the ants were. I kept it there for a couple of days and then cleaned it up. I also put some of the powder under my sink just as a preventative measure. Be sure that you keep it in an area where your children or animals cannot get it. I think the powder is a miracle in itself but I still like to use the others just so I have all over coverage. Good luck, I was about the go nuts when I had my ant problem.

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R.H.

answers from Dallas on

We had a bad ant problem that didn't seem to be realted to food. But I did find them in and around certain foods. It never really made sense to me, but we had the bug man out several times and he finally said if they are still there after the bug bait gell,he would refund our money. After the gell bait, they went away. I'm not sure the exact name of the bait, but it came in a syringe-type tube. It worked. Good luck. I'll try to get the name for you.

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S.

answers from Houston on

You need to put ant granuals around your home, also wipe your counters w/vinegar, that also helps !
I had the same problem & put the granuals out & I haven't seen any ants !
Have a great day !

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J.

answers from Dallas on

We had the same problem in the spring. We used Terro (could be spelled Tarro). It is a liquid you put a nickel size dot on a piece of cardboard and you let it sit on your counter. It is sweet to them and they eat it and take it back to the nest and it kills them and the others. It is difficult to watch them all on your counter because they do gather around and eat it, but in the end they went away. It took us several days but it did work. I think you can buy it at the grocery store and if not, Home Depot probably has it.

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L.F.

answers from Austin on

Hi,
I know this is going to sound weird, but it works. Plain old chalk. Put a thick chalk line around your house, and where they are right now. My sister lives in the country, and recommended this to me and it works.

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

T.,

I heard of an easy way to get rid of ants where they are not supposed to be. Get a dryer sheet and put it where they are. For some reason, this stops them from coming to that place. Just be sure to keep it out of your son's hands!!

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C.G.

answers from Dallas on

Like a previous poster, I sprinkled coffee grounds outside where the ants were entering my kitchen. You can pick up large bags of coffee grounds for free at Starbucks. I discovered that the ants were entering through our kitchen window and poured a bag of grounds on the outside sill. It worked!

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E.M.

answers from Dallas on

Terro liquid ant baits have worked really well for us. Sometimes there is a 2nd wave of ants after the first wave is gone. Just put out another bait.

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

I put traps out and sprinkled coffee grounds around the outside of the house as well as in certain places inside where I thought they were getting in. Before I did that, I'd had the exterminator out several times, and all that did was cause the ants to move to a different location. When I put the coffee grounds and traps down, no more ants. It's been months since I've seen them.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

We had the same problem last year so my husband put out some granules for ants around our yard and the edge of the house and we no longer have an ant problem. Good Luck I feel for you because I hate bugs also.

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H.P.

answers from Corpus Christi on

I hear ya! I live in housing too, and pest control around here is definately less than, I don't even let them into my house. But as far as the ants go a friend told me to wash everything (counters, floors, even the walls if you want) with white vinegar. Your house might stink for a little bit but it's still nice enough, and with the breaze we've had lately that if you leave the windows open it should air out in no time. And you can always buy air fresheners. Hope it helps.
H.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hey T.! I am battling the same problem right now. My Father in law told us to sprinkle plain baby powder at the sites we think the ants are coming in. I know it sounds crazy, but it's kid safe & it really works. We don't have ants coming in anymore. Now we are working on the problem outside. Good luck.

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