Quantcast Ant Problem
 
INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Mousehut Mail WebDisney News INTERCOT: Walt Disney World Vacation Guide
News Discussion Theme Parks Resorts Info Central Shop Interactive Podcast INTERCOT Navigtion
Site Sponsors
  magical journeys travel agency
  INTERCOT shop

INTERCOT Affiliates
  disney magicbands & accessories
  disneystore.com
  disney fathead
  disney check designs
  amazon.com
  priceline.com

News
  site search
  headlines
  past updates
  discussion boards
  email update

INTERCOT Other
  advertising
  sponsors
  link to us
  contact us
     

INTERCOT Ads
 

 
 

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Thread: Ant Problem

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Chicago Suburbs
    Posts
    8,368
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Ant Problem

    Any suggestions on how to get rid of ants? A few weeks ago I noticed a few ants in my kitchen around the cat food. Within a day or too there were many more. We bought those Raid ant traps which haven't seemed to do anything. I moved the cats bowls into the nearby bathroom. Now there are ants in there!
    I have scrubbed everything down and I think thye may be coming in by our sliding door in the kitchen. Should I call an exterminator?
    Would it pose any harm to my cats?
    Trips: Too Many to Count! Last Trips: April 2013 CSR; July 2013 Aloha Aulani, The Sequel, Hawaii. Multiple trips to WDW, DL, DCL!

    Coming up: September 2013 "Scary September" at Disneyland/DCA/Universal Hollywood.

    Proud DVC Members since 2004!

  2.     Please Support INTERCOT's Sponsors:
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    West Allis, WI
    Posts
    473
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    We have the same problem with our dog food. I usually spray Raid ant and roach killer around the outside of the house, usually by doors, etc. and this seems to work for the most part to keep them out. The DW will clean the house with a non-scented (especially avoid pine scented) cleaner. Good Luck..if you find something else that works, please share..thanks.
    1986 and 1991 offsite
    1998,2000,2001,2003,2004,2006,2008 movies
    1999, 2002 sports
    2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 pop
    2008 Riverside (Christmas Parade)
    2010 CB (25th anniversary)

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    327
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    When I was younger my mother would wage war against ants every single summer. Now that I am grown and married I find myself doing the same thing. Ants are attracted to food smells. I use natural remedies because Raid and chemicals make me nervous. But Raid sprayed around the house will work. Unfortunately, they love pet food. The best thing to do is to feed the cats and then pick up the food. You should also place it in a container that seals tight. This way they can't smell it anymore. After the food is off the floor you should give the floor a quick spray with cleaner every time. I use green works all purpose spray. I don't think that deters them, but it's just what I use. Ants follow smell trails they leave to and from the place where they are finding food.

    Also, can you find the nest? If you can pour boiling water into it. I know....it sounds cruel and horrible but it works. What is does is kill the ants in the immediate area and collapse their tunnels. Then they are trapped inside. Its not permanent because if they are not all dead the pesky little buggers will, eventually, tunnel out.

    Some people swear by spearmint. So, you could try placing a little spearmint mixed with water in front of the door. This may deter them form coming in. The best way to deal with ants is to remove the incitements from your home. I had a cat my whole childhood and I know he liked to nibble all day so this may be a tough adjustment for your kitties but sealing up the food might alleviate the problem.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    At the Edge of Reason
    Posts
    12,581
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I would suggest getting in touch with a reputable pest management company. We pay about $100 a quarter and they come out, spray outside and inside of the house (around ground level) as well as handle any bees, wasps, etc. For that they will also handle mouse problems, etc.

    It's turned out pretty good for us, no real problems to speak of, not so many spiders around the house, definitely no ants, etc. Won't really help with mosquitos, gnats, fruit flies, and some of the other flying pests, but that's understandable.

    As far as the cat food/dog food goes. Store it in sealed containers and you should not leave food down all day for animals. Having set eating times will eliminate the food from sitting around attracting bugs. They will learn to eat when its time to eat.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    14,528
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Before you go the exterminator route, try out a product called Terro, available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. We buy the baiting stations. You snip a little piece of plastic off, which allows the ants to crawl in. They take the bait back to their colony and it wipes it out. We've had a problem maybe a couple of times a year, but the Terro takes care of things, usually within 24 hours. The one precaution I would take, though, is to be cautious about placing the baiting stations around the cats. Our cats have never bothered them, but I still try to place them away from their food and under something, if possible (we place it under the dryer). You don't want the cats playing with it!
    Beth
    INTERCOT Staff--
    Theme Parks and Accommodations



    Take a look at what INTERCOT's wonderful sponsors have to offer!

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Round Lake Beach, IL.
    Posts
    3,010
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Since we live only a few miles from you, we also have a problem. What we do is ant powder, or spray and place it around the house, outside. We do this around the base (foundation), infront of doors, by window wells. We get the outside ant killer from Wall Mart or Home Depot. We were told that because of the kind of soil found in our area, we will always have this issue. We just work on it in the spring and it does get better. Are they the small or big black one?

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Chicago Suburbs
    Posts
    8,368
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TheMartellFamily View Post
    Since we live only a few miles from you, we also have a problem. What we do is ant powder, or spray and place it around the house, outside. We do this around the base (foundation), infront of doors, by window wells. We get the outside ant killer from Wall Mart or Home Depot. We were told that because of the kind of soil found in our area, we will always have this issue. We just work on it in the spring and it does get better. Are they the small or big black one?
    They are the small ones. Wow, this is the first time in 10 years we have had them but they are numerous!
    Trips: Too Many to Count! Last Trips: April 2013 CSR; July 2013 Aloha Aulani, The Sequel, Hawaii. Multiple trips to WDW, DL, DCL!

    Coming up: September 2013 "Scary September" at Disneyland/DCA/Universal Hollywood.

    Proud DVC Members since 2004!

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    250
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    This year we used Ortho Home Defense that comes in a gallon bottle with a sprayer. You spray a perimeter around the rooms that have the ants and also around the perimeter of the house. When we saw ants (mainly the kitchen) we would just spray and follow the trail. It seemed to work pretty well. We also use the the small bait traps.
    Off-site - 1984, 1988 (2)
    Disneyland - 1993
    All Star Movies - 1999
    All Star Music - 2002
    Polynesian - 2006
    Coronado Springs - 2007
    Port Orleans Riverside - 2008
    Caribbean Beach - 2009
    Pop Century- 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
    Disney Dream - 2013
    Yacht Club 2015


  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Harrisonburg, VA--too far from the magic!
    Posts
    1,997
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I'm having the same problem. I live/lived in VA all my life and we have had cats without any ant problems. I moved to Morgantown, WV for law school and I have ants. I hate bugs, any bugs, especially spiders , but basically if it crawls (or slithers ) I am not happy. I quickly learned even a crumb would bring the little pests in and was very careful about cleaning up, always doing the dishes, etc. Then I got a kitten. For four months I didn't have one problem leaving her food down all the time. Then one morning I woke up to her meowing like crazy and refusing to go near her food (and this cat can EAT!). I looked and there were ants in her bowl and all around it. Turns out my dare-devil kitty is terrified of creepy-crawlies too! I'm still working to find a solution so I'm open to any ideas, especially if they are cat-friendly since I seem to have the cat that can magically get anywhere! Does anybody know if those pest-control things that you plug into the walls work (and if so if they will work on ants?)? Thanks and I share your irritation!
    ºoº Tiffany ºoº

    Many trips offsite growing up
    2/08 CBR
    10/09 Pop/POFQ
    12/09-1/10 POR/CR
    10/10 POLY
    12/11 POFQ

    Next Up:
    POFQ 10/14 - 11/14

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    new york
    Posts
    973
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I hope this can work for your problem....

    My grandfather was one of those down home kind of guys and never used store bought, manufactured bug sprays, etc.....He would make us laugh with his homemade concoctions!

    When I moved into my first house we had a problem with those big carpenter ants coming inside. It was gross! My DH bought baits, traps and nothing really helped. Grandpa laughed at us and said for us to pour a line of salt around the area we thought they were coming in from (we ended up doing about an inch from the foundation of the house to be sure!) and it worked! They eat the salt and explode..... We didn't see an ant from that point on.
    10/91-Honeymoon YC Concierge
    6/92, 5/93, 9/95, 9/99-YC
    9/00-BWI,YC
    6/01-AKL,YC
    9/02-BCV,YC
    5/03-BCV
    8/03-WLV,BWV
    1/04-HH,BWV,OKW
    6/04, 5/05-BWV
    8/05, 11/07-SSR
    2/09-BCV
    11/09-BCV
    5/11-AKL
    4/12-OKW

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    At the Edge of Reason
    Posts
    12,581
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by beksy View Post
    Does anybody know if those pest-control things that you plug into the walls work (and if so if they will work on ants?)?
    No, they don't... They will however probably drive you buggy with the noise they make.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Myrtle beach,SC
    Posts
    674
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    My mom has inside cats and some stray outside cats. She puts their food bowls in a plate with water filled in the plate. The ants won't go in the water and she doesn't have a problem with them anymore.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Spencer, MA, USA
    Posts
    3,102
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    This post made me chuckle, I am ant crazy. Our camp in Maine starting getting ants in March...I would sit in the bedroom and try and find out where they were coming from, of course they never came out when I was watching.

    I sprayed and put ant cups out, the next time we went up there were still some but not as many. These were the black ants, not the little brown sugar ants....we sprinkled stuff all around the perimeter of the camp and underneath (no cellar), when we were up last weekend there were probably about 50 big black ants (with wings) and all dead, or dying...I bought new ant cups, sprayed what spray I had left around and I just bought a big bottle of spray and more stuff to put around the house on our next trip up. If that doesn't kill them I will call an exterminator....those kind of services aren't the easiest to find up there.

    My family thinks I am nuts, but I don't like ants, I'd rather have mice!!! At least they are cute!!!

    Good Luck with the Ants, hopefully I'll have good luck getting rid of them too!!
    Jeri Lynn

    Fantasy 9/18 Dream 5/16 Fantasy 9/15 Wonder 10/14 Dream BCV ~ 12/09, BC ~9/18, 12/17 10/15 10/12 11/11 10/10 10/08, 11/07, 9/07, 11/06, 9/06, 12/05, 12/04, 9/04, 9/03, 9/02, 9/01, 12/2000, 9/99
    YC 9/16
    AKL 12/05, 9/05, 11/13
    DXL 9/98
    CBR 9/96
    DXL 5/93
    Off-site 1984, 1908

  15. #14
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Audubon, PA
    Posts
    3,699
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I would just call an exterminator. They can take care of it right away. And the stuff they use is probably much safer than the stuff you would use yourself, which is stinky and gets everywhere.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2000
    Location
    St. Peters, MO
    Posts
    4,013
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MNNHFLTX View Post
    Before you go the exterminator route, try out a product called Terro,
    This will do the job.
    Dave aka: Altair
    "Even though they're graceful when swimmin', it's hard to believe sailors thought they were women" - Manatee area, the Living Seas

  17. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    FL/GA
    Posts
    3,393
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I heard of a mixture you can make with Borax and something else, and it worked, I think it was mixed with water and dish soap.

  18. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    Clinton Township, MI
    Posts
    7,344
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Ants are attracted to food, so the first step is to clean really well, which sounds like you have done.

    We had a similar problem a couple years ago. Our cats' food dish sits by our front door, and ants were coming in under the door, even though I had it sealed as best I could. I used Ortho's Home Defense to create a barrier and it worked great. We haven't had a problem since. The ants seem to really hate this stuff. It's supposed to last up to 12 months and is supposed to be safe around pets. I'd try using it around the outside of your home first.
    Steve (aka brownie)
    INTERCOT Staff: Accommodations & Mousellaneous
    ASMv 4/00, 10/01, 11/03, 5/21
    ASMu 8/12, 11-12/22
    AKL 6/18
    BC 9/94
    CSR 8/14, 3-4/22
    POP 11-12/10, 3/12, 10/12, 7/17, 4/22
    POFQ 10/01
    POR 9/04, 1/16, 11/19
    WL 12/03
    Disneyland 6/07, 1/15
    Disney Dream 8/14

  19. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    1,043
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    If you call an exterminator, make sure they use child- and/or pet-safe products.

    Totally by accident, I found out that vinegar will keep them away. We were having a problem, and then I switched to using vinegar to clean the kitchen (environmental reasons, not due to ants). Ants disappeared. They reappeared in the bathroom a few months later and then I read online that vinegar takes care of them. I used a vinegar/water solution on our counters and the ants are gone now. It's cheap and it's safe.
    ~~Julie~~

  20. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1,455
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    We also wage war with ants.....we have tried...Terro, Vineger, spotless kitchen, outdoor sprays, Raid, spearmint, even called the exterminator but their prices were outrageous I would rather fight the ants.

    Oh well any other ideas would be fun to try, but I think we have mutant ants.
    Loads of trips since 1974...

  21. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Treasure Island, FL
    Posts
    341
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I agree with the previous posters that recommended Terro. It has always worked for us within a matter of days. Borax is the active ingredient, they take it back to their nest and share it with the colony. We just place it openly in the area where we see the most ants. Within a few hours there are a lot of ants eating it and taking it back to the nest, it’s hard to resist spraying or stomping on them, but you must let them be for it to work. We also have cats and One more thing, Terro only works on sweet eating ants, if these are large black carpenter ants, you will need a professional exterminator.....
    Wells
    "But...I don't want to go among mad people."

    "Oh, you can't help that," said the cat, "we're all mad here"

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Share This Thread On Social Media:

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

 
Company
Advertising
Guest Relations
Community
Discussion Boards
Podcast
Newsletter
Shop
Social
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive our newsletter:
INTERCOT Logo PRIVACY STATEMENT / DISCLAIMER | DISCUSSION BOARD RULES
© Since 1997 INTERCOT - a Levelbest Communications Website. This is not an official Disney website.
> Levelbest Network Site