General Chat

Talk about a ruddy Zombie invasion I would say bring it on. It has to be better than what I have.
For the last 4 days I have been having a running battle. Twice I have stripped the whole of my kitchen.
Day one was the start of my invasion, easily dealt with I thought with a quick couple of sprays

Day 2 the little blighters were back with friends so I stripped every single cupboard out, sprayed them cleaned them and rebuild the contents. I then had to do the floor a few times

Day 3 not so many so but several times I had to spray and clean.

Day 4 ..ie today They came back with cousins, neighbours, friends and probably even enemies.. So again I have stripped every single cupboard out every single box opened and sorted, washed every single scrap that could be washed, sprayed and cleaned and rebuilt.

I must have the cleanest kitchen for miles. Now I don´t mind that, but the spray gives me headache and the kitchen is central house on a party wall (no windows). Also I have overnight guests tomorrow so I am trying to tidy my house and ready the upstairs flat. Sort out the menu pre-cook some of it, once I have shopped that is. Clean up after the outside work that OH has been doing so we can sit out to eat.
What I have had to do instead ......

chase after pesky ANTS:

I can´t find the nest to it´s somewhere under the house. I am feeling rather deflated and defeated :-\ and if I don´t scream I shall cry. To make things worse I feel all itchy and crawly now as they are tiny little things. So I may just get in the shower when I clean it :-D.

Rant over ...I think I shall watch Antz tonight so I don´t feel so bad about them ;-) or will that make me feel guilty for killing them :-S

Hi Uzzi

Try washing down with white vinegar or dilute vinegar in water and spray
this does not kill the ants but confuses them they cannot find their way back to the nest so they just go away.

Eileen.

Hi Fly,

Thanks for that, If they come back again I shall try that. The Ant spray I have is fantastic and kills all that come into contact with it, I hope it carries back to the nest also. but sending them on their merry way else where sounds good to me. Plus I don´t mind the smell of vinegar and I have white vinegar in a spray bottle because we used to use it for the cats !

>>>>>>> goes to dig it out >>>>>>

Thanks

Got me itching now. We had some the first week here but used an insect spray and they haven't come back. :-)

Uzzi, I had ants all summer till about the third week of August, the vinegar didn't work, the lemon didn't work...I think they just got fed up with me sweeping them into a dustpan and putting them out of the back door ;-)

ant powder is best as it stick's to there feet and when they go back to the nest it kill's it off.

Martynsue I don´t like using Ant powder in the kitchen and not on the floor because of mutts.

Lol Rose I would put them out my back door but I reckon they will just march straight back in here :-0 I wish I could find the nest. OH is going to have to dismantle the cupboards to get the kickboards off so I can go mad under there....BUT not until my visitors have been :-0 :-0 :-D :-D

Ann when I 1st got here in June I found a few Ants sprayed the area and that was it until 4 days ago.

have you tried the liquid ,they love and all come to eat ,when they go back to the nest it kill's them off.
not sure if you can get it abroad.
just put it on a bit of paper were they passing and they will all come to eat it.

UZZ
YOU REALLY HAVE NO WINDOW IN YOUR
KITCHEN,,,,,,,,,,,

martynsue I am hoping that the spray we use will go back to the nest with some.

Dizzi I really have no window in my kitchen. My kitchen is almost open plan to the dining room (by arch ) and the living room (offset) The living room and dining area run in together and between them have 3 windows. 2 to the porch and 1 to the outside. The porch I have finished enclosing with windows to make a garden/summer room. So although all my windows are open, I don´t have any in the kitchen.
I will say the kitchen was my bug-bear when we viewed this house. Out of all the houses we looked at the kitchen in this one came well below half way BUT the rest of the criteria was so spot on that I could overlook a non perfect kitchen. I am already in the process of setting up a summer kitchen outside. :-D :-D

Uzzi

I always use the liquid.

It comes in a little bottle, mainly borax, I think.

But it attracts them like honey, they eat their fill and take it back to the nest(s)

I believe it is safe for other animals

Just put 2 or 3 drops along the path(s) you see them taking.

Uzzi..

Can you get Boric Acid poder over there..
As that kills ants and they take it back with them to the nest and it dehydrates them..

Borax is no good as that is only a disinfectant.

sue .....

you're right, it is boric acid in the liquid

SylviaInCanada.

Yes you can get the Boric Acid Spray as well but not as effective.

Sue

it is not a spray that we use.

It is a liquid. It actually looks a bit like liquid honey

The ants are attracted to it, withing a couple of minutes a drop is usually surrounded by workers "drinking" it in.

They then take it back to the nest and feed the larvae and the queen, as well as any other workers, with it.

Boric acid is on my shopping list for tomorrow and the great thing about it ..I should be able to get it under the kick panels and away from food or mutts.

I will let you know how it works.

Thanks

If you will be using something under your kick-boards and it has to be harmless to your dogs and not look unsightly you should used good old fashioned, cheap as chips. talcum powder - it works!