Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

I had tiny ants around my kitchen counter that were coming from around the receptacle on the back splash. I cannot put anything wet around the receptacle because of the electricity. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can get rid of the ants?

By Donna from NJ

Answers:

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

Here are some things I learned from living in Louisiana, home of the fire ants. Ants hate the smell of cinnamon. Boric acid kills them a little while after they walk through it and they carry it back to other ants. Also, you can pour a little washing powder in their nest to kill them and destroy the nest. However, they just usually move the nest to another area. (11/06/2009)

By kimsukie

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

While you can not spray liquids on the electrical receptacle you can spray the counter and wall. Use the cheapest glass cleaner you can find. Ants will not cross where glass cleaner has been sprayed. (11/06/2009)

By Cleta Gates

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

There is a product that I have used for many years. It's called Terro. It can be found just about anywhere anymore. I get it at Wal Mart. You take a tiny piece of paper towel, maybe 1 inch square. Put just one drop of Terro on it and lay it in the path of where the ants travel.

They will get it on their feet and carry it back to the nest and it'll kill the whole colony. Then all you have to do is pick up the paper and wipe the counter under where it was. No muss no fuss. And much safer than anything that must be spread or sprayed. (11/07/2009)

By Cricket

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

There are also lots of suggestions in the archives below.
(11/07/2009)

By Deeli

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

Yes, cinnamon. I put it behind all the things on my counter. Out of site and it worked. (11/07/2009)

By Betty

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

My pa uses diatomaceous earth, it is a fossil from the sea. It's pulverized and minutely, extremely sharp to small unwanted guests. He puts it at the doorways to the home. He is living in Arizona; no more roaches/crickets/ants. Works really well; it totally dehydrates them. (11/08/2009)

By Pamela Rochelle Woodworth

Getting Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

You don't need to bait them where they are coming from, but rather where they are ending up. I had the same problem this summer and what worked was Combat ant disks that clearly stated on the box "guaranteed to kill ants within 24 hours". Slide those disks under your microwave, stove, and fridge (far enough in that a pet or child can't reach them).

I promise if you get the exact disks I just mentioned (the one stating 24 hour guarantee) you will not have ants in less than 24 hours. What happens is they are attracted to the ingredients inside those disks and take those ingredients back to the nest and the entire nest is poisoned. I tried a different type of Combat disk first and it didn't work, but the 24 hour one did. (12/14/2009)

By Deeli

TERRO DOES NOT WORK

Do not waste your money folks. I went to Walmart and bought this, due to suggestions by members on here. I put it on the floor where there were no ants. Next morning there was a swarm of them dancing on it. I hope I can get my money back. Please don't waste yours. (04/21/2010)

By Tina