When I begged for ant solutions, you had them in spades. I needed something that wouldn't kill the earth or my lungs, just maybe the ants.
I'm not saying any of these things are humane to the bugs, I'm saying they are humane to the humans who unwillingly co-habitate with six-legged things.
Some of the genius ideas:
- Bob in L.A., who has plenty of experience fighting California-sized ants, says a solution of liquid antibacterial soap and water can be sprayed on ants to kill them off.
- Lena suggests sprinkling a thin line of borax or - wait for it - instant grits. The borax will block the ants from proceeding (inside or outside), while the grits will kill 'em back at the colony, she says. Grits. Can you get any more harmless for your house? I've never heard the grits one, but I'm excited about it. We're big fans of borax, too. It cleans, stops bugs in their tracks and is largely harmless to humans.
- Bee suggests a recipe she found on the Internet: 4 ounces of peanut butter, 4 ounces of sugar and 4 ounce of boric acid put where the ants feed. The recipe lures in oil-loving ants and sugar-loving ants and off them through the boric acid. You won't want to use it around kids or pets, but it seems much more harmless than spray poisons. Also, Bee needs your help with slug control. I'll find out more details.
- When KatsMom's daughter was 1, she had to battle ants in a safe way. Her solution: Cinnamon. I love this one. "I sprinkled cinnamon along the areas where they were coming in," she reports. " I guess it messes with their trail scents and also burns their tiny
- little feet." Love the description, love the explanation. I've heard this too about cinnamon and I like it better than vinegar.
- Sheila, who is doing an ant battle in her kitchen too, heard that if you leave cornmeal where the ants are coming from, it will kill them. Sounds like the grits theory, meaning there has to be something to this.
Sheila, try some of these and report back. *grin* I can't try many because the brainy bugs have learned not to touch a horizontal surface in my home. They stick to the vertical surfaces (even on their way in) making a spray, rather than a sprinkle, necessary.
Bee, if you give me more about your slug problem (inside? outside? Still there in the cold?) we'll solicit great solutions beyond the usual salt and beer.
If you have an ant problem and absolutely can't stand the idea of homemade insecticides or deterrents, consider EcoSmart.
They claim to be organic, but as you all know, it doesn't mean much if someone didn't certify them. But they do say they're using plant oils to kill bugs instead of chemicals.
I can't prove it, but feel free to eyeball them at the store. Or go to the Web site to fill out a form to qualify for a free sample. Then you can check it out yourself.
Since our ant problem is on vertical surfaces, we may have to test this stuff out.
Julie Todd is the night editor at The Herald News in Joliet. She and her
husband are looking to cut the chemicals and get back to basics -- minus the
granola and hemp clothing. They live in a home they bought last year in
Plainfield, where they're making changes to create their own little patch of
utopia.
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