I don't know if this is the right place to put this but I need help! On Saturday when my dh came home he set his lunch box on the kitchen counter, and then put it away. About 10 min later I looked on the counter and there were about 50 ants where he had set it down before he put it away. Now I killed as many as I could, and hoped that that would be the end of it being that I had never seen more than one or two ants in the house since we moved here over 6 months ago. Since then it seems that every time I look at the counter there is at least 2-3 more on the counter. I don't actually know if he brought them in or not, but that would be my only logical thought since on sat. there were that many, when I know for a fact that there weren't any there before he came home. Does anyone know how to get rid of ants without spraying anything toxic? I don't have a clue so any help would be greatly appreciated. I have never had to deal with ants before.

we get ants all the time! (till we got the bug guy comin!! he took care of it and now I only see them outside!! soo sorry Im not sure what he uses!! could you go to the hardware store they have stuff there for things and usually can hlp better then target or walmart etc!! good luck

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

First you need to find out if they are coming into your home through the walls or your dh's lunchbox.

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www.myspace.com/sassy143


Alex & the spider monkey

they will come inside searching for water if it's hot outside, and also if it's been lots of rain.

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we had an apt that had ants and I just bought thoose bate houses and put them when my dd could not get them and they worked really well so you could put then in the corner on your counter top if that is where you are seeing them. WE found out where ours were comming in the house so it was easy to get rid of them. HTH

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we use terro, but that is a regular bait killer. I think that works best. we had our camper INVADED and within hours weonly had a few straglers.(sp?)

also, they do not like used coffee grounds. if they are coming from outside, put used coffee grounds around the base of house where they are coming in. I have not had to do this but everyone says it works.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I was posting about this last year looking for help. I tried all the home remedies and nothing helped then my mil told me about this and I am so grateful. It's called Hot Shot home insect killer it is the one with the blue lable. I bought mine at home depot but I think Walmart carry's it. This is what I do. After I put the kids to sleep, I go hay wire and spray all the perimeters of the house upstairs and down. It's good for 6 mos. I think. You will not see a live insect for at least this time I sware. It's fine to use in houses with pets and children. Funny thing it worked so good inside I came up with this brilliant idea to use it on the porch at the front door, sice there are so many bugs there at night. Well for about 6 mos. the porch was covered in dead bugs and my porch became a bird feeder. my~o~my!!

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

I just read in the everyday cheapskate newsletter that you can use original blue dawn dish soap to keep ants away.

REPEL ANTS. Spray countertops, cupboards and any other area where you see ants with a solution of Dawn and water. Wipe dry. The slight residue of Dawn that remains will not be a problem at all for kids or pets, but ants hate it. Should you see a trail of ants, go ahead and hit them with the Dawn spray. You'll see. It will kill them

vinegar and grits also kills them :D

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I wish I had a solution for you. We are having the same problem right now. Several people I have talked to are. Twice now I have seen them in my bedroom around the outlet where the baby monitor was plugged in. The first time I pulled out the plug and jiggled the outlet and out they came. I swear there were hundreds. I sprayed raid and cleaned up the mess and we were good for about 2 weeks. Saw them again but this time when DH pulled out the plug, eggs fell with the ants. We sprayed and took the outlet cover off and it was filled with ants and eggs. We haven't put the cover on and we have left the monitor unplugged and haven't seen them since. Unfortunately they have moved on to our kitchen.

Now that I have hijacked the thread (sorry)...I have a question. If you used the used coffee grounds, wouldn't that stink? Especially in the summer.