Put pests aside. Ants love Florida and lately I have been looking at alternative methods to eradicate the little buggers. Spraying pesticides inside your home is not only unhealthy but also ineffective because it doesn't get to the root of the problem. Here are a couple of methods I am putting to use in and around my home; Use a mixture of castile soap and water to spray where ants are active to destroy the chemical trail left behind by the worker ants. Destroy any outdoor nests you find by pouring boiling water directly to the nest. {you must continue until you are certain you have penetrated the nest deeply} If you vacuum up an indoor nest or ants adding some cornstarch to the bag or compartment will help ensure that the ants suffocate.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
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8 comments:
I spray undiluted White Distilled Vinegar inside perimeter of the house, mainly kitchen and the front door area, and sprinkle (more like create a moat-like barrier) coffee grounds around the perimeter of the house OUTSIDE. I haven't had ants problem in the house ever since!
I love your blog btw - check mine for similar tips and gossip.
http://ecogeneration.blogspot.com
Karen
You can also use a product called Diatomaceous earth that is available online and at many garden centers. Its a ground up stone of some kind (see Wiki link below), but it kills many types of insects when they crawl over it. (It's sharp and cuts their skin open and they dehydrate and die. Gory, yes, but chemical free.) Its viable long term (until it gets wet) and its safe around pets and kids. Perfect for low human traffic/high bug traffic areas like under the sink and behind appliances, etc. You could also pour it onto an ant's nest, but it only works until the next rain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
Note, its only "sharp" on a microscopic level - it comes out of the package in a fine powder, similar to flour or baking powder.
These are great suggestions. Thanks. I'm going to look into this Diatomaceous Earth stuff.
Diat. earth works and is basically ground up limestone. It may alter the pH of your soil, but that's about it.
Ugh, we also live with South Florida and when we went away for the holidays we came back to a dead ant festival in our kitchen. So. Gross.
I live in Miami, and we've got the same problem.
This tip ain't for the squeamish, but it works: sprinkle grits where the little stinkers congregate. They'll lap 'em up, and when they drink water, the grits will expand in their stomachs and, um, the ants will explode.
Holly from EcoMingler
Wow, I will never look at grits the same way.
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