Pet-Friendly Pesticides?

[jenptcfan]

Help!

I'm having an ant infestation in my kitchen. I can't tell where they're coming from or what they're after. They're just wandering around the kitchen (not in a line or congregating in any one place). They're even in the dishwasher! And the dishes are clean!

I have an indoor/outdoor dog, so I've hesitated to use any kind of poisons to get rid of them. I did finally break down and buy some ant killer powder and sprinkled it around the perimeter of the part of the house where the kitchen is, and in the windowsill. (And what's the first thing my dog does? She throws her frisbee in the poison! Just to make me a nervous wreck!)

I don't know what to do. I really really hesitate to use pesticides for fear of the dog getting into it. Does anyone know of any good natural concoctions that kill or repel ants? Advice?

Thanks!
J

 

[IvoryRain]

It can be hard to find the source, so what I'd suggest is to use some vasaline. Put it in the window sills, rub some on the inside of switch face plates and clean the kitchen very well with bleach.

I saw an ad for "bugsrdone" that is supposed to be non-toxic, safe around pets and humans. Go to bugsrdone.com to see the product...

Ants also dont seem to cross cinnamon or lines of cream of tartar, red chili powder, paprika, or dried peppermint. Just put any of those where the ants are entering. Also, you can wash smooth, hard surfaces (like uncarpeted floors, countertops, and cabinets) with equal parts water and vinegar. It's nicer to you and everyone who lives there (even with no direct contact, toxic air is not healthy to breathe in), nicer to the environment, and certainly much nicer to the ants.

Check this out too: http://www.snips.8m.com/pages/petsafecleaners.htm

and this: http://www.landofvos.com/articles/wingtips/safepest.html

 

[fefeh]

Ants don't cross vasoline? Wow, I didn't know about all the other stuff either, thanks for the info.

 

[jenptcfan]

Thanks so much for the info! Those sites were really helpful. I liked the idea about the liquid ivory soap being spritzed on plants to control pests. I currently have a hibiscus that's being eaten by green grasshoppers, so I might try it there.

 

[jenptcfan]

Well, I tried the vinegar thing, and my ants seemed unaffected by it. It didn't slow them down. I read on one of those sites that you can mix borax with stuff and make a poison out of that. So last night I was cruising the pest-control aisle and saw little liquid ant baits with borax poison inside. I bought it, and the ants are magically gone! And the poison stayed in a little plastic container on the counter top where my dog couldn't get into it.

I highly recommend that product to people with ant problems. It was "Terro Liquid Ant Baits"...just thought I would share.

 

[lilchristiangurl]

suprisingly, TOOTHPASTE kills ants!!!!!!!