RSSAugust green tip
Aug 18
Inside KRMC Comments Off
How to Control Ants without Poison
When you first notice a trail of ants in your house, follow it to its entry point and caulk all holes and cracks around it. In areas that can’t be sealed, leave a small, low-wattage night light on for a few nights in the area of the most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and discourage their foraging patterns.
If the ant colonies are in your home, vacuum them up! Add some cornstarch to the vacuum bag to suffocate them, and make sure you are using a HEPA filter. Dispose of the bag immediately to prevent living ants from finding their way out.
Lots of ingredients already in your kitchen can act as natural ant deterrents. Set any of the following at an ant’s entry point in a small line that ants won’t cross: citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice, coffee grounds, cucumber peels, mint tea bags or dried mint leaves, cloves, cinnamon, or cayenne pepper.
To kill and drive away ants that you see, mix a teaspoon of dish soap with water in a spray bottle; this will also clean up the scent trails they leave for others to follow. Citrus oil and water or plain white vinegar is equally effective.
Our next Green Committee meeting will be held on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 2:00 PM in the Cholla conference room.
