Fire Ants in House!!

With kids in the house, it's hard to know/decide what chemical to use.
We've not had them in the house, but have had them in the yard a bit.
Instead of chemicals, we use diatomaceous earth. It's essentially ground up crustacean shells. Here's a link that has more info:
http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html

Also, wikipedia has an entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

HTH
K., mama to
Catherine, 5.5y
Samuel, 2.5y
EDD 9/09

We had ants in our kitchen (black ants, not fire ants) and we tried EVERYTHING! We even had the pest control people out a couple of times and whatever they were using that was "kid and pet friendly" was also ant friendly because it did nothing. Finally, I asked them to do whatever it took and they used something stronger. They squirted small strips in several areas of the kitchen and it worked. The ants were gone within a few days and haven't come back. I don't know what the chemical was, but at first it attracted the ants (it was pretty gross because there were tons of them just feeding on these strips of poison), then they took the food back to the queen and they all died. I think you're going to have to get a professional in if you want to get rid of them completely. It's the only thing that worked for us. Good luck! I know how annoying ant problems are!

Hmmm.....Ants.....try killing them with instant grits. Don't cook the grits but just pour them around the areas that they are in and when they eat it they will die. It's safe to use around children and pets. I've used it a lot and have always worked. Good luck!

My house is invaded with sugar ants. I called my pest people and when he came by today I was telling him that I have been cleaning the counters and sinks and floors with bleach but they won't go away and he responded that bleach will get rid of fire ants but not sugar ants. So try to bleach all the counters, floors, sinks....whereever they are. Other than that I don't know. Good Luck!

Chem Free has done a great job getting rid of the fireants in our home and our yard! They were gone after the first treatment. If you end up hiring them, make sure you pay to have your yard treated as well (otherwise, they will eventually come back in).

Call a professional and have them use the strong stuff!

Call an exterminator. Fire ants are persistent little boogers.

Corn Meal! Ants can't digest the corn and it kills off the entire mound. It take a little longer than poisons, but this way it's safe for your family, any pets and you don't have to worry about them moving some where else and coming back. I would also suggest you put it outside on the mounds. I tried that a few years ago and haven't had ants since then.

until you can get an exterminator or something stronger, you're supposed to be able to sprinkle grits. They will eat the grits and it will blow up in their tummy and make them (basically) explode. I've also heard sprinkling baking soda around their nest will work because they won't cross it.... good luck.

There is a chemical powder called Demon that you can find at feed stores. I found mine at my local feed store. It is a powder and you mix it with water. Then you spray it around your house, the windows, doorways, and base. I also sprayed it in any water space at the bottom of the house.

I had to do it 2 times but it finally got rid of the ants. It's about $15 for 3 packets.

Call Jullian! He exterminated for us a couple of years ago.
He does the inside and outside and whatever he used has lasted over a year. I recently called him again because in 10 years of being in this house, last year is the first one
we had without any ants in the house.

R.'

The Accidental Housewife was on The TV Doctors and she was recommending salt. It makes them blow up. She also said (I think) baby powder. They don't like the fine dust part to it. I once had some in an apartment about 20 years ago and sprayed Aquanet on them. Stopped them in their tracks (literally). I don't think they came back either.