I started to post this under garden pests but these aren't in the garden, they are in the kitchen sink. I guess they must be looking for water. I'll have to clean off the sink and counter and spray, I guess. I'll probably have to clean under the sink and spray there, too. Just what I wanted to do today. dooley
Water? Well maybe, but I would still look for an ant trail and/or a food source that may have attracted them in the first place. Open box, spilt food on a shelf, trash can etc. Jerry
Enjoy your day of doing what you didn't plan. I hope you get rid of them. I can't stand ants indoors.
If they are a larger ant, they may be carpenter ants. You may do better with the granules that they take back to the next to kill the queen and all. We found a next in the insulation in the attic and it had thousands of beings in it. It was very cold so they were dormant. We piled them on a piece of sheet rock and got it outside. Then set it on fire with gas. Got the queen and all. Now I use the granule on the outside foundation 2 times a year. Barb in Pa.
We had an invasion of ants, too. Gross! Our cat isn't the neatest eater in the world, and tiny bits of her cat food were on her placemat (yes, the cat has a placemat, among other amenities) and the ants came marching in. I cleaned and got rid of them, and now I check the food dish and placemat several times a day. Dooley, I hope that today's cleaning and spraying takes care of those nasty little critters.
The only place they are is the kitchen sink. No other place yet. I cleaned and washed and maybe they'll stay away. I didn't spray yet though. dooley
2 of my customer had carpenter ants. Both had wood mulch-from same nursery put down.Had to call in pest control. Had terror and on counter.Had to use those liquid traps. I scrubbed the heck out of counters. Dh said just ants.Said "bet not all of them potty trained" He help scrub.
I've had them come inside before and they seemed to be headed straight towards the kitchen sink. They even had beds started on the window seals. I just gave them a good spraying and that took care of it.
This isn't the first time I've had them. Seems every summer they come. They aren't carpenter ants, just little "sugar or grease" ants, my mom called them. dr calls them that, too. I won't spray around the sink. I'll spray a paper towel and just wipe some areas. I don't want to spray the counter where I'll have food. dooley
Dooly, if they're the 'grease' or 'sugar' ants you might try the boric acid sold under several brand names for roach poison.. For the ants mix it about 1:1 with powdered sugar and place in containers like coffee can lids on counter tops where the ants are seen.. CAUTION ! ! ! Don't put it where the pets (especially dogs) can get it as it will make them sick if they ingest it.. Use with caution if at all.. Hank
Dooley, I was just going to suggest the boric acid, but Hank beat me to it . You can also try to sprinkle it in the cracks and crevices under the sink base and cabinet corners. it is supposed to work for all kinds of creepy crawlies. (roaches, silverfish etc.)
I read once a dab of corn meal. Ants eat it-but can not digest it. Never have tried it. But news said more ants and spiders. Lack of rain. None have drown. also snakes.
I washed down the sink with some ant spray on a paper towel. I left if a bit and then cleaned the sink with soap and water and a bit of bleach. No more ants in the sink. They've been getting into Chance's bowls so today I picked up everything, bowls and placemat and washed them. I sprayed the floor around where they set. Put the placemat and bowls back. We'll see if they stay away. dooley
