Quiltingboard Forums

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk) (https://www.quiltingboard.com/general-chit-chat-non-quilting-talk-f7/)
-   -   Anybody ever use cornmeal to kill ants? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/general-chit-chat-non-quilting-talk-f7/anybody-ever-use-cornmeal-kill-ants-t265940.html)

purpleleaf 06-03-2015 05:04 AM


Originally Posted by paoberle (Post 7215143)
Cathyvv said she did not think cinnamon was a good idea with a crawling baby around if the baby could reach it. Why?

If it got on his hands, it would certainly go in his mouth. Everything goes in his mouth at this age. Even as an adult with taste buds that have been "broken in" for years, imagine eating a handful of cinnamon! I like cinnamon and I still wouldn't want to eat it plain. I think for a baby who has only had a few foods, it would be an assault to his taste buds. He'd be unhappy, but that's about it.

He has tried it before, though, I do add spices in VERY tiny amounts to his sweet potatoes and carrots. He's a fan! :)

purpleleaf 06-03-2015 05:05 AM

I tried the cornmeal trick last night. I'll go out and sprinkle some on the hills I see. We've only lived in this house for a few months and I'm quickly learning that the seals aren't very great. I think there's easily a 1/4" gap under the back door.

Thanks for the tips about the cinnamon, I'm going to put some of that on the windowsill behind the sink and around the sink!

maviskw 06-03-2015 05:27 AM


Originally Posted by Misty's Mom (Post 7215196)
I know this is off topic, but what about all those little spiders?

The only natural thing to get rid of spiders to me is the vacuum cleaner. Don't vacuum up the spider webs until you see the spider in it. If you get rid of the web, they will only make new ones. You have to get the spider. I try to use a hand vac to pick up the spiders; then I take them outside and release them. Spiders are good bugs, but not in my house.

purpleleaf 06-03-2015 05:31 AM


Originally Posted by Misty's Mom (Post 7215196)
I know this is off topic, but what about all those little spiders?

Okay, so I have no idea if this is true or not, but my mom and aunts swear that using lemon scented pledge around places that spiders might gain entrance to your home is a huge deterrent. I guess they hate the smell and if the crawl on it it has that waxy quality and it annoys them and they won't come back. I rarely see a spider in my mom's house, so maybe there's some truth to it!

eilers12634 06-03-2015 05:38 AM

I've read that mixing powdered sugar and baking soda will work as they go after the powdered sugar and they can't differentiate and when soda gets in their system it reacts with their digestive system and they swell up and die.

ejmhome2 06-03-2015 05:39 AM

I used the cinnamon and it worked great. I sprinkled it on a window sill and left it and after a day or two I used a small paint brush to brush it into as many crevices as I could find. Another tool to apply the cinnamon is a pointed spout like on a mustard container. I was really surprised that it worked so well.

janjj 06-03-2015 06:31 AM

A few years ago I went online and was informed to use baby powder. It did the trick! for grease ants I use whole cloves. I use Miracle II products and put some soap and water in a spray bottle and spray around edges of my basement. works great too diamatateous earth (sp) works great around the outside of the house. It is finely ground type of shells and bugs cut tlhemselves and dehydrate and die. You can get the food grade kind and eat it and get rid of parasites in your gut! all kinds of things out there ????

willferg 06-03-2015 06:32 AM

We've been having luck with Borax getting rid of ants. You can google it, as there are different approaches (wet or dry). After having nonstop invasions, we put out Borax and all ant traffic stops in its tracks, at least until the next big change in the weather. You only put the Borax outside in a few places, so your little one shouldn't come in contact with it.

Snooze2978 06-03-2015 06:38 AM

I use fresh basil leaves in my pantry to keep them out of here. Also have heard of putting borax mixed in peanut butter and then stuffed into paper straws. You cut them into couple inch sections and lay them around your window sills to keep the ants at bay. If the window sills are high enough that your child can't reach as well as any animals that might work.

Mamia 06-03-2015 06:42 AM

No but Borax works great. My Aunt bought an apartment house with roaches. You name it this place had it. My Mom and Aunt used borax to get rid of the bugs. This is what I use now too. You just sprinkle it where you have the ants inside and out they take it back to their nest and next thing you know no ants.Buy a box and try it it isn't expensive and you can also use it in your wash. Good luck. Mia<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object>


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:52 PM.