How to get rid of ants around the sink?

[Leo in B.R.]

Been having occasional problems with tiny ants around my sinks (both kitchen and bath). I live in a 60-year-old raised house, so lots of ways in for tiny critters. Any ideas for getting rid of them? Thanks in advance.

[bdavid]

We had those - I think they're called sugar ants. I eventually called an exterminator who gave me little traps to set in all sorts of places. They worked, almost instantly; it was at least six months ago and there's been no recurrence. He told me you can also buy them at Lowe's - they're little plastic octagon-shaped thingies. Or maybe hexagons.

[justagirl]

I keep a cinnamon stick around the kitchen sink, that keeps them away for me.

I keep two in the dog food bucket as well, and a bay leaf to keep the roaches out. Works like a charm.

[Admin]

Had a similar problem around a patio door. Those little bait traps mentioned above, plus a sprinkling of ant-killing dust around the foundation outside the door did the trick. Amazing the places you think are sealed that they can get in. Having experienced it only once in fourteen years in this house, it appears to be a fairly random occurrence.

[flyinbayou]

My exterminator gave me a syringe of , ready for this?? "Gourmet Ant Bait Gel; Honeydew formula with Uni-Tract"

Great marketing, huh? Just apply a small bead on the ant trail and...

Works like a charm.

[Occasional Cook]

Bdavid mentioned that these might be "sugar ants." There are numerous common names for small household ants; little black ants, crazy ants, etc.

Many of these names are local and have little to do with the actual scientific names of the ants in question. Morphological identification by a GOOD pest control professional is necessary for recommending the correct treatment/remediation.

Two of the most common elements that occur with the association of household ants are moisture problems (check under the sink) and spilled or improperly contained food products (sugar spilled on the counter, kid's cookie crumbs.

Check some syringe-type gels and disc-shaped bait stations along with a moisture inspection. Some trade names of these products are Maxforce and Combat. Any Lowes, grocery store or local hardware store will carry these products.

[JonSmith]

Been having occasional problems with tiny ants around my sinks (both kitchen and bath). I live in a 60-year-old raised house, so lots of ways in for tiny critters. Any ideas for getting rid of them? Thanks in advance.

Might be overkill, but you could try burning your house down.

[Occasional Cook]

Foolproof; but be sure that you tell the insurance company that your intent was to get rid of the ants and not to burn down the house.

[Schuarta]

My wife gently wipes them up with a paper towel. Then takes them outside and "releases" them.

My wife has been visiting our daughter in Vancouver since August 1st. My system is to use Raid ANT Unsented, blue can, and a small artist's paint brush. I spray a little on to the brush and then paint a bead (line) where the counter top meets the vertical tiles behind the sink. No more ants.

[Leo in B.R.]

Might be overkill, but you could try burning your house down.

Jon, just because you sold your Southdowns (BR) store dosen't mean the rest of us want to leave!

Gonna try some of the Ortho "Ant be gone" first. Thanks for (almost) all of the suggestions.