Tried and tested useful household tips

[Fuzz]

Anyone has good tips for getting rid of house lizards? I don’t want to kill them, just repel them. They really freak me out!! I bought the ridsect lizard spray and the electronic device to plug in. Both don’t seem to be v effective. I still find lizards in my house and somehow especially when hubby is not at home! Help!

[Fairy]

Does anyone have any good tips to share regarding how to effectively get rid of house ants? I’ve tried using ants baits, the type that comes in a box of 5 or 6 packets, to no avail.

[cnimed]

I have the same problem. I not only get house ants, but also garden ants ( the big ones) and recently, a lot of flying ants. Two contributing causes - plants from outside touching my windows, so everytime it rains, they run into my apt for shelter. Recently I discovered a leak in my kitchen cupboard. Ants will look for water sources, and they have been going for that. I thought I had dried the kitchen area very well, but I had missed out on the leak. Maybe you can check your house to see what is sustaining them.

[Red_Snow]

Fairy:

Does anyone have any good tips to share regarding how to effectively get rid of house ants? I've tried using ants baits, the type that comes in a box of 5 or 6 packets, to no avail.

I use the same bait and it works. What brand is urs? Maybe u can try 'Golden Rooster Brand' I always buy this brand. Try other brand before but not so good.

[Jennifer]

I use Combat mini every few months. So far so good.


Once I washed the balcony with Dettol disinfectant. I noticed the ants in the balcony that came into contact with the Dettol disinfectant died quicker than just normal water.

Since then I add Dettol disinfectant to my regular floor cleaner for floor mopping.

[Fairy]

Red_Snow

I used Golden Rooster too. Maybe the ants @ my house do not like the baits. How long did you leave the baits around before the ants are totally gone?

deminc
May I know why would ants look for water sources? I often find dead ants floating on the water in my flask - very frustrating. I’ve pored away litres of drinking water due to that.

Jennifer
Maybe i’ll also try adding dettol disinfectant to my regular floor cleaner to see if it helps. Combat mini - i’ll look out for it. Does it work the same way as Golden Rooster?

Thanks, Red-Snow, deminc & Jennifer for sharing. These ants are really driving me up the wall! :x

[Jennifer]

Fairy:

Red_Snow

I used Golden Rooster too. Maybe the ants @ my house do not like the baits. How long did you leave the baits around before the ants are totally gone?

deminc
May I know why would ants look for water sources? I often find dead ants floating on the water in my flask - very frustrating. I've pored away litres of drinking water due to that.

Jennifer
Maybe i'll also try adding dettol disinfectant to my regular floor cleaner to see if it helps. Combat mini - i'll look out for it. Does it work the same way as Golden Rooster?

Thanks, Red-Snow, deminc & Jennifer for sharing. These ants are really driving me up the wall! :x

Before I open the ant bait, I will try to find out where the nest is by observing the ant route. Then I place these baits along the route. I feel that I hv to use all 6 baits at the same time at diff location. Once opened, the baits do not kept well (aka not effective).

I used to buy another brand, cant remember the brand name. I had to cut a stilt. Not so effective for the small ants in my hse.

It usu. takes a few weeks before the whole colony is destroyed. Can tell when I see dead ants around.

[cnimed]

Fairy:

These ants are really driving me up the wall! :x

Oh, I totally understand! It's the same over at my end! I can't even use Dettol because my PT cleaner is allergic to it!

I was reading a book on natural house cleaning cause my kid has sensitive skin, and the author, who is also a scientist, wrote that ants, like all living things, need water. We have to get rid of water sources, as well as food sources. So if you've been cleaning madly and still see ants, check for water sources that they may be relying on at night and ant nests. I don't used to dry the sink thoroughly at night, and after I did, I inherited a lot of leaking stuff from previous owner of house - heater leaking, washing machine leaking, toilet pipe burst, now leak in cupboard under the sink. Gotta do major kitchen reno after CNY. In the meantime, I'm madly cleaning and drying...It does help.

[TwaTau]

Jennifer:

Fairy:

Red_Snow

I used Golden Rooster too. Maybe the ants @ my house do not like the baits. How long did you leave the baits around before the ants are totally gone?

deminc
May I know why would ants look for water sources? I often find dead ants floating on the water in my flask - very frustrating. I've pored away litres of drinking water due to that.

Jennifer
Maybe i'll also try adding dettol disinfectant to my regular floor cleaner to see if it helps. Combat mini - i'll look out for it. Does it work the same way as Golden Rooster?

Thanks, Red-Snow, deminc & Jennifer for sharing. These ants are really driving me up the wall! :x

Before I open the ant bait, I will try to find out where the nest is by observing the ant route. Then I place these baits along the route. I feel that I hv to use all 6 baits at the same time at diff location. Once opened, the baits do not kept well (aka not effective).

I used to buy another brand, cant remember the brand name. I had to cut a stilt. Not so effective for the small ants in my hse.

It usu. takes a few weeks before the whole colony is destroyed. Can tell when I see dead ants around.

I do have the same ant infestation in my house, usually the black fast running ants, those that don't bite. I find the ant bait effective, and like what Jennifer did, trace the ant back to its nest and try to put it along their trail.
Nowaday, I don't do it anymore. My home is just left with the fast black ant, which helps to clean up whatever crumbs my kids spill on the floor. It seems to maintain a good eco system in the house, where it somehow prevent other ants from colonising my home. Doesn't sound scientific but it works for me.

[verykiasu2010]

I have house pets - lizards, they eat up the ants, no need to pay them