How to safely get rid of ants?

Yes. And watch them. This is ask Uk. We do not have termites. I suppose you could ant powder kill ‘em. But why? Ants like a wall. They’re fascinating and not eating the wall.

[-]

Honkey_Kong1995@reddit

Explain to me exactly what issue they're causing to you

[-]

Vegetable_Art9891@reddit

raid ant spray and ant baits together works, but to protect cats maybe cover up the areas you've sprayed?

[-]

Due_Figure6451@reddit

Rub your bell end against the wall until they go away

[-]

Virtual-Eye-2998@reddit

Would it being unwashed help or hinder?

[-]

Due_Figure6451@reddit

No need to wash the wall beforehand.

[-]

Virtual-Eye-2998@reddit

No I meant the bishops hat. Is it more effective if I don't rinse the cheese off?

[-]

Purepoise@reddit

Talcum Powder

[-]

BppnfvbanyOnxre@reddit

I've always found Nippon to be effective, they think is is food and take it back home as it were, takes a few days and then they're gone.

[-]

soberto@reddit

Fill kettle full of sugar water. Boil to a syrup. Add lighter fluid. Pour down hole and set alight

[-]

MisterD90x@reddit

Rent an Anteater from the local Zoo

[-]

bobdebilda@reddit

That sounds too much like Aardvark.

[-]

Diega78@reddit

I get it!!

[-]

JurassicM4rc@reddit

And it'll cost an armadillo leg.

[-]

MisterD90x@reddit

Nah Giant Anteaters are cool!

They are way bigger than you think they are in person.

[-]

Opening-Worker-3075@reddit

Haha this made me laugh

[-]

octofishdream@reddit

Nothing will work, seriously. Black ants aren’t harmful so apart from ick factor it’s okay.

[-]

PipBin@reddit

Why do you want to get rid of them? What is the problem?

[-]

Financial_Call_7240@reddit

ask politely for them to leave

[-]

Brian_from_accounts@reddit

I left mine a post-it note telling them to leave.

Do you think I was too harsh?

[-]

Financial_Call_7240@reddit

sounds a tad impersonal

in my experience, i get more traction with speaking face to face

[-]

Brian_from_accounts@reddit

But it’s so difficult to identify the decision maker

[-]

Hyzyhine@reddit

Pschhht! Ants can’t read, they’re insects. Leave them a diagram instead.

[-]

Brian_from_accounts@reddit

That’s a good tip

[-]

No-Drink-8544@reddit

Put the kettle on

[-]

PerceptionGreat2439@reddit

They don't like hoovers.

[-]

Yachting-Mishaps@reddit

Are you sure you're not thinking of dogs?

[-]

AutomatedStatic@reddit

Put the kettle on lad

[-]

smellyfeet25@reddit

That is what my mum used to do.

[-]

smellyfeet25@reddit

I used to stomp on them ,

[-]

Dnny10bns@reddit

I have a compost heap in the garden. Keeps them away and provides a home for insects away from my house.

[-]

ADM_ShadowStalker@reddit

Bait traps work really well. We have cats too so opted for them over powders and sprays.

I popped bricks over them or wedged them under things to make them completely inaccessible to curious big furry things. Within a week or so the ants had all died or otherwise buggered off.

[-]

SP4x@reddit

When it comes to hives

[-]

Robmeu@reddit

You could tempt them away with the potato you filmed them on.

[-]

scotianheimer@reddit

😄

[-]

rileyvace@reddit

Are they entering the house?

If not, they shouldn't even be a concern. Unless they're anything but Garden Ants and red Ants, your cats are fine.

[-]

Nihi1istic0ptimist@reddit

Diatomaceous earth could work a treat as insects are chemical warfare specialists...

[-]

GeggingIn@reddit

Massive boot.

[-]

CheeryBottom@reddit

Ant powder from your local ironmongers. The bigger supermarkets might sell it too. I don’t know if it would be with the pet flea treatment or on a different aisle.

The ant powder worked wonders when we had them in our house.

[-]

Capital_Release_6289@reddit

Generally any powder only works yo prevent age getting into certain areas It forms a boundary. Doesn’t really work here. You need bait traps so ants will carry the poison back to their nest.

[-]

CaptainTabaxi@reddit

I had success with a combination of nematodes and ant bait gel.

[-]

Outrageous_Jury4152@reddit

Skillet on the hob, heat high. Big knob, butter. Let simmer

[-]

Drewski811@reddit

Water and soap.

[-]

spokenwealth@reddit

Burn the house down. Move away.

[-]

Many_Yesterday_451@reddit

Move in with your aunt.

[-]

McLeod3577@reddit

Ant powder in all the gaps. Wait for them to go, fill all the gaps. Reseal the cable cover.

[-]

ResplendentBear@reddit

Those ant killing bait traps work. The poison is inaccessible to anything big, even a lot of insects wouldn't get in.

(It's not impossible that a really determined cat or fox could chew their way through the plastic and reach the bad stuff, but it's certainly never happened in our garden.)

[-]

Arnoave@reddit

I second this they work like a charm. We have 3 cats and used one indoors with no issues whatsoever.

[-]

walnutwithteeth@reddit

If they're not coming in, leave them be.

If they are, boiling salt water will do it.

[-]

ResplendentBear@reddit

If they're on the walls of the house it's just a matter of time before you get an invasion.

If your kitchen isn't that end of the house then you might want to risk it in the name of being eco friendly.

[-]

ChemistBubbly8145@reddit

Extinguish ant killer is the best

[-]

vegan_voorhees@reddit

Cayenne pepper will repel the ants. They hate it and will decamp.

It might not be great for cats, but I'm not sure they'd try to eat it.

[-]

ChickenCharming4833@reddit

Whats the food source they are interested in?

Get rid of that first. Then whatever else is out there. Ant Rid, Ant sand, etc...

[-]

SmurfSmacker@reddit

My mum reminds me of this literally every year since I bought my own place lol. She always says ‘just incase you get ants, remember…’ lol.

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

Please help keep AskUK welcoming!

When repling to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!

Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.