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Expert Q Ren Molnar Q&A Archive
Top > Animal > Short Cuts

Question:

I have ants on the front lawn that I have tried different things to get rid of but they seem to keep coming back each year. What can I use to get rid of them perminantley?

Answer:

Your best bet here is to check with your local nursery and they should have something for you. My normal solution is: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! And only if it’s mixed with sugar will bugs ingest the baking soda. Most bugs have no way of getting rid of gas so when they ingest this tasty bit of bait, they just kind of blow up. To do away with ants, earwigs, and other creepy crawlies in and around the house, I’ve found that a 50/50 mixture (half teaspoon each) of baking soda and icing sugar placed in a shallow tray (margarine container lid) works very well. When the problem is outside, placing a quarter-inch diameter pebble in the centre of the tray will keep a board or some such placed over it high enough so the bugs can get in but the rain will not. Animal pets too, will ingest this stuff so you might consider doing something about that. You might also try placing a few strips of sheet laundry fabric softener in the area. That seems to keep most insects at a distance. We put sheets of it in our pockets when gardening, golfing, etc. and it actually works – it also keeps some of the neighbours at a distance.


Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus – The Radio Show is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com. In the interests of retaining credibility and in fairness to all, I cannot recommend prices, people nor companies for various projects.

Remember, even if you don’t do your own work around the house have to hire someone, you put yourself at a great advantage when you can intelligently discuss a project with the various trades people.

"Ren’s Ren-O-Vations Tips"
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K1G 3V1

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Ren

Answered By: Ren Molnar

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