apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hmmm, how about not leaving dirty spoons on the counter?

There is a non-poisonous spray from the store that is made up of peppermint oil, water, mineral oil, and CO2 propellent. I have been using it for three years now, and it really works well. It is "poison free" but the peppermint is a bit overwhelming if you get it too close to your eyes. The areas that were sprayed a few years back have been pest free to date. The side benefit is that everything smells minty fresh.

When my wife was pregnant we had an ant problem in the apartment we were in. I came up with a simple residue free solution that I feel is very safe. A 50-50 mix of tap water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Works very well and cleans too!

I personally use baby powder. Very effective

I've had good luck with cayenne pepper.

I also use cayenne powder. I sprinkle it liberally across doorways and windows, and the ants won't cross the line of hot pepper. I also sprinkle it on any visible trails to help reroute them.

Cream of Tarter. I know it sounds weird. I read it somewhere long ago. My car was invaded with them one summer and I sprinke cream of tarter in the car and next day, ants no more.

I have a very efficient antidote to share: copper. Years ago, I bought large copper bands (decorated with ants) that were supposed to keep ants away. And they did. Each spring, ants reappear in my kitchen and my bathroom. I spot the hole where they come from, I put the copper bands next to it, and voilà, a few days later they're gone! Of course, I live in Belgium, and my ants are pretty tiny ones. I don't know if it's that efficient with giant ants! But it really works, and it's so easy and armless.

I have ants in my apartment currently and I have been looking for a good non-toxic/non-harmful way to get rid of them. Although I have plenty of cayenne and cream of tartar I worry about my 2 cats! Even with baby powder I know that the places the ants frequent would end up all over their paws and viola! perhaps no ants but 2 very miserable cats. Ideas?

I have four cats, and trust me, copper works.

I didn't know copper works on ants as well! I do know it works a treat on keeping SLUGS at bay. A tip I got from BBC's Gardeners World.

I've lined all my vegetable beds with old copper pipes I got for free from the garbage dump and haven't seen any slugs.

Next project is to pot my hostas - aka Slug Salad Bar :) - up in pots and line those with copper as well, easy enough to bend as it's quite a soft metal.

Even the old todgers on my alotment are starting to come round to the idea!

NOTE: If you want to eliminate slugs from your vegetable beds altogether you will need to use an additional treatment for the soil that's already in there. It's basically a solution of bacteria that eat the baby slugs. Needs to be repeated 2 or 3 times. Can't remember the name though...