Pest problem

[Mr and Mrs luvpie]

Ok I have a small ant infestation in my kitchen at the moment, made worse by the fact that I was knackered last night and so didn't clear away, so a whole tribe were running riot when I surfaced this morning, I am now feeling cleaner but less green as I have bleached the surfaces and killed them all. I remember that last year I used bay leaves as a preventative smell for ants, but was wondering is it possible to make a spray out of bay leaves so that it could be used to wipe down surfaces, rather than leaving leaves littered about as George is currently eating everything so they wouldn't stay there long!

If not, what else could I use?

I don't like using harsh chemicals a because of the kids but also because of what they are! I only had bleach in the house as my mum was up last weekend, she thinks I don't know what she does but I do. She brings cleaning stuff with her, now my house isn't dirty you could eat your food off most floors but it doesn't sparkle, she'll stay and do things like have extra long showers, then the next person who walks in the bathroom has to put up with their eyes burning because of the chemical smell in there She very much believes that if you can't smell bleach it aint clean, now normally she takes her smuggled cleaning products home with her, but this time she hid them in the back of the homebrew cupboard as she is back next week

[Clara]

Perhaps you can get Bay as an essential oil and use that instead? I use peppermint EO applied neat where they enter and that works wonders.

[SarahJane]

I had an infestation a few years ago....... it was awful, they got everywhere! At the time I wasnt bothered what I used , I just needed to get rid of them, they were in the kitchen drawers, cupboards, everywhere. I bought a powder, and put it all along the outer walls of the cottage..... it turned out I had one nest at the front and one at the back!

I have heard that bay leaves work, so I cant see why a spray made from bay leaves shouldnt work, it certainly wont do any harm.
Let us know how you get on.

[MuddyWitch]

If you can find out where the little horrors are getting in, smear vasaline (or summat else greasy but inert) over the hole. They won't come through.

MW

[becks77]

Have heard both talcum powder line across entrance hole and chalk dust (if its still available) works aswell but have never tried either