OMG ANTS. Gag me.

pandasquishy · December 2011

We have an ant problem in, of all places, the bathroom. Copy and paste from the e-mail I just send my mother because it makes me nauseous to really thing about it:

"There were a few dozen really tiny ants last week and I killed them all and sprayed down where i thought they were coming with just some bathroom cleaner and I thought that worked. Until today, when there were hundreds around the sink that I had to kill before I got in the shower today. I tried to clean up the whole counter best I could but I think they are coming up through the drain. It makes me nauseous to think about it. I tried running the water to drown them but that didn't work. Everytime I think I have them all, I see another one or two. I'm called maintenance but they suck, and I'm having Chris get a thing of Draino to try and kill them that way too. We have a small clog in the sink anyway. Maybe the clog is their nest!? I don't know!

Ew gross. "

Our apartment's management is being very noncommittal about the whole thing.

Does anyone have any ideas, by any chance? On how to fix this?

Whippet8 · December 2011

I don't have any ideas, but I feel your pain...three stories to make you feel better..

1. Freshman year of college, my room had a ladybug infestation. Totally freaked me out. My friend killed them all so I wouldn't have perpetual bad luck.

2. About a year and a half ago, we had a gnat infestation. It was so bad, I even tried to suck them up with the vacuum. Finally, I found a banana in an old lunch bag. I even had made homemade traps!

3. This summer we had a horrible fly infestation. Totally gross. Seriously hundreds of flies in between our screens and windows. Omg I'm freaking out thinking about it. I sucked those babies up with the vacuumm, and we shut the windows until they all died. Four of our windows were FILLED with them. ughhhh.

good luck. Godspeed.

Shazzie116 · December 2011

Eek! No suggestions other than Draino. If that doesn't kill them I don't know what would!

My parents' house is very old and frequently in the summer gets ladybugs. I always loved ladybugs, but having a few of them in your room at once is not so fun.

Good luck!

Noron · December 2011

I have lived with all kinds of terrible infestations AND I'm a facility manager...so you've come to the right place!

Ants only go where they can find a food source - so I think you're right about the clog being a nest. If you haven't already Draino'd, you can pour bleach down there which will probably kill them...but you still need to get rid of their food source, and that might not be enough. Another option to Draino/if that doesn't work is to snake the drain. This can be done by a plumber (for $$) OR you can get a cheap-y thing like this http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Products-400-Drain-Cleaning/dp/B000BO9204

Or, more expensive (but still not a plumber) - one that attaches to a drill http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100621665&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=BazVoice-_-RLP-_-100621665-_-x&locStoreNum=1950

Good luck getting those little fuuckers!

pandasquishy · December 2011

I don't understand what their food source would be in the bathroom. It would make a lot more sense if they were in the kitchen. Management seems to think they're being driven in because it's "cold" out. They said many people have been having the same problem, but just because other people have it too doesn't mean it's less of a problem! They're sending an Orkin guy... a WEEK from tomorrow. WTF.

Forgot to pick up the drain-o, will have to get it tomorrow.

Da0419 · December 2011

I've been told that the Orkin man is not effective in ridding the problem (if the Orkin man got rid of all the bugs every time, he'd be out of a job). If you're going to go the snake route, I think you can rent them pretty cheaply at most hardware stores. Maybe some food residue or something got built up in your drainpipes, enough to support an ant problem. Yuck, yuck, double yuck. When I was on my own in SF, I had a cockroach problem in my little studio apartment...it was DISGUSTING. Somehow I missed them when I looked at the apartment initially, but they showed up as soon as I got all my stuff moved in. Those suckers didn't really fall for the traps either. I had to just keep my stuff as clean as possible (& I threw away all my sheets, towels, mattress, etc when I moved out). Draino would probably work (or create a goopy mess)...what about a little good old fashioned baking soda and vinegar down the pipes followed by 20 mins of HOT water? Either bubble our burn/drown them out(?)

pandasquishy · December 2011

Well the Orkin man is what we get because that's who the apartment manager picked. I haven't seen any in the past two days (knock on wood) but it warmed up slightly here, I guess they like to come in when it gets cold outside.

I freaking hate this apartment but H is in love with it! I don't get why!

OMG ANTS. Gag me.

Re: OMG ANTS. Gag me.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards