Ants in the Kitchen

I have used cucumber peelings scattered wherever you see the ants. This is a good remedy for your countertops, and windowsills, because they are safe to use in that environment. If you want to kill them, Terro is the best solution. Just a few drops on a small piece of waxed paper in a strategic place near their entry works well. Minutes after they discover it, they will form a circle around the drop to drink. You will not have to deal with them further for they will carry the "treat" back to their nest. And they will just disappear from your kitchen.
Harlean from Arkansas

I have very good results by just using dry corn meal around where they are coming in. We have a pantry in the garage that I spread corn meal on the shelves and they do not bother coming in any more. I even used a little corn meal muffin mix once and it worked also. Spread it around lightly and just leave it. Ants disappeared and have not returned in 3 years. GG Vi

Below is what I read on The Huffington Post:

"Many insects are highly sensitive to smell, including spiders, ants, fleas and typically so-hardy-they're-almost-alien cockroaches. Squirt lemon juice in windowsills, the thresholds of doors, along baseboards and into any cracks where insects might get into the house. Add lemon juice to your floor wash for even more insect-repelling action."

I have found that most ants will not cross a chalk line. I have drawn a chalk circle around ant mounds in my driveway, and every time they get close to the line, they back up. You could draw a chalk line across your kitchen doorway, but then the ones who are already inside won't leave.

Sprinkle baby powder where you see them. Kills them on contact. Also cinnamon along any cracks or gaps is a deterrent, but a bit messier. I wonder if cinnamon oil would work?

I have that talcum powder stops them, because then their feet cant grip. Maybe you could google that for more information.

Cinnamon - wont kill but will keep them away.

Read the posts below your post (under "Related") (archived messages from the past). One person said lemon juice, for example.