Monday, February 02, 2009

Plague of the Ants (aka A Plague on Ants!)

You can tell by my posts today that I'm relishing my new freedom, can't you?

We've been invaded by ants. Hundreds of them.

We thought we'd left the ants behind in Sg, but for some reason, they've taken up abode near the kitchen sink, the window sills, the bathroom vanity top...

Usually, an ant invasion signals the presence of some dead thing: say a moth or fly. I've followed the trails and I can't seem to find the source.

I hate commercial insectide (indoor air pollutant!) but being taken hostage by creepie crawlies - that's worse. So I cleared the counter of utensils and sprayed Shieldtox and waited for the ants to drop like ninepins.

And drop they did.

Except more came to replace their fallen comrades!

Belatedly, I thought of the bottle of Eucalyptus Oil in my ensuite. I alternate using EO and an organic household cleaner for cleaning the vanity top and toilet bowl. EO, besides being a great sinus clearer, does a great job of masking any noxious odours from the WC at night.

I made up a diluted spray bottle and started cleaning all the kitchen surfaces. The ickiest part was removing the little black bodies embedded in the rag. But short of tossing a perfectly good rag, there was naught to do but get on with it. (Ditto with snaring long-legged spiders and winter millipedes. Isn't it amazing how motherhood makes you grow up?)

Now I'm watching and waiting. Ah, the joys of a SAHM....

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