I have a personal apartment which is attached to my house, part of it has a kettle and toaster. I have had this apartment for about 12 years and now for the first time I am very badly affected by these very small ants, they are always now in my kettle, all over the very small table, and a plate I keep on it.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of them, I have tried the spraying of vinegar mixed with water which is useless, I don't know anything about queen ants and trails. If I want to have a snack, I now have to go up to the kitchen. Anyone got any ideas?

I heard ground chili pepper works.

Move back into the main house.

I have the same problem in and around my house, as I live in the country surrounded by farms. They are a constant here, and I use the little ant baits that are yellow, which they take back to their nests to the queen, and the nest is soon done. There's always more, so it's a constant battle. Vinegar kills but won't keep them away long.

 

If you put one of those baits on your counter, it will get rid of them, although you'll have to keep one there as they just keep coming back, as they can smell food a long way off.

 

No matter how clean you keep a house, they'll find a way in if there's food around.

 

I've gone to my kitchen and had fire ants sting me when I woke up to make breakfast, and it's not fun. All that was there was a tiny piece of bread that brought them from outside in a line.

 

Texas has them, so I was already familiar with these pests, and you use the same tactics of feeding the queen. Deer have been killed, fawns, by lying down in ant mounds and not moving, as they're taught to do by the doe. 

I use this, pretty sure is available in Big C or Lotus’s.

I use a small paint brush to give a light dusting wherever I see them.

 

Seems to do the trick in a couple of hours, then I wipe down with some alcohol wipes, kitchen paper and alcohol spray just as good, on any of the surfaces that will come in contact with food.

My kettle gets used  daily but if left the water will attract the ants, so if not to be used then drain the water and put in the sun to dry. Likewise give the toaster a good shake outside.

Also occasionally use it outside where the house wall meets the floor.

I spray  Chaindrite Stedfast SC 30 round the perimeter of my house and outside kitchen. Dilute the Chaindrite with water at a ratio of 1:40, so 250 ml Chaindrite with 10 litres of water. Repeat every 3-6 months as required. Keeps most annoying bugs outside. You can buy it at any of the big DIY stores and also on Lazada. You can also buy Chaindrite in an aerosol can in BigC etc.

 

 

Boric acid in granular form, sugar, and water placed in small lids will do the trick.

The ants take it back to their nest.

Other ants in the nest eat them... end of problem.

Cheap and effective.

 

16 minutes ago, Mutt Daeng said:

I spray  Chaindrite Stedfast SC 30 round the perimeter of my house and outside kitchen. Dilute the Chaindrite with water at a ratio of 1:40, so 250 ml Chaindrite with 10 litres of water. Repeat every 3-6 months as required. Keeps most annoying bugs outside. You can buy it at any of the big DIY stores and also on Lazada. You can also buy Chaindrite in an aerosol can in BigC etc.

 

 

This stuff works good for spiders and other vermin as well. And keep some ant chalk handy from your local 20฿ shop for when you forget to spray the outside.

Madam swears by Shanjia brand ant bait, our ants love it, once!

 

Loads of sellers on Lazada or get it locally.

 

I tried Boric acid. Didn't work.

 

So I went to the experts, the Germans, and the Bayer Quantum killed them off in a day.

 

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Move back into the main house.

Very big help thanks.

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

I have the same problem in and around my house, as I live in the country surrounded by farms. They are a constant here, and I use the little ant baits that are yellow, which they take back to their nests to the queen, and the nest is soon done. There's always more, so it's a constant battle. Vinegar kills but won't keep them away long.

 

If you put one of those baits on your counter, it will get rid of them, although you'll have to keep one there as they just keep coming back, as they can smell food a long way off.

 

No matter how clean you keep a house, they'll find a way in if there's food around.

 

I've gone to my kitchen and had fire ants sting me when I woke up to make breakfast, and it's not fun. All that was there was a tiny piece of bread that brought them from outside in a line.

 

Texas has them, so I was already familiar with these pests, and you use the same tactics of feeding the queen. Deer have been killed, fawns, by lying down in ant mounds and not moving, as they're taught to do by the doe. 

What are these little ant baits? Where do you get them?

4 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

What are these little ant baits? Where do you get them?

I get them at lotus and Big C. They're small, yellow in a card usually at the bottom shelf, with all the other pest control products. They're in a cardboard box, maybe a dozen or more, about 4 inches long. They do work, but again, you need to do it constantly, as ants are everywhere and they like food...............https://www.bigc.co.th/en/product/ars-ant-killer-size-2-5-g.3781?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=idacbkk_ecom_bigc_gg_pmax_top-category_dryfood-household_con&utm_content=alway-on&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19902798875&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrojHBhDdARIsAJdEJ_cfFsw1CHnldM1pCt0PwTMIrPJcv3bnNvoO42tdNDBGSrpix3yjrTwaAgc3EALw_wcB

The best way to eradicate household ants in Thailand is a vexed question. It is a major problem here.

What has always worked for us is a combination of boric acid [40%] and white sugar [60%] mixed with water into a solution that can be poured.

Cheap local powders and liquids abound. Some may be useful, but it is hit or miss.

The expensive imports are more likely to work, but the prices are ridiculously high for small amounts. If you like being fleeced, then go for it.

To each his own, TIT.

There was a problem with Ant on teak door 

Seems to have been resolved now though 

I use this liquid 

Works really 

After an hour or so ants have gone 

After food preparation I clean the area with green Magiclean and if I ever see ants I 'swipe' the area and them with a shot. Kills instantly. Also along door and window sills if nearby to destroy their scent trails.

 

The thing is not to have anything ants desire in the first place.

 

Ants are also drawn to electricity too, so unplug your kettle, toaster or whatever when not in use.

 

14 minutes ago, roger buttmore said:

The thing is not to have anything ants desire in the first place.

 

So no chicken meat, no pork meat, no sugar, no sweets, no honey, got it...

 

Quote

Ants are also drawn to electricity too, so unplug your kettle, toaster or whatever when not in use.

 

And no electricity. Oh okay then. Let me get the candles.

6 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

I have a personal apartment which is attached to my house, part of it has a kettle and toaster. I have had this apartment for about 12 years and now for the first time I am very badly affected by these very small ants, they are always now in my kettle, all over the very small table, and a plate I keep on it.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of them, I have tried the spraying of vinegar mixed with water which is useless, I don't know anything about queen ants and trails. If I want to have a snack, I now have to go up to the kitchen. Anyone got any ideas?

Peppermint or spearmint essence (oil) worked great for me. Mix about 30ml or so in a 500 ml sprayer with water and spray and wipe the counters etc. They don't like the fairly strong smell.I didn't bother to wash it off because it dries okay on its own. (spray & wipe) 

3 hours ago, AnnaBanana said:

The best way to eradicate household ants in Thailand is a vexed question. It is a major problem here.

What has always worked for us is a combination of boric acid [40%] and white sugar [60%] mixed with water into a solution that can be poured.

Cheap local powders and liquids abound. Some may be useful, but it is hit or miss.

The expensive imports are more likely to work, but the prices are ridiculously high for small amounts. If you like being fleeced, then go for it.

To each his own, TIT.

That's been my experience too.

I would suggest lowering the boric acid percentage to 20% so the ants don't die before they get back to the nest where they will be cannibalized by their fellows, and hopefully, the queen as well.

 Online sources cover boric acid application as an insecticide extensively.

11 hours ago, DeaconJohn said:

Boric acid in granular form, sugar, and water placed in small lids will do the trick.

The ants take it back to their nest.

Other ants in the nest eat them... end of problem.

Cheap and effective.

 

I second this. You can also use Borax and icing sugar. Mix 50/50. It's a fine powder which they can easily take back to the colony.

3 minutes ago, ChristianBlessing said:

I second this. You can also use Borax and icing sugar. Mix 50/50. It's a fine powder which they can easily take back to the colony.

Good idea about using powdered (icing) sugar.

I've been thinking about boiling granulated sugar in water before combining it with the borax.

That might be an improvement as well.

On 10/6/2025 at 2:11 PM, Cameroni said:

 

So no chicken meat, no pork meat, no sugar, no sweets, no honey, got it...

 

 

And no electricity. Oh okay then. Let me get the candles.

Maybe keep your meat in the fridge? 🙄

On 10/6/2025 at 9:43 AM, Crossy said:

Madam swears by Shanjia brand ant bait, our ants love it, once!

 

Loads of sellers on Lazada or get it locally.

 

 

I 2nd this....This stuff works very well to kill of the ants permanently...

I, actually, know what works.

 

I painted several large computer tables with PROTEGO.....

 

The ants NEVER come near anything painted with PROTEGO....

 

 

My advice is to just paint everything with Protego, and the ants will NEVER come near it.

 

This is very true.

 

Even after a few years, ants never set foot on anything painted with Protego.

 

 

IMHO:  This is a GREAT Product.  I am very happy with this.  You can buy various flavors of Protego, depending upon your requirements.

 

 

On 10/6/2025 at 8:51 AM, NoshowJones said:

I have a personal apartment which is attached to my house, part of it has a kettle and toaster. I have had this apartment for about 12 years and now for the first time I am very badly affected by these very small ants, they are always now in my kettle, all over the very small table, and a plate I keep on it.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of them, I have tried the spraying of vinegar mixed with water which is useless, I don't know anything about queen ants and trails. If I want to have a snack, I now have to go up to the kitchen. Anyone got any ideas?

If you take a look on Lazada or similar, there is a product from Chaindrite that will sort them out. It is Chaindrite Termite powder, comes in 500G bag, just use a "Puffer" or carefully sprinkle and give it an hour.

 

 

I use massive amounts of insect spray and it's one of my favorite compounds on the planet. I utterly despise most insects and I used to have a pesticide guy who would come to the house every quarter and spray around the entire perimeter of the house and do some light spring inside the house, and for about 5 years I never saw an ant inside the house regardless of how much food I would leave out.

 

Otherwise you can do it yourself, you spray outside the house around the perimeter of the foundation and then spray along the base of most of your walls and do it regularly, it makes a huge difference. 

 

 

I have used this for years and it has worked well.

On 10/6/2025 at 9:48 AM, Cameroni said:

I tried Boric acid. Didn't work.

 

So I went to the experts, the Germans, and the Bayer Quantum killed them off in a day.

 

I second this. Had an ants colony coming from my neighbour's room (she's cooking inside her room), I put a few drops on my balcony, within minutes thousands of ants gathered for the feast. The next day, they were all gone. Had to repeat the operation about a month later. Same result, they disappeared again...

 

Paid 210 baht for it at Home Pro

Depends what ants you have got. Not all ants eat sugar. Some only eat fat or protein. I have used a homemade borax/sugar/water solution that works on some ants. If the ants aren't interested in that I have mixed it with a bit of cheese or crushed peanuts which has worked well sometimes. Finding where they are getting into the house can help and tracking them to see if they have a nest in the house can help as well. I find eradicating them is impossible so just try to keep them to a minimum.