I'm on the verge of crying

[Jac]

I don't want you all to get the wrong idea about me. I'm not a dirty person or keep a dirty house but I'm at my wits end.
Now I am in tears.
Since we moved into this b***dy house in Feb we have had a problem with wood lice (which has now been sorted) The problem now is Aunts!!!!!!! Its a really old building. It used to be two shops. We have the high ceilings and case and sash windows.
We discovered a problem in the bathroom with aunts not long after we moved in. Derek sealed all the skirting and gaps that could be seen. Problem solved.... (not) Then they came up in the kitchen, only the floor space. We got sprays and bomb things. then he sealed all visible gaps. Then they came up in the bathroom again!!! We found a tiny hole the size of a pin head. That's where they were coming from. Again we sprayed and Derek put the hoover nozzle in the hole. He said that he had got the Queen. Now I have just found them again in the kitchen.. Honest to God I'm in tears. How am I going to get rid of them? Derek's even gone round the outside of the house with silicon. I don't know how there getting in. I'm at my wits end. To be very honest I now want to move.

[yola]

Jac - don't worry. Ants and wood lice are not a symptom of a dirty house - if they were then I would be filthy and my cleaners would be sacked LOL!!!

Old houses are not hermetically sealed like new ones (cavity wall insulation, plastic doors and windows etc).

I have a constant parade of wood lice and ants through my house. They come in, they go out and we don't bother each other. Every spring I have web-loads of baby spiders - again they hatch, mooch around and leave!

The problem with sealing things up is that you tend to seal the problem in!!! Of course if you are totally infested then you really should get a specialist company in - they will get to the root of the problem and hopefully eradicate it for you. Also, be careful about siliconing an old house shut. They only work on the basis of air being able to circulate and sealing it can cause much more serious damp issues.

Please don't panic or let it get you down though - ants and wood lice just ain't worth it - just get the experts in if they are defeating you!!!

[Elaine]

Oh dear Jac, I am so sorry and can empathise with you just sorry i cannt help xxx
Graham's mum did tell me today that if you plant mint around your house you shouldnt be bothered with ants but I dont know if that's true or if its more to prevent them coming rather than getting rid of any existing nests.
Big hugs Jac xxx

[Jac]

Yola and Elaine Thanks.

I have cried a lot since I posted this thread, probably both issues combined!
I will try the mint. The wee beasties don't really bother me. Well they do but it's the mess. Maybe as Yola said we have sealed them in and they are digging out??
I really don't feel good right now.

[mable1718]

jac i do hope you sort the problem soon (((((hugs))))))

[Mags]

Jac, ants aren't a sign of a dirty home so you can forget that..

Have you tried the Nippon gel? You just squeeze a drop onto a piece of cardboard or something similar and place down where you think the ants are coming from. The ants will eat it and take it back to their nest where it will be fed to the other ants and will kill them. Put some down whereever you see them coming from.

We have an old Victorian house and used to have a problem with ants........any sign of one now and out comes the Nippon Here's a link to it.....

http://www.vitax.co.uk/productshome.asp?catalog=1001

[alexgirl73]

aww Jac honey, big ((hugs))! don't let yourself get upset by the wee blighters, nasty though they are. Do as DM says and get some nippon gel. I had some of this in the past, where I used to live was crawling with them!! Sorts them out toot sweet. And as for your house being dirty, you forget I've seen it, and you could eat off of your floors lol!!

[dandysmom]

Jac, here's a link to ants that might be helpful; it's a bit wordy but scroll down to the part about ant traps/baits. http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef619.asp
Don't know a thing about wood lice, don't even know what they are. Good luck in getting rid of the little pests, (((hugs)))!

[Moli]

Jac, your home is immaculate,ants are not a sign of a dirty house anyway.....Just one of those pests we all get from time to time...

[Mags]

Originally Posted by dandysmom

Don't know a thing about wood lice, don't even know what they are.

These are woodlice Eileen.....harmless little things really....

http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/biology/kids/03n.html