Ants crawling on clothes line

[Dan_Musicant]

Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.

Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

[Rod Speed]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

Why does it matter if the ants use the clothes line for their excursions ?

[h***@hotmail.com]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

Duct tape inside out on the poles or either end of the line. Stick it
to 'em.

[Dan_Musicant]

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 20:39:00 GMT, ***@hotmail.com wrote:

:Dan_Musicant <***@privacy.net> wrote:
:
:>Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
:>year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
:>invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
:>bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
:>ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
:>
:>Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
:>clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
:>Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.
:
:Duct tape inside out on the poles or either end of the line. Stick it
:to 'em.

Hey, great idea! Thanks...

[Tock]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

I suppose you could try various insecticides, but if you don't want any
toxic chemicals around, and if you're handy with wires or know somebody who
is, you could try this --

Get a 110 volt to 660 volt transformer, hook the output to a couple of
strips of aluminum tape spaced about 1/8" apart where ever the little
boogers are walking. Plug in the transformer, and those ants won't be
walking across any longer.

This is a little something I discovered years ago when I lived in a roach
infested apartment . . . after the spray and boric acid powder seemed
futile, I put aluminum tape spaced 1/8" apart all over my ceramic
countertop, hooked 'em up to a 0 to 2200 volt variable transformer, and
(long story made short) discovered that bugs don't like much of anything
over 600 volts.

If you don't like the tape idea, you could use two metal washers seperated
by a slightly smaller rubber washer, and run the rope through the washer
holes. Or something similar.

Only thing is, ya gotta remember when the thing is turned on and when it's
not . . .

Just a thought . . .

-Tock

[Serendipity]

Post by Tock

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

I suppose you could try various insecticides, but if you don't want any
toxic chemicals around, and if you're handy with wires or know somebody who
is, you could try this --
Get a 110 volt to 660 volt transformer, hook the output to a couple of
strips of aluminum tape spaced about 1/8" apart where ever the little
boogers are walking. Plug in the transformer, and those ants won't be
walking across any longer.
This is a little something I discovered years ago when I lived in a roach
infested apartment . . . after the spray and boric acid powder seemed
futile, I put aluminum tape spaced 1/8" apart all over my ceramic
countertop, hooked 'em up to a 0 to 2200 volt variable transformer, and
(long story made short) discovered that bugs don't like much of anything
over 600 volts.
If you don't like the tape idea, you could use two metal washers seperated
by a slightly smaller rubber washer, and run the rope through the washer
holes. Or something similar.
Only thing is, ya gotta remember when the thing is turned on and when it's
not . . .
Just a thought . . .
-Tock

Very interesting! I might have to try this in a couple of problem areas
in my gardens. Thanks for the tip, Tock. BTW, how is your shop coming
along? Any new photos to share? Any neat things happen yet?

[Tock]

Post by Serendipity
Very interesting! I might have to try this in a couple of problem areas
in my gardens. Thanks for the tip, Tock. BTW, how is your shop coming
along? Any new photos to share? Any neat things happen yet?

Ya, I tried this trick with some bugs, and 600 volts is the sweet spot.
Much less, and it doesn't seem to get their attention, much more and body
parts just burn off and they don't seem to notice. Weird.

The shop -- ya, it's coming along pretty well . . . I'm making enough to pay
the bills and a little more, which is ok for starting on month #4. I've
got a part timer working, and a shoe shine guy started last week, and have a
fellow lined up to spruce up my website (www.kingbarber.com) as soon as I
get around to finishing the text and send it to him. I've got an ad up for
another part time barber, had two responses -- one was looking for another
sort of shop, I dunno what, and the other one came dressed like he was ready
to dig ditches -- dirty sneakers, no sox, weird pants, t-shirt with some
sort of unpleasant symbol on it. Oh well. Got another guy in barber
school right now learning the ropes, gonna tutor him every now and then on
how to do things right, but he won't be done with school until next March.
Ugh.
But customers are happy, got lots of returning folks. Have one kid who
gets shaved whitewalls with his high and tight who's in the Army, is about
to get sent to Iraq to drive supply trucks. Hope he makes it back ok.
I've had all sorts of interesting customers in my shop . . . an unemployed
physicist who's trying to buy a small AM radio station so he can broadcast
his frustrations . . . a TV/Radio preacher . . . medical ethicist . . .
truck drivers . . . lawyers who specialize in investment losses . . .
investment counselors . . . kids who are badgered by their father into
getting haircuts they don't really want . . . hunters with property in
Colorado . . . strange tight-lipped salesmen . . . building contractors . .
. geologists . . . personell trainers for the highway department . . .
musicians . . . lots of retired folks . . . all sorts. Very interesting,
most of 'em.

So, all in all, ya, things are going ok, having fun, building the business,
making little innovations -- I'm probably the only barber in the entire
State of Texas who's actually sanitizing the neck duster (that brush we use
to brush off bits of cut hair from your face after a haircut) before we
re-use it on another customer. It's the law in Texas, but it took me a
while to find out how to do it (no one, including the State Barber
Commission, seems to know).

All in all, ya, things are good . . . thanks for asking . . .

-Tock

[PaPaPeng]

Post by Tock
I've
got a part timer working, and a shoe shine guy started last week, and have a
fellow lined up to spruce up my website (www.kingbarber.com) as soon as I
get around to finishing the text and send it to him.

Reminds me of an old horror story. This web designer did a contract
job in which the company provided all the text material, pictures and
broad layout directions to be put into their webpage. There was a
contract dispute (poor quality work and lateness) and the web designer
claimed copyright on all the materials. The company couldn't do a
thing and couldn't even use the material they had provided and engage
another web designer. It was blackmail but they couldn't prove
anything without going to court first.

[Rod Speed]

Post by PaPaPeng

Post by Tock
I've
got a part timer working, and a shoe shine guy started last week, and have a
fellow lined up to spruce up my website (www.kingbarber.com) as soon as I
get around to finishing the text and send it to him.

Reminds me of an old horror story. This web designer did a contract
job in which the company provided all the text material, pictures and
broad layout directions to be put into their webpage. There was a
contract dispute (poor quality work and lateness) and the web designer
claimed copyright on all the materials. The company couldn't do a
thing and couldn't even use the material they had provided and engage
another web designer.

Complete and utter pig ignorant silly stuff.

Post by PaPaPeng
It was blackmail but they couldn't prove
anything without going to court first.

More complete and utter pig ignorant silly stuff.

They dont have to prove a damned thing, just give the
material the provided to the original web site designer
to the new one and let the original web site designer
piss his money against the wall completely fruitlessly
with a court action which he'd be absolutely guaranteed to lose.

[Don K]

I suppose you could try various insecticides, but if you don't want any toxic chemicals around,
and if you're handy with wires or know somebody who is, you could try this --
Get a 110 volt to 660 volt transformer, hook the output to a couple of strips of aluminum tape
spaced about 1/8" apart where ever the little boogers are walking. Plug in the transformer, and
those ants won't be walking across any longer.

Decisions... Decisions...
Toxic chemicals... or Lethal voltages...
A slow death... or a quick death...
A troubled conscience for causing future injury or a wrongful death lawsuit...
What to do? What to do?

Don

[The Real Bev]

Post by Don K

I suppose you could try various insecticides, but if you don't want any toxic chemicals around,
and if you're handy with wires or know somebody who is, you could try this --
Get a 110 volt to 660 volt transformer, hook the output to a couple of strips of aluminum tape
spaced about 1/8" apart where ever the little boogers are walking. Plug in the transformer, and
those ants won't be walking across any longer.

Decisions... Decisions...
Toxic chemicals... or Lethal voltages...
A slow death... or a quick death...
A troubled conscience for causing future injury or a wrongful death lawsuit...
What to do? What to do?

Ants got lawyers?

[Serendipity]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

I have a couple of solutions. This is not really a deterrant in that it
won't make the ants go away but it will stop them from climbing the
clothesline. Paint a 3" - 4" band of fly tack about a foot from the
bottom of each post. The ants will stick to the fly tack and go no
further. A few days ago, I bought a "No Ant Plant". I paid $2.99.
Unfortunately I have not been able to discover exactly what plant this
is but according to one of two google returns, it is an herb. I think
it is of the mint family from the smell. Anyway, if you plant this
around each post, the ants are supposed to stay away. An alternative is
to grind a few leaves and stems with water in a blender then pour the
solution where you don't want ants. I tried this method on our patio and
it does appear to be working. Ants don't like bay leaves so if they are
in your house simply place bay leaves along their trails. They will be
gone in no time. Worst case senerio, you could resort to a pesticide
like Raid or ant traps. I've had good luck with dollar store ant traps.
There are 3 in a package so the price is pretty good at a dollar.

[Lar]

In article <***@4ax.com>, ***@privacy.net
says...
:) Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
:) year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
:) invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
:) bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
:) ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
:)
:) Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
:) clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
:) Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.
:)
Any of the pyrethroid insecticides will act as a repellant to some
extent. The chemical names will end in -thrin. If you live in an area
that sells Over n Out fire ant granules that active in it will eliminate
ants in the yard effectively.

[Gary Heston]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

Put a few drops of ammonia on the sponge first; it destroys their chemical
trail marks (formic acid, IIRC) and drives the ants nuts.


Gary

[SoCalMike]

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.

id get ant spray, and spray the line and where it attaches. bayer makes
good stuff in a 1 gal jug.

i spray the inside and outside perimeter whenever i get an infestation.

[Lil' Dave]

My momma swears aluminum foil wrapped shiny side out tightly around trees
keeps the varmints from spreading to other trees. Try it on the
clothesline pole vertical.

Post by Dan_Musicant
Yes, I've been having this problem for quite some time, probably over a
year. I fight off the ants invading my house twice a year. They seem to
invade every June and sometime in the winter, but manage to keep them at
bay by keeping clean for the most part. However, these small black sugar
ants thrive in my yard and like to use my clothes lines to get around.
Before I hang cloths, I usually take a soft sponge and run it along the
clothes line, but they come right back (although in depleted numbers).
Is there something I can apply to the clothesline to repel them? Thanks.