Keeping ants out

[ilovecamping]

I have heard that a mixture of Dawn dish soap and water sprayed around the tires, ect. will keep critters out.  Anyone else heard this or know if it works?

[sewserious]

Don't know if the Dawn would work or not, but there is an issue with using a detergent like that due to gray water (that would be considered gray water as it has dishwashing liquid in it).  Why not just go with the tried and true method of boric acid?  It is cheap, easy to use, and safe for the environment as it is a natural product.

[PM3579]

Boric acid should do the trick. Does any one remember the The Twenty Mule Team comercials from our youth? Thats right Borax The Twenty Mule Team cleaner AKA boric acid,still on your grocers shelf.

[Calstate361]

We also use the boric acid and have known about it for many years.  Lately I get it at our local 99 Cent store.  Can't beat that price!

Joan

[McCampers]

Boric acid should do the trick. Does any one remember the The Twenty Mule Team comercials from our youth? Thats right Borax The Twenty Mule Team cleaner AKA boric acid,still on your grocers shelf.

That's as strong as a twenty mule borax!  Which is just stronger than 10 acres of garlic.  LOL

[maromeo]

Take a look at this photo. The white stuff on the ground and around the RV's is ajax or comet. We stayed there a few years ago and the ranger told us to use it around our camper because the park was infested with ants. It was a real problem, it only took them less than a few hours to get inside our PU.

http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=9254&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

All the locals were using the cleanser around their RV's or tents. But I think boric acid would do the trick also.

Mary Romeo

[madkatz1]

Cool picture, Mary!
We just returned from a 4 night camping "vacation" and it rained every day. The ants were obviously interested in our dry pup, not to mention a banana peel that was left in the camper! We had ants everywhere! They were in our bunks and crawled on us while we slept. It made us nuts!
When we returned home we popped her up for cleaning and discovered the little $#*& invited their ant friends!  We had a major infestation going on. I know the rain had a lot to do with it, but this was ridiculous. My DH said they will all leave the pup and be eaten by the local lizards. Should I believe him or get some ant killer/boric acid/ajax/comet or ant motels?    

Take a look at this photo. The white stuff on the ground and around the RV's is ajax or comet. We stayed there a few years ago and the ranger told us to use it around our camper because the park was infested with ants. It was a real problem, it only took them less than a few hours to get inside our PU.
 
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=9254&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002
 
All the locals were using the cleanser around their RV's or tents. But I think boric acid would do the trick also.
 
Mary Romeo

[dandreas]

Food grade Diotomaceous Earth is said to be an organic, chemical-free pest control method.  Supposedly the DE acts as tiny razors on insects' exoskeletons and they dry out.  They can't become resistant to it like other pesticides.  And it is safe for humans and animals.  Just take care not to breathe in the dust.  This is different from the DE that is used in pool filters and pool filter DE should not be used as pest control.  I'm not sure where to get it, but there are web sites out there with info on it.  Luckily we've never had issues with ants so far.

[Done Working]

Cool picture, Mary!
We just returned from a 4 night camping "vacation" and it rained every day. The ants were obviously interested in our dry pup, not to mention a banana peel that was left in the camper! We had ants everywhere! They were in our bunks and crawled on us while we slept. It made us nuts  

We had the same problem; the ants were trying to find a dry place to live. I caught the little creeps carrying their little eggs along our power cord into the PUP. I moved the cord and they stopped. Don't know how many got in though.

I removed all of the food and cleaned the PUP thoroughly. Hopefully they