Getting rid of ants?

[Sidewinder]

I'm not sure if this is in the right forum... I think it fits best here unless my eyes glazed over the Obnoxious Pests section.

We've had ants in our basement for a couple years now. They just showed up out of nowhere and now you can always see the little things. I mean, everytime you stop and look at the carpet, you see at least one. (Well, it used to be really bad, but it's toned down from epidemic to just infestation)

One time my brother was down there, and he left some sugary junk food and forgot about it. The next day I went down, and I must have squished about 500 ants. I'm not even exaggerating. There was this huge, HUGE column of the buggers. I've since declared this a chemical war, and powdered all their damn trails with raid, and make a point of fumigating the whole place whenever I see one. I mean.. this works and all.. but it can't be healthy. Better ideas?

[TheLawnGnome]

The real trick is trying to destroy the small ant's scent which allows them to to follow it. Fire has been to trick in my experience, but you get a bad smell.

[Chineseguyx]

nice! thanks for letting me know :) Always hated them and they are definately hard to kill. Thanks for the information

[razorbladetherapy]

Thanks a lot. Good way to get rid of those pesky ants:)

[Tom Trauberts Blues]

I once lived in a house where the entire back yard was infested with fire ants. It was horrible!

[xTream405]

I only know one sulution that woun't help that much, put Baking Soda on the ants. You might put it all arount the room, like corners and by the walls.

[ihatemonkeyman]

If you can locate their nest (or whatever they live in) pur boiling water down the hole as this will cook them and kill them instantly, no chemicals and no cost!