Here's what works for me with ants: peppermint spirits.  For some reason,
ants seem to really dislike the smell of peppermint, and if you put some
peppermint spirits down, it will keep them away.  (Peppermint spirits, btw,
is an over the counter pharmaceutical product.  You can pick it up in the
drug store; it's a pepperminty flavoured liquid that is used to add to
children's medicine to make it taste better, I believe.  It's very
inexpensive ... maybe $3 or $4 for a cough bottle-sized bottle ...) It'll
make your home smell nice, too, and it's non-toxic to your pets!
 
I've read that cinnamon is another scent that ants don't care for, btw ..
but I haven't tried that one yet myself ...
 
- Ela
[Posted in FML issue 2527]