I don't understand the logic behind being more comfortable with unknown substances and home remedies than products that have been tested and proven eefective at killing ants. There are plenty of safe, effective, insecticides on the market.
That reminds me of something I heard Dr. Dean Edell say on his radio show regarding "natural" remedies and drugs: Rattlesnake venom is about as natural as it gets, but you won't see me taking it!"
We, too are having some ant troubles. We put DE down around the coop, and when they moved into the coop, I put it down inside. When a little didn't work, I put down ALOT