How to Prevent Ants Coming into House
Most homeowners are familiar with the annoyance of ants invading their homes. Although ants can be beneficial in nature, they can cause many problems when they come into our homes, particularly during the warm months of the year.
Firstly, it is important to clean up ant trails. Ants use trails and pheromones to tell other ants where to find food sources. Therefore, it is very important to remove any trails of ants that you may find around the outside and inside of your house. This can be done by wiping up any trails with a damp cloth, or by vacuuming them up.
Secondly, seal up any cracks and crevices that provide ants with easy access to your house. Ants are tiny insects and can fit through very small spaces, so it is important to seal even the tiniest openings in your walls or foundations to keep them out. You can also try using caulk or expanding foam to seal off any potential entrances.
Thirdly, keep food sources and water containers covered, and keep food waste securely stored away in the garbage. Furthermore, make sure to sweep up any crumbs or food residue from your countertops and floors that can attract ants and other pests. Additionally, it is important to keep food tightly sealed in airtight containers to prevent ants from getting inside.
Fourthly, eliminate wet and damp areas around your house, as ants are often attracted to water and moisture. Ensure gutters are clean and in proper working order to keep rain water away from your house, check plumbing components and seals often to prevent water leaks, and fix any leaky pipes or fixtures as soon as possible.
Fifthly, sprinkling a fine layer of diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your house can also help to keep ants away. This powder is made up of microscopic fossilized shells that act as a natural barrier to repel ants and other pests away from your property.
Lastly, consider using ant traps. Ant baits are effective at catching and killing ants, and can be placed where ants are entering your home. But, be aware that not all ant traps are created equal, and some can be more harmful to the environment than others. Therefore, it is important to research the ant trap that is best suited for your individual needs before using.
Natural Ant Repellents
Using natural remedies to repel away ants is an effective and eco-friendly way of preventing ants from entering your home. Natural ant repellents include citronella oil, lemon juice, white vinegar, and eucalyptus oil. These natural substances can be sprayed around the perimeter of your house or dabbed around access points to keep ants away. You can also try planting lemon thyme or peppermint around the outside of your home, as these herbs have a strong scent that ants find unpleasant.
Changes in Habits
Making small changes in your daily habits can also help to reduce the chances of ants entering your house. Making sure to clean up after meals and spills quickly, disposing of waste properly, and vacuuming regularly can help to deter ants from entering your home. Additionally, ensuring that your windows and doors remain securely closed can also help to prevent ants from passing through.
Call Professional Exterminator
If you have tried all the methods above to no avail, it might be time to call in the experts. Hiring a professional exterminator to come and treat your house can be a costly measure, however it can also be very effective as well. Professional exterminators can identify the cause of your issue, as well as suggest long-term solutions to keep ants from coming into your home. Furthermore, they can also provide advice on preventative measures to help stop the problem from reoccurring.
Ant Baits
Using ant baits can be an effective way of controlling ant populations in and around your house. Ant bait works by attracting the ants into a bait station, where they ingest the bait and take it back to the colony. This type of control is more effective than merely killing individual ants, as the bait also kills the queen, which helps to control a large ant population.
Home Remedies
Using home remedies is another popular way homeowners combat the problem of ants in their homes. Sprinkling baking soda and sugar around your house is one of the most popular home remedies, as the sugar attracts the ants while the baking soda is toxic to them. Furthermore, a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water can also be used to effectively clean and repel away ants.
