Ants can be overwhelming because they are almost always found in large numbers. This may make you feel hopeless if your home is suffering from an ant infestation.
But there are simple ways to get rid of ants in your home. Follow these tips and your home will be free of these pests in no time.
1. Eliminate their food sources
One of the reasons why you are attracting ants into your home is the easy access to food. If ants can’t find enough food in your home, they wouldn’t bother to stay or return.
- Give particular attention to your kitchen. Wipe the countertops. Don’t leave dishes on the sink. And also maintain the cleanliness of your floor.
- Store food properly. Make sure to put food in refrigerators or tight containers. Also be mindful of leftovers and crumbs, especially in the dining area.
- Clean your appliances and furniture. These things can be accidental sources of food. They may contain crumbs, spills, and stains that can attract ants.
- Seal your garbage bins. Garbage bins are a haven for ants. They contain food and water that most home owners neglect. You should not neglect garbage bins and their potential to attract pests such as ants. Cover them properly.
2. Eliminate their water sources
Ants also need water. Get rid of ants by making water inaccessible in your home. Making your home completely devoid of water can be very difficult, but you should at least try in eliminating as many water sources as possible for these pests.
- Dry everything before going to bed. Wipe countertops, tables, and other possibly wet spots with a dry cloth after dinner. You don’t want the ants to sneak in and get their water when you are already asleep.
- Make wet objects inaccessible. For example, if your dish rags and sponges are still wet after dinner, put them on places where they can be inaccessible. You can hang them to dry them out. You can also put them in a storage bag.
- Fix your plumbing. Also make sure that you are not providing water to the ants through the leaks in your pipes or the drops in your faucets. Get these things fixed. If you think you have a serious plumbing problem, it’s not a bad idea to call a professional.
3. Seal their entry points and possible hiding spots
Ants don’t knock on your door and ask for your permission to enter your home. They are sneaky pests who can enter your home and settle there uninvited. Cover up their entry points and possible hiding spots where they can nest.
- Seal cracks and crevices. Cracks and crevices can either be entry points or hiding spots. For example, ants can get inside your home through the cracks in your windows. They can also nest on the crevices of your door frames. Cover these things with caulk, weather strip, or other appropriate materials.
- Seal holes. Holes can be found around plumbing and electrical wiring. Cover them using the appropriate sealants. Holes can also come in the form of structural damage. Holes in walls are particularly attractive for ants to start their nests.
4. Kill the ants
You can make your home unattractive to ants by making food and water inaccessible and sealing all ant entry points and hiding spots. But a more active approach in getting rid of ants is through killing them.
- Use ant sprays. Ant sprays are specifically designed to attack the nervous system of the ants to kill them. But be wary of using ant sprays. Some ants may survive and develop some kind of immunity to the lethal gases in these sprays. This can make future ant spray sessions ineffective.
- Use ant baits. Another problem with sprays is that they only kill the worker ants, who are found in and around your home looking for food. The queen ant is the one you want to kill to end your ant infestation. Use ant baits, so worker ants can take the poisonous foods back to their colony and hopefully kill their queen with them.
- Use ant repellents. If you think killing ants is too barbaric, you can consider using ant repellents. Make your home uncomfortable for ants that they will decide to not invade or settle in your home.
Make sure to use sprays, baits, and repellents on the appropriate spots in your home. You can use the ant sprays and repellents on entry points, hiding spots, walls, and corners. You can use the ant baits near other food and water sources to further the illusion that the baits are for consumption.
5. Inspect the general vicinity of your home
When you see ants in your home, it doesn’t automatically mean that their nest is also inside your home somewhere. They can be settling in a spot near your home, like your garden, lawn, or yard. Plan your attack with this in mind.
- Maintain your greens. Bushes, grasses, trees, and other greens should be trimmed short, especially if they are long enough to connect to your home. For example, tree branches and their leaves can connect to one of your windows and act as an entry point for ants. These greens are also possible nesting spots for ants.
- Eliminate food and water sources. Food and water can also be found outside of your home. You can have fruits and vegetables in your garden. You can also have craters and gutters that accumulate water. You also have trash bins outside. Pick up ripe and fallen produce. Seal craters and clean gutters regularly. And don’t forget to seal your trash bins, whether they are inside or outside of your home.
- Use sprays, repellents, and baits outside your home. You can also use these things outside your home. After all, ants look for food and water not just in your home, but also around it.
- Find the ant nest and do what you have to do. Find the ant nest that is providing shelter for the ants that are invading your home. Use the sprays and repellents directly at it. You can also pour boiling water directly into it.
These are the simple ways to get rid of ants in your home
An ant infestation is not the end of the world. You can get rid of ants with DIY solutions, such as making sure you are not providing them with food and water. You should also make sure that your home is inaccessible by covering cracks, crevices, and holes, where ants can get through and settle.
And most of all, you can get rid of ants by killing them directly. You have a variety of options available, such as ant sprays, baits, and even repellents.
Make your home ant-free by keeping these tips in mind.