Ants roaming inside your home can be annoying, especially if you continually see them every day. Unlike termites, ants are not shy to show themselves. They will even ignore you as they passed by and collect their food from your sink, kitchen table, or on the floor. How to properly prevent ants from overrunning your home may be a bit difficult, but not impossible.
Indoor Ant Prevention
- Clean beneath the baseboards and underneath the stove regularly and keep it crumb and liquid free since ants love to gather there.
- The top and beneath a portion of the refrigerator is warm and can attract insects. Clean these areas regularly since crumbs tend to collect in those areas.
- Food should be stored in glass, plastic or metal containers.
- Repair any leaks beneath the sink and on the top sink as soon as possible.
- Keep the trash can closed, clean and emptied the cans on a regular basis.
- Sweep and mop floors regularly to get rid of crumbs and any scout ants.
- Wash empty food cartons before discarding them.
- Keep counter tops clean.
- Never leave dirty dishes in the sink and wash them after each meal.
- Do not allow moisture to settle on counters and other surfaces since ants will go near them.
Outdoor Ant Prevention
- Seal gaps around doors and windows.
- Seal gaps where utility lines enter the home.
- Make sure that the window screens and doors are in good repair.
- Screen or seal drain and sewer vents that precede to your home.
- Keep mulch, shrubs and trees at least one foot away from the foundation of your home.
- Stack firewood away from the sides of the house
- Keep areas around your home clear of dead, thick vegetation since ants and even cockroaches love to live in such places.
Finding the Nest
If you still regularly find ants in your home, your next step is to prevent them from further pestering your kitchen. You will need to find their nests. But how will you find their nests? Follow the trail of the worker ants. Instead of being tempted in killing the worker ants as you see them in a line going back and forth to your counter table and their nests, better follow them.
Of course you may not be able to get inside their nests since it is well hidden somewhere your eyes may not be able to see. However, you may be able to find their nearest location. These ants commonly stay in cracks and crevices and are just staying near their food sources. Use a flashlight to follow them and find out where they are.
As you search for their nests, prepare some pesticide baits for the worker ants. The magic of these baits is that the workers will bring back poisonous food with them without them knowing it. Thus, they will be able to share the bait with the other ants and share it with the queen, which would soon kill the colony. Once certain that the ants are no more, seal and caulk any cracks or crevices.
If you need help with an existing ant problem, call Preventive Pest Control. To schedule a FREE inspection, go to Ant Control.