Household Ant Control

Problems Caused by Ants

Without question, ants cause problems when they come indoors. Here are some of the dilemmas these small but mighty insects create:

• Food infiltration—Ants are clever at finding food. Once they encroach on your pantry or counter, it’s very difficult to drive them away. Save yourself time, aggravation, and expense by practicing household ant control.
• Skin Irritation—Some species of ants bite and sting. These bites lead to rashes and even infections. As a result, when you practice household ant control, you protect the health of you, your family, and your pets.
• Structural Problems—Carpenter ants chew through wood to create tunnels. Over time, these tunnels compromise the integrity of the structure. This damage leads to expensive repairs and replacement. Protect your property by implementing household ant control measures.

Treat Popular Ant Hangouts

In particular, ants are drawn to areas that have food. Consequently, any effective household ant control program pays special attention to the kitchen. Here are tips to keep ants away from your eating and food preparation space:

Spray entry points with vinegar

Monitor windows, doorways, drains, and air vents for ants. Clean these spaces regularly with a disinfecting cleanser. Create a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray these spaces regularly with this mixture. Repeat the process every few days.

Treat countertops with soapy water

Ants dislike surfaces that have been cleaned with soap. As a result, you can practice household ant control with soapy water. First, fill a spray bottle with one teaspoon of liquid hand soap and four ounces of water. Next, spray your kitchen counters and tabletops. Wait 5 minutes, then wipe off the soapy water.

Household Ant Control for the Bathroom

Ants are also drawn to water. Therefore, it’s wise to implement household ant control measures in your bathrooms. An easy way to repel ants from toilets, sinks, and shower areas, is with citrus water. Try this cleaning method to maintain an ant-free home:

Wipe down surfaces with lemon water

Blend one cup of lemon juice and four cups of warm water in a bucket. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture. Wipe down all bathroom surfaces. Pay special attention to drains and faucets. It also helps to clean the inside of the toilet bowl with this mixture. For an added boost of power, mop the floor with this solution.

Place fresh lemon and orange peels in cabinets and cupboards

Ants are repelled by the oil found in citrus peels. As a result, these pests will steer clear of bathroom cabinets and cupboards that contain these fresh-smelling deterrents.

Practice Household Ant Control Around Pet Food Stations

Surprisingly, natural ingredients provide reasonable household ant control. That’s helpful with regard to pet food stations. To that end, here are substances you can place around food bowls that keep ants at bay:

Coffee grounds

Ants dislike the scent of coffee grounds. If you keep pet food bowls outdoors, sprinkle the perimeter with coffee grounds so that pets can access their food without being annoyed by these pests.

Ground cinnamon

Interestingly, household ants that inhale cinnamon suffocate and die. Consequently, you can sprinkle the area surrounding pet food stations to repel these insects. In addition, you can create hot spots that drive away ants from food dishes. Simply soak a cotton ball in cinnamon essential oil and water solution and swab around these stations for an ant-free environment.

Eliminate Ant Scouts ASAP

A point often overlooked is that ants often send scouts to search for food. Therefore, it is important to kill any ant that you see on its own. Eliminating these pests as soon as possible\ prevents scouts from emitting pheromones that signal other ants to join them. After disposing of a scout ant, wipe the area with a 50-50 vinegar and water mixture.