Ants are a nuisance for all homeowners at some point.  As the weather changes, do not be surprised if you see an army of ants marching across your kitchen counter after a crumb left on the counter overnight.  Your first response might be to panic. But, take comfort knowing ants typically only enter your home to access food or water. This means you can take preventative care to avoid ant infestations and act quickly to take control.

Preventative Care

A simple way to avoid ants entering your home is to take some simple preventative steps.  It is recommended you apply some variation of an ant repellent. Ant repellents create a barrier that ants do not want to cross.  This means you are not having to eradicate the ants, but simply deterring them from wanting to enter your home in search of food or water sources.  Keep in mind, ant repellents are just deterrents. Ants, if determined to get in, will search for other points of entry.

DIY Ant Repellents

Ant repellents can be liquid sprays or dry substances.   Spread the repellent liberally around all cracks, holes, window sills, along baseboards, corners and even around the perimeter of your entire home.  And keep in mind, repellents must be applied regularly. When over-the-counter sprays dry, they typically lose their effectiveness.

A few common natural ant repellents include:

• Cinnamon
• Essential oils of peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus
• Chili pepper
• Whole cloves
• Chalk lines
• Talcum powder
• Coffee grounds
• Cucumbers
• Vinegar spray
• Salt and water solutions
• Dish soap and water solutions

Eliminating Ant Infestations

There are times when ant infestations take us by surprise.  This means you will need to take steps to deplete the entire ant colony.  Professionals recommend using a baiting solution. Baits work by attracting ants to ingest a substance which they will bring back to the colony. There, the rest of the ants will also eat the bait and eventually die off.

Common DIY Any Baits include:

• Borax solution
• Food-grade safe Diatomaceous Earth
• Terro Liquid Ant Baits
• Amdro Liquid Ant Killer Bait Stations

Warnings With Bait Use

When you have an ant problem, ant baits are typically much more effective than various preventative solutions. However, you should follow the directions of each ant bait product carefully.  You also need to be sure to place the baits out of reach of children or pets. These baits can be potentially dangerous if ingested. Also, keep in mind that not all baits work with all ants. If you see that time passes and there is not decrease in ant activity, you may need to try a different strategy of ant baiting.

Call A Professional

If you are unsure of the effectiveness of your ant prevention or any eliminating strategies, reach out to your partners at Aantex.  Our highly trained and knowledgeable pest control technicians can come and assess your any problem and determine the best strategies to eliminate the ant problem and protect your home from future infestations.