The Best Way To Kill House Ants
House ants can become a nuisance because as we know ants are tiny busy creatures that are always on the move building colonies and in search of a food source, these small insects will invade homes, buildings, etc… even vehicles where food particles are allowed to remain.
Besides delivering painful bites that can cause itching and swelling, ants have also been known to transport bacteria, bringing with them numerous food-borne-diseases for example salmonella, clostridium, E.coil, shigella, various fungi, staph, strep. Once ants get into a home their food search begins and if food containers and packagers are not properly seal will make their way into these areas.
Because of this, we must make sure that our homes are ants-proof because these tiny insects if not controlled can contribute to or cause huge problems when it comes to our health and safety. Below we will be discussing safety measures to put in place along with how to treat the ants population.
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1. Exclusion
The first step to ant control is to find the entry point or points that they use to access your home, this may take a little work. Sometimes just following their trail will give clues or may direct you to where they are entering. Check for openings, it could be there is a space under your door, a tear in your window or door screen, water pipes or electrical pipes that connect from outside to inside pipes that connect to appliances may have a small space, there may be gaps around your windows and door, vents, cracks in door frames, some times they may hitchhike and be brought inside unnoticed, inspect live plants and packages before bringing indoors, cracks in the foundation, ants also use utility lines to get indoors.
2. Cleanup Food Particles
As stated earlier the presence of ants indoors means they are looking for a food source so make sure that indoor areas are swept clean of food particles especially the kitchen and other areas where foods are consumed. All foods should be kept in air-tight containers and food packages should always be properly sealed.
3. Remove Water Source
Ants also seek water sources so fix all leaky indoor as well as outdoor pipes, and don’t allow standing water at all to sit indoors.
4. Clean Surfaces Thoroughly
Again Clean stove tops and countertops thoroughly clean of food particles and spills for example soft drinks, syrup, tea, honey, etc…
5. Eliminate Damp Spots and Rotten Wood
Ants will sometimes build satellite colonies inside of a home to serve as a conduit for resources which means they will thrive in damp conditions or areas. Places such as damp spots in the basement, windows, and showers should be paid close attention. If water-damaged materials are discovered they should be replaced, look for leaks, and repair them. Carpet ants will only tunnel through wood that has been damaged by water.
6. Indoor Trash Cans
Make sure that indoor trash cans are properly sealed or have a tightly fitted cover, and don’t allow trash to overflow, when taking trash to your garbage disposal area outside properly tie the bag before placing it in the outside container. Make sure that the outside area where garbage is kept is clean to discourage not only ants but roaches and rodents also.
7. Remove Outside Nest
Do a bit of scouting outdoors to locate ants’ nests, there are several ways to get rid of these nests once discovered, place commercial gel baits in areas where ants are crawling, gel baits can be squeezed into cracks. Ensure that gels are out of reach of kids and pets. If there are kids or pets in the home then it is safer to use a fully enclosed plastic bait station however dogs may still try to chew through the plastic, blend equal parts corn syrup and Borax. Smear the bait on a small piece of cardboard or index card. Once ants consume the bait will kill them again make sure that kids and pets do not come in contact with this bait, sprinkle food-grade Diatomaceous earth (DC) along the ant’s trail, Make a spray of 1/4 cup Castile liquid soap and 1 quart of water, this contact spray is effective against scouting ants.
Common Indoor Nesting Places for House Ants
The presence of house ants can become a nuisance, and finding where there may be nesting indoors will help to bring control, here are several common places house ants have been known to congregate.
- In Cracks and crevices behind kitchen pantries and cabinets.
- Ants are known to build nests behind wallpapers.
- Underfloor boards can be a nesting site.
- Under or behind appliances, for example, laundry machines, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, refrigerators.
- Check under the sink cabinet.
Note: It is best to consider calling first a professional company to do the job for you.
Chemical Control of Ants
Here are several Products that will bring ants control, before application read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results, or call in the professional to do the job.
- Non-Repellent Insecticides-A non-repellent insecticide is an insecticide that the insect is not able to detect, once the area is treated the ant will walk over these treated surfaces without detecting the poison carrying the poison back to the nesting site or colonies will eliminate them.
- Ants baits
- Ants control kits
In case you missed it here are other articles on ant control.
Conclusion
Controlling indoor ants requires a bit of work by doing some investigation and putting the proper control measures in place, these proven methods will not only eliminate but keep ants away. If you have an ant issue then contact us. Our ant control program will help to ensure that house ants are no longer a problem in your home.
