You may find ants in or around your home in areas, such as:
- Kitchen cabinets or counters
- Pantry shelves
- Bathrooms
- Garbage or recycling bins
- Pet food bowls
- Houseplants
In addition to being a nuisance, ants can present a danger to homeowners as they can transmit food-borne disease organisms, including but not limited to E. coli and salmonella. Thankfully, you can take steps to get rid of ants around your property.
Keeping Ants Away from Your Home
To prevent ants from coming into and/or being around your property, you may need to make changes inside and outside. Here are 7 indoor ant prevention tips.
- Eliminate clutter. If you have piles of clothes, stacks of boxes, or other cluttered spaces, ants may hide under these items. Ridding your home of clutter can eliminate places where the ants can hide and rest.
- Clean under your appliances regularly. Another place ants like to hide or rest in undisturbed areas. Be sure to clean underneath your fridge, washer, dryer, and other sedentary appliances to discourage ants from hiding underneath them.
- Wipe off your kitchen counters. Ants are attracted to any food (including pet food) sources whether that be crumbs on your counter or unsealed food in your pantry. After cooking or eating, ensure that you have wiped off any crumbs or food and properly resealed any containers.
- Don’t let trash pile up. Ants also feed on trash, so regularly emptying your trashcan and picking up any wrappers or containers can help prevent ants from wanting to come into your house.
- Be mindful of excess water. Ants are attracted to damp areas, which is why you should eliminate any standing water or pools of water in your home; this includes anything from your pet’s water bowl to the floor around your bathtub/shower. It is also important to be mindful that humidity and water can weaken wood, which can give ants an easy access point to your property. Using a dehumidifier in damp areas can also help ensure your property is protected from ants.
- Use scents that repel ants. Ants like sugary or sweet smells. You can spray around your baseboards (as well as areas that may be entry points for the pests) with essential oils (peppermint, tea tree, and citrus oil), vinegar, or castile soap spray to repel ants.
- Wash away scent trails. Ants use scent trails to help their colony find their way towards a food source. If you notice ants around your kitchen or in your home, you can wash away the scent trail by spraying and cleaning with warm water and dish soap (or baking soda). You may have to repeatedly wash the area before the scent is eradicated.
Here are 6 outdoor ant prevention tips.
- Inspect your property for easy access points. If you have any cracks on the outside of your home, sealing them with caulk can help stop ants from getting inside. You should also trim any trees or plants that are close to windows or your roofline, and replace any damaged door sweeps or screens.
- Check any downspouts or gutters. Make sure that these are working properly and clean from debris as they help water flow away from your property’s foundation.
- Avoid leaving pet food outside. If you store your pet food containers or keep your pet’s food bowl outside, this can also attract ants. You may consider investing in tightly sealed containers or removing any uneaten food promptly after your pet’s mealtime.
- Moving your firewood. Some ants (like carpenter ants) are attracted to firewood. If you store firewood outside, relocating it can help detract ants from your property and/or foundation.
- Maintain your yard. Ants may nest under fallen leaves or other debris in your yard. Regular maintenance like cutting your grass and picking up leaves can eliminate their resting or hiding places.
- Sprinkle used coffee ground in your yard. Ants are also repelled by the scent of coffee (as are some other pests and animals). This can also help your plants as coffee grounds are full of potassium, magnesium, and other beneficial minerals. If you are not a coffee drinker, you can also draw around entry points with chalk or baby powder as they also repel ants and disrupt their scent trails.
Getting Rid of Ants | Contact Our Ant Exterminators
At Axis Pest Control, we can help homeowners or business owners with ant control problems. Our exterminators understand ant biology and behavior as well as how to stop an infestation at the source, and we would be happy to help you protect your home/property from unwanted guests.
Pest control begins with prevention. To get a quote, schedule an extermination service, or discuss personalized prevention methods, contact our team online or call (702) 879-5852. We offer free estimates and same-day service.