How to Keep Ants Out of the House
There are lots of ways that ants can sneak indoors and create a huge headache for homeowners, especially during the spring and summer. These teeny tiny pests are in search of both food and water, which is often more abundant inside than it is outdoors.
If you want to keep ants outside where they belong, read on for tips.
Seal Around Windows, Doors and Crevices
Ants only need a paper-thin opening to get inside a home. Oftentimes if a window or door isn’t properly sealed with weather stripping and/or caulking there will be hairline cracks that ants can take advantage of. Sealing with caulk or weather stripping is an inexpensive preventative measure that will also help make your home more energy efficient.
Fix Cracks Around the Foundation
Cracks in the foundation are another way that ants get inside of homes. These should be sealed up as well.
Keep Food Out of the Sink
Ants often travel in and out of homes gathering up food in addition to actually nesting indoors. These insects have a broad palate. They’ll eat sweets, meats, starches and fats. The smallest crumb can attract ants, so the dirty dishes in your sink will seem like a feast.
Dishes should be rinsed immediately after use and either washed daily or stacked away in a dishwasher so that they don’t attract ants.
Clean Off Countertops Every Time You Cook
Food residue can attract ants as much as solid food. It’s important to regularly clean the countertops with a dish soap, vinegar/water solution or surface cleaner.
Store Food the Right Way
Open food containers or reusable bins that aren’t thoroughly cleaned before storing will attract ants. Invest in some reusable containers that close securely when in use for foods like cereals, pastas and dog chow.
Put Diatomaceous Earth Around the House
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic prevention technique to keep ants outdoors. It’s a sand-like substance that’s made up of fossilized algae and diatom skeletons. It feels like a powder to people and animals, but it sticks to insects with exoskeletons and works its way inside, eventually puncturing the body and killing the insect. Sprinkle DE around your house and ants will keep their distance.
Nix Outdoor Nests
Even if they live outside ants can easily find their way indoors. As soon as you see an ant bed in your yard take steps to eradicate it. The focus should be on killing the queen, because that is the only surefire way to get rid of the whole colony. Unfortunately, chemicals are often needed to completely eradicate a nest. Common options include: bifenthrin granules, cyfluthrin granules and liquid acephate.
Have Regular Pest Control Treatments
Pest control treatments are the ultimate preventative step for ants, especially if you treat around the perimeter of the home. A professional pest control technician can quickly identify problem areas, properly treat them and get rid of any ants that are already present.
Are ants invading your Alabama yard? Does it look like they’re trying to get indoors? Give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc. a call to keep ants at bay.
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ants_of_medical_importance
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/home-pest-control/keep-ants-house/