Ants are among the most common pest control issue about which professionals are asked. Ants exist in almost every climate on earth and as such they constitute a persistent problem around the globe. More importantly, ants can cause significant damage to the structure of your home so an ant infestation should never be overlooked. Carpenter ants, for example, nest in your home and tunnel and nest inside wood structures. Ants that look for food in your home can contaminate this food, and can even inflict painful bites and stings which in allergic individuals may experience a severe reaction. As you can see, it is important to treat ant control seriously, and these ant control tips are a great place to start.
- Follow ants to discover their point of entry in your house. Ants may enter through window and door jams, cracks in the floor, or even molding crevices.
- Boric acid or laundry detergent can create a temporary barrier to prevent ants from entering at these points. You can even sprinkle baby powder as a safer alternative for pets and children.
- You should make every effort to seal these entry points. Caulk windows and cracks, apply weather stripping to doors and windows, and cover holes with duct tape.
- Check your cupboard for food ants may have been eating and throw it away; these foods may be contaminated.
- Store food in secure containers or in your refrigerator to prevent ants from accessing food sources. Exposed food and garbage will attract ants.
- Regularly clean all cupboards to remove remnants of sugar, honey, maple syrup, grains, cereals, cookies, jams, and bread as these are favourite food sources for ants.
- Wash floors and surfaces where you have discovered an ant line with warm water and soap. This helps prevent the ants' return. Ants follow a pheromone scent to return to food sources, by thoroughly cleaning their path even with bleach and water you can make it impossible for them to retrace their path.
- Lemon peels are a great deterrent for ants as they do not like the smell. Place a slice of lemon peel in your sugar bowl to prevent ants. In fact, you can use orange or lemon peels around doorways or drop them into ant holes and this will help to deter ants.
If you are careful and thorough in your ant control techniques, you may be able to deal with an infestation on your own. While these tips are effective, it can be very difficult to eliminate ants from your home. Try these tips, but always be ready to consider professional pest control advice. Sometimes your only option will be to kill the ant colony, and it is best to rely on a professional in such cases.
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