Ants are amazing and interesting little creatures. They can carry many times their own body weight, build complicated nests and even farm other insects. However, when ants invade your home, they are no longer so cute and fascinating. Here are some tips on how to get rid of ants in your home.
Find the Source
The first step is to figure out where the ants are coming from. If you see a line of ants marching into your home, follow them back to their nest. If you can't find the nest, look for things that might attract ants, such as food spills or crumbs. Once you've found the source of the problem, you can start to get rid of the ants.
Clean Up
The next step is to clean up any food or water that might be attracting the ants. Be sure to wipe up spills and vacuum or sweep up crumbs. If you have pet food bowls, be sure to clean them up after your pet has eaten. You should also seal up any cracks or crevices where ants might be able to enter your home.
Block Their Path
Once you've removed the food sources that are attracting the ants, you need to block their path into your home. You can do this by using a variety of things, such as caulking, weatherstripping, or door sweeps. You can also use natural products, such as diatomaceous earth or cucumber peelings. Spraying mint oil and planting mint around your foundation is also said to repel insects, which could also help with spiders and other leggy-type unwanted guests.
Kill the Ants
Identifying the type of ants you have is important because it will determine what kind of treatment you need to use. Each type of ant is attracted to different things and will require a different method of extermination. If you're having trouble identifying the type of ants you have, you may need to resort to contacting a pest control specialist. They have the expertise and tools to quickly identify the specimen and implement the right tactics for evicting them from your home.
If you're set on a DIY approach, baiting is one kind of treatment that involves putting out food that the ants will take back to their nest. The food is laced with a poison that will kill the ants, thus affecting all, or a majority, of the colony. This is a good method to use if you can't find the nest or if the nest is inaccessible. Another type of treatment is to directly spray the ants with an insecticide. This is a good option if you can't find their nest or if baiting isn't working. Be sure to carefully read the label and follow the directions.
Getting rid of ants involves diligence and habit changes, but it is possible. By following these steps, you can get rid of ants in your home and keep them from coming back.
