Five Ways to Get Rid of Ants

The ants go marching one by one…

Have you ever watched a line of ants moving around your home? They can seem never-ending. After all, ant communities can move in if they find your home a nice place to live. They do not even have to move inside to be a problem. If they have a way to get in and out of your home, they can travel inside to steal food, then take it back outside to the colony. Of course, if your home is a ready source of food and water, there is a good chance that the colony will move inside.

The first step to take is locking up their food source. Ants love crumbs of food. They do not need much to feast, and they especially love sugary foods. Make sure you keep your food in closed containers. Limit eating to dining areas. Clean up all crumbs and food waste every day. If you do this, you can reduce, but not completely eliminate the chance that you will get ants.

So, what are some easy ways to get rid of ants if they do get inside?

You may have heard of home remedies. People tell us that they have used cloves, peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, salt, chalk, citrus, pepper, or vinegar to keep ants from entering. The theory is that ants do not like these smells, so they will avoid the areas. However, there is no scientific evidence to back up those claims. Furthermore, we have seen no proof that these home remedies are effective.

While home remedies are not effective, cleaning can be. Ants leave scented trails. Other ants follow them to get to food sources. Even if you eliminate food and water, ants will follow the old trails. So, clean thoroughly to get rid of these scent trails. It will keep other ants from following the trail.

Of course, the best way to get rid of ants in your house is to get rid of the colony. Whether the ant colonies are inside or outside of their home, getting rid of the colony means getting rid of the ants. There are several different ways to get rid of colonies, but they are not equally effective. You can use baits. Theoretically, the ants will take it back to the colony, eventually killing the colony. However, the most effective direct application methods mean finding the colony first.

If you want help locating and exterminating ant colonies, we can help. Contact Flick to schedule an inspection today. We can assess your pest situation and develop a plan tailored to your specific situation.