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Ants are one of the most common pests you’ll find in your house. They can be found inside and outside our homes and under concrete slabs, and on trees. These insects may look harmless, but they can become a nuisance if left unchecked.
Getting rid of ants isn’t easy because their nests can be quite deep inside your home or outside. You have to know how to get rid of ants effectively before cleaning them up yourself; otherwise, it would lead to failure and frustration. This guide will teach you how to get rid of ants using all-natural methods that don’t involve toxic chemicals or expensive products. Let’s get started!
Identify the Type of Ants in Your House
It’s not difficult to get rid of ants, but it is imperative that you know what type of ant you’re dealing with. There are thousands of different species globally, and each one requires a different solution to be killed effectively. Some ants can carry diseases, so it’s important to understand what kind of ants you have before starting your extermination process.
Take a close photo of the ants you want to kill. The Internet has lots of ant pictures that can help you identify what kind of ants you have. Send the photo to your local university or college with the full address of where you live. They’ll probably send you an email with the ant species name and what to use to kill such species.
Find the Ant Nests
Sometimes, the solution to the ant problem is not to kill the ants but to destroy the ant nests. It’s always best to start with the most obvious solution. Once you have identified their main nesting ground, it will be much easier to deal with the problem.
For example, if you’re dealing with carpenter ants, it’s important to wipe them immediately since they can bring structural damage to your home. However, finding ant nests can be a challenge because they keep on changing their nesting habits.
If you can’t find it, then it will be impossible to get rid of ants immediately. Once you’ve found the nest, pour boiling water over the anthill. You can then take advantage of a soap or oil solution, which will cut the ant’s foot, so they won’t want to return.
Get Rid of Outdoor Ants
Ants living outside will travel inside your home in search of food. There are several home remedies that will help you to get rid of ants. Keep your yard clean of debris by clearing vegetation that leans on the exterior of your walls and windows.
Mix a teaspoon of boric acid with a tablespoon of sugar and a little flour. Spread this mixture around the windows and doors, as well as on plants. Then put peanut butter or honey in one corner of the window so that the ants have a free choice.
You can also place several drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil on cotton balls by the corners of your home so that when the ants come across it, they will be repelled and will not return.
Get Rid of the Ants Inside the Home
Some ants don’t enter your home looking for food. They may be establishing a colony inside. Indoor colonization of ants happens all year round, especially during summer. Some of the ant species that live inside homes during this period include the Pharaoh ants, the odorous house ants, Argentine ants, carpenter ants, worker ants, and crazy ants.
Get rid of these ants by determining the right ant bait traps to use. This is important in order for you to know where they’re nesting indoors so that you can focus your treatment on this particular area. And when you see an ant, don’t kill it because there may be hundreds of them inside your home. The ones you see are scout ants that are out foraging for food. Wipe out the entire colony using these scouts.
Ants also change their taste during the year. They prefer protein in the winter and sweets and oily foods during summer. In that case, set out food such as honey, fried food, and peanut butter. The ants will like the food and take it back to their home, killing the entire colony.
Erase Those Ant Trails
When you see ants marching into your home, follow those ant trails to their source even if it’s one ant. Treat this area with ant bait. The ants eat it and take it back to their colony, killing the entire colony, including the queen ant. Remember that sweeping and mopping won’t scent since ants leave scent trails that others follow.
You can eliminate the ant trails by mixing one part vinegar with three parts of water in a spray bottle. After that, spray wherever you’ve seen ants in the past. This will stop outdoor nesting ants that come for the food but not indoor ants that don’t establish nests.
Kill Ants with Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is made of microscopic fossils. These fossils are sharp and act like razor blades for ants, killing them after repeated exposure. Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous to pets or people, so that it can be safely sprinkled anywhere you want to kill ants.
When using it, don’t breathe it in or get on your skin because it is a very fine powder and will irritate you. Also, when using it as a killer, follow the package direction, then sprinkle it anywhere you see ants.
Kill Ants with Glass Cleaner and Liquid Detergent
Combine your spray-on glass cleaner and liquid detergent or dish soap to stop ants from entering your home. This combination helps in removing the scented pheromone trail the ants leave behind when they walk. Mix this and spray on areas that ants congregate. After spraying, make sure you follow with a thorough wipe down to remain with a light residue.
Kill Ants with Boric Acid
Boric acid is a crystalline powder that can be quite lethal to ants. Once consumed, it will take a few days for the ants to die. This ant poison can kill worker ants and their queen with two weeks of exposure.
Make sure you use this in areas where children and pets cannot access it. Boric acid is not only a killer for insects; it can also be harmful to humans. You should also wear gloves while working with this acid.
All you need to do is make a solution of 1/2 tablespoon boric acid, eight teaspoons sugar, and one cup of warm water. Stir the solution until it’s dissolved, then saturate cotton balls and place the solution on them. Place these cotton balls wherever you
think ants might emerge from. You can also use this acid as an ingredient in DIY ant traps. Mix the powder with something sweet like maple syrup or corn syrup. Spread it on a disposable surface, then place it in areas where you see ants.
Keep Ants Away with Coffee Grounds
Coffee Grounds are rich in caffeine which acts as a natural pesticide. Place the coffee grounds on places where ants are likely to come out, like around windows, door frames, and anywhere you see them. You can also mix it with baking soda to make an effective ant powder that’ll get rid of ants quickly.
Mix one part pepper soda to two parts coffee grounds and sprinkle it on the areas where you’ve seen ants. Coffee beans may also lose their potency, so make sure you change them more often.
Keep Ants Away with Boiling Water
In case you notice any holes in your home, pour boiling water into those holes. This will kill many ants inside immediately and effectively. Ant hills may look small, but the ant colonies below them are wide. With that said, boiling water won’t kill the entire colony. So make sure you treat every ant hole you see within your home.
Cut Off Their Food Source
The best way to get rid of ants is to eliminate the problem before it becomes an emergency. Avoid leaving food sources readily available for ants; instead, hide them. Foods like honey, maple syrup, and sugar should be kept in airtight containers. Not only will this keep ants out, but it’ll also prevent the food source itself from becoming sticky, moldy, or rotten.
Kill Fire Ants by Using Insecticides or Ant Baits
Fire ants are very common in the Southeastern United States and Southern California. Standard insecticides are not effective in killing this type of ant. You may need a product that is specifically for killing these ants and all biting critters. Use a broadcast spreader to apply the product over your lawn.
Fire ants will carry these granules, thinking that they’re food. They’ll then share the bait and die. Outdoor insecticide may kill fire ants for up to a year, while other ant baits may do that in weeks to give better results.
Prevent Ant Infestation by Cleaning
A clean house should be your first defense against ants. Make sure you sweep food crumbs away, wipe up spills immediately before they attract ants. Clean kitchen countertops, cabinets, floors, and pantries regularly. Store your pet food properly in sealed containers. If your home isn’t tidy and sanitary, you may get ants nesting in the corners of your house, infesting walls, and invading food items such as bread and cookies.
Prevent Ants by Spraying at Entry Points
To stop ants from coming into your house, you need to seal the entry points. Prevent ants by using an ant repellent spray. There are a few effective ant sprays that you can use for this purpose. Mix a teaspoon of vanilla essence in 250 ml warm water and spray it around doorways. Chemical spray can deter ants from getting into your home and also kill ants that are inside already.
FAQs on How to Get Rid of Ants
What is the natural way of getting rid of ants?
The natural way of killing ants is to mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it on the ants. Alternatively, you can mix equally water and dishwashing liquid and spray this solution around windows and doorways where ants enter the house.
How do you get rid of carpenter ants?
To clear carpenter ants from your home, use a pesticide or repellent spray to kill these bugs. Also, you can spray boiling water mixed with dishwashing liquid on them to kill these bugs. However, remember that you must stay away from this area for some time after spraying the solution.
What is the best way to get rid of ants?
For getting rid of ants in your house, use commercial products available in the market or mix water and dishwashing liquid. You can spray this solution to kill ants. You can also make disinfectant wipes and use them to clean your cabinets and countertops after ants infestation.
Final Thought on How to Get Rid of Ants
Ants are common invaders in many homes. Getting rid of them may seem a daunting task, but it’s possible. The best way to keep them away from your home is to use natural repellent items. However, if you have a serious ant infestation in your house, use commercially available products.
The post How to Get Rid of Ants appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
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