Hacks to Keep Your Home Ant-Free

Ants
February 16, 2019
Fred Wingate

Here we are in the middle of February, with March and springtime just a spitting distance away. The birds are beginning to nest, the sun will soon be shining regularly, and the ants will begin their latest incursions. There’s always a downside, right?

Spring and summer are the worst times for ants coming into the home. Why? Because they spend their winters hibernating. So, as the weather warms the ants start to wake and immediately begin to replenish their larder. And your larder is the perfect place for them to pick up an easy meal. So, what can you do to stop the creepy critters?

Hacks to Keep Ants Out of Your Home

  1. Bar entry

As well as using open doors and windows, ants get into your home through cracks and holes. This includes cracks in window frames and woodwork, and breaks in sealant around cables and pipes. Caulking any gaps won’t stop ants entirely, but it will minimise entry. Also try to keep vegetation away from your house. While roses look lovely climbing around a porch, they also providing a direct highway for ants and other insects. So, start your garden at a slight remove. And if you already have mature plants and trees nearby, keep them trimmed so that branches don’t touch your property.

  1. Deter

You may be surprised to know that ants are fussy customers. So, just as you’d be put off visiting a restaurant with garbage piled around the doorway, ants can be deterred by a whole range of different substances.

  • Citrus juice confounds an ant’s sense of smell. Spray it around your doors and windows and they’re less likely to come in seeking food.
  • Ants hate the smell of vinegar. If you use it to wipe down your surfaces – it makes a great cleaning product when mixed with water (and bicarb for tough jobs) – any ants will think twice before heading into your kitchen.
  • Peppermint oil has the same effect. Rub a few drops around your window and door frames and ants will run a mile.
  • Used coffee grounds sprinkled around the flower beds and the foundations of your house. The smell is repellent to ants. They will go anywhere other than towards your home.
  • Ants don’t like powdery textures because they can’t leave or follow scent trails through it. So, a line of talc, chalk or flour around your windows and doors, or even your pantry is a great way to keep ants out.
  • Herbs and spices – pepper, chilli, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves and salt – can all upset an ant’s ability to follow scent trails, so they’ll usually avoid them.

Note: all of these tactics need to be maintained. One shot of peppermint, lemon or anything else just won’t cut it.

  1. Be inhospitable

The main reason ants enter a home is to look for food. Don’t give them any. If you keep all open foods in plastic or glass containers with a good seal, there will be nothing for your uninvited guests to eat. Empty and clean dishes as soon as you’ve finished with them. If you can’t keep your garbage outside, empty it often. The same goes for water. Ants require moisture to survive. So, make sure that there are no leaks, no dripping faucets, no standing water in sinks for them. If there’s nothing for ants to eat and drink in your home, they won’t come in.

Pantry pests are one of life’s major annoyances. Ants can carry all sorts of bacteria that you don’t want in your home, including E. coli, Streptococcus, Shigella, Salmonella,and Staphylococcus. But aside from any other consideration, no one wants to eat food that’s moving! Once ants are in, they can be hard to get out. Prevention is always way better than cure. But if you have an ant problem now, Noosa Pest Management is here to help.

Call our customer service team today, to find out how we can make your ant problem a think of the past: 704-499-9922

Fred Oct2023

Fred Wingate

Chief Bugman

Fred Wingate is the dedicated Owner and Chief Bugman at Noosa Pest Management, a thriving pest control company in Charlotte, NC. He established the company in 2006 with a vision to provide exceptional pest management services to the local community. By staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in pest management and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he ensures that Noosa Pest remains at the forefront of the industry.

Not only is Fred deeply invested in the well-being and satisfaction of his clientele, he is also passionate about supporting the local community, including schools, churches, and other organizations. The future of our community is important to Noosa Pest, and proudly contributes to its growth and prosperity.

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