Recently, I noticed a line of ants coming into my house from my veranda. So I traced where they were coming from and found out that they were coming in through my flower pots and stairs. So I started looking into how to get rid of ants.
You can get rid of ants by using commercial ant extermination products or hiring a professional company, but this is time-consuming and expensive. So I looked for some simple methods that I could try at home, and as a result, I was able to prevent ants from coming into my house.
Ants come to places where there is food or water, so we first remove them and then use the scent of natural ingredients that ants dislike to prevent them from approaching us.
After blocking access, you can purchase an ant repellent and find the point where the ants appear and exterminate them. Then, let’s find out the cause of ants and how to get rid of them.
Table of Contents
Causes of ants
The reason ants appear is because there are things in the house that ants like. Especially if there is food waste, ants are more likely to come into the house.
Ants are primarily attracted to carbohydrate foods such as sugar, bread, and cookies, so it’s a good idea to store your food in airtight containers.In particular, it is advisable to avoid placing it in a place where ants can easily access it.
I approached the food waste on the veranda, and after I disposed of it, it never appeared again. It is recommended not to leave leftover food on the veranda, as well as on places like the table or cooking surface.
- Eliminate sweet foods: Store sweet foods like sugar, honey, and fruit out of the reach of ants.
- Remove grease: It is important to clean the grease from your cooking surfaces and floors. Oily foods can attract ants, so be extra careful when cleaning.
Blocking ant entry and exit paths
Ants are social insects, and they make paths to find food, and many ants move along these paths. Therefore, it is important to block their movement paths.
Ants can enter through gaps such as window frames, door gaps, cracks, and floor gaps, so you should block their entry into the house using silicone or tape.
Since ants can move to various places such as stairs, verandas, and windows, it is effective to identify their movement path and then spray a substance they dislike or use an insecticide specifically designed for ants.
How to get rid of ants
The most reliable way to get rid of ants is to use ant repellent. They are sold commercially, so after purchasing it, you can spray it in areas where you see a lot of ants to get rid of them.
- Gel-type ant repellent: It is a sticky gel that contains ingredients that ants like, so it has an excellent attraction effect. Ants eat the gel and take it back to their nest, where it is spread to other ants, allowing it to repel ants over a wide area.
- Chalk ant repellent: A solid product that looks like chalk. Use it by drawing or sprinkling it on the path ants move through. It has the effect of killing ants by paralyzing their nerves when in contact.
- Liquid ant repellent: This is a liquid spray that can be sprayed directly on ants or on their paths.
Each repellent has its pros and cons. Gel-based products are useful because they can effectively repel a wide range of insects, but they can be harmful to children and pets. On the other hand, chalk-based products are easy to use and economical, but their effectiveness can be reduced by moisture or water.
Liquid products can be applied to tight crevices, but can produce odor and are ineffective for use on large surfaces.
If you can’t buy a repellent right away, you can use natural ingredients to get rid of ants. Ants hate certain smells, so you can use this to keep them away.
- Vinegar Spray: Vinegar has a smell that ants hate the most. Therefore, mix vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio to make a spray and spray it on the paths where ants walk.
- Baking soda and sugar mixture: Mix baking soda and sugar in a 1:1 ratio and sprinkle it on ants’ paths. They will eat the food and die.
- Lemon juice: If you mix lemon juice with water and spray it on, ants will not come near.
- Cinnamon, pepper: Spices with strong aromas, such as cinnamon, pepper, and cayenne pepper, can help deter ants.
The above methods of getting rid of ants are effective in temporarily preventing the intrusion of ants, but for complete extermination, it is recommended to use a repellent. In particular, it is recommended to find the ant nest by identifying the ant’s movement path and use insecticide there to get rid of the ants.
Ants can be persistent, so prevention is very important. Keeping food scraps out of your home and cleaning regularly are effective ways to prevent ant infestations.
If ants continue to appear, choose one of the ant removal methods introduced above and spray it on your path to get rid of them.
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