Ants in your home are not only a nuisance, they are unsanitary. Having food crumbs left all over your home from the kids is not improving the situation. Here are some ways to stop the ant infestation.
Clean All Surfaces
Invest in some easy wipes that will allow you to clean those crumbly surfaces quickly. You don’t want to have to spend all day trying to clean those food messes. Make sure to wipe down kitchen counters, tabletops, and any other hard surfaces that came into contact with food on a daily basis. Many types of countertops don’t recommend the use of bleach based cleaning agents. Find a cleaner that will remove sticky residue but not cause harm to the surface it is cleaning.
Vacuum
Have your kids take on the vacuuming duties as part of their daily chores. This is especially important because ants can smell a food source from across the room. Carpet definitely likes to hold onto those crumbs. This provides a fest for ants. They will go back to the nest and tell everyone else to come and get it. For a large infestation, it may be advisable to vacuum multiple times a day until the situation is under control. Consider investing in a vacuuming robot to help with cleaning those hardwood floors.
Remove Temptations
Make sure to store your food to prevent ants from getting into it. This means that you will need either sealable bags or air tight containers. This is especially true for those packages that don’t have a self sealing feature. You want to remove all sources that can provide temptation for ants to come into your home. Make it a household chore that the trash needs to be taken out daily. You will also have to wash out any food containers that are going in the recycling bin. Create a water moat if you have any household plants. Ants like to set up residence in the soil.
Seal Entry Points
Make it a family game and track where the ants are coming into your home. It can kind of be like playing hide and seek for your kids. Once you have located the ants’ point of entry, close it down for business. Use caulk to permanently seal those holes into your home. Get advice from a home improvement store on what are the best products to use on your home. Different types of siding or foundation cracks will have different products that can be used. You may even need wood putty if the points of entry are in your siding.
Use these simple solutions to rid your home of ants. If the ants are still plaguing you, try hiring a pest control company like Bio-Lab Pest & Termite Control. Nobody should have to live with ants!
