How to Get Rid of Ants from Your Home
Ants are small annoying creatures that sometimes find their way into your homes and troll around like they own the place. As long as you have food or sugary treats and a suitable entry point, you are sure to have an ant problem. What is really upsetting is that ants are highly-social animals. Hence, when one finds something interesting, it tells the entire colony
Having ants in the home can make domestic cleaning in London more stressful than it has to be. Also, ants that have been in unsavoury places can facilitate the spread of germs and bacteria on your countertops, and floors. They do even more damage when they come in contact with food.
Ant infestation is hardly welcome in any home but not everyone likes to use pesticides and chemicals to get rid of them.
There are practical steps to take to get rid of ants in the home. As the best domestic cleaners in London, we have put together the steps you can use to safely eliminate an ant infestation problem in the home. These methods are also eco-friendly and hardly include any chemicals.
To get rid of ants from your home, you must start by obtaining the necessary information.
1. Identify the type of ants
Ants have thousands of species but only a few can be found in the home. They include pavement ants, Argentine ants, carpenter ants, and odorous ants. Odorous ants are those species that stink when you squish them. Carpenter ants are tough, larger, black ants that get into the home by chewing through wood. They are especially common around damp areas with wood.
Argentine ants and pavement ants are small, brown or black. Argentine ants live within the home close to the food source. They can be found in areas like the sink and pipes. Pavement ants, on the other hand, live outdoors and come in for their meals.
2. Know their entry points
If they are not staying in your home, then they are coming in somehow. Don’t rush to squish a trail of ants, rather observe them quietly to see where they go. Learning their entry point is a vital part of the elimination process.
Note that killing ants may leave a trail that others can follow, so learning their entry points does not mean you get to kill them all.
3. Use vinegar
Vinegar is one of those substances with a smell that ants find unwelcoming. Vinegar can be used in several ways to get rid of an ant infestation.
You can include vinegar and water solution to mop the home and wipe down countertops.
You can also make a vinegar spray for a more specific elimination process. Add ¼ cup of white vinegar (or apple vinegar) to ¼ cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution around the entry points you have discovered. Repeat this for a few days for longer lasting results. Using vinegar can only stop the ants from coming in but will not kill them.
4. Use lemons
Lemon like vinegar is an important part of domestic house cleaning in London. Lemon can be used to get rid of most ant species in the home. Prepare lemon juice spray with a half a cup of lemon juice and half cup of clean water. Spray the solution around baseboards and the observed entry points. The smell of lemons affects their sense of tracking and will ensure the ants stay away from your home. You can also use the lemon juice with water to clean the floors and wipe countertops.
5. Use borax
Borax is especially suitable for killing odorous ants. Prepare an irresistible ant bait with one part borax and three parts of powdered sugar. Place the mixture in small bottle caps and place them in strategic positions the ants are sure to pass. The ants will be attracted by the sugar in the mixture and take this treat home. Borax is effective for killing ants and will ensure almost none survive.
6. Use salt or flour
Salt and flour have been proven to repel or annoy ants. Sprinkle either of the two along the path where ants enter the home or in the pantry. The ants won’t cross over the line; hence, they will stay away from your home.
Salt can also be used to prepare an effective spray solution. Boil clean water and dissolve a large amount of salt in it. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray in entry points.
7. Use Diatomaceous earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth contains the skeletal remains of algae-like plants. It is organic. Obtain food grade DE and sprinkle it around the home or at entry points. Diatomaceous earth is highly-effective against carpenter ants too.
Find the colony of carpenter ants in moist wood areas around the home and sprinkle or inject DE directly into their nest. DE contains particles that can kill the ants when ingested.
8. Seal up all entry points
Ants get into the home through cracks and openings in the home’s structure. Most times sealing those entry points is all you need to get rid of ants. Ensure that there are no other entry points left open.
9. Proper storage
If sugary foods are kept carelessly they would attract a few ants and eventually an entire colony. Always close all jars tightly and store sugary items out of sight. If there is nothing to feast on, they would stay out of the home.
10. Domestic cleaning in London
Proper cleaning of the home can eliminate ants. When all surfaces and floors are clean, it becomes difficult for ants to survive because there will be no crumbs to munch on. Wipe the countertops and all home surfaces regularly. Sweep floors and mop with essential oils to keep the insects away. Also, remember to wipe baseboards clean.
To get a thoroughly cleaned home you can hire a cleaning company in London. Glimmr guarantees the best cleaning service in London to get rid of ants in the home. If you do not need a regular service, we also provide one-off cleaning in London to give you a head start on the ant elimination process. You can always hire a pest control agency to help you out.