When the temperature rises, flowers start to bloom, and bugs appear, you know spring has arrived. Pests emerge in the spring searching for sources of food, water, and shelter. One pest that you can be sure to see is the ant. If you’re hoping to avoid this uninvited guest, there are a few things you can do. Check out seven tips for keeping ants out of your home.
1. Seal Entry Points
Ants are tiny and can fit through the smallest of cracks and crevices. Examine the interior and exterior of your home for cracks or gaps and seal them with caulk. Repair or replace any window and door screens with holes. Check to make sure your weather stripping is in good shape and consider installing door sweeps.
2. Don’t Feed the Ants
Ants enter homes searching for something to eat. If they find a food source, it will be hard to convince them to leave. Regularly wipe down your counters and always clean up crumbs and spills. Remove trash daily and make sure the bins are tightly sealed. Keep food stored in airtight containers and pick up your pet’s food bowls when they’re finished eating.
3. Eliminate Moisture
Ants are attracted to areas that provide them access to water. Eliminating standing water can help to prevent an ant infestation. Repair any leaky pipes and make sure you don’t have any clogged drains. You can also use dehumidifier and fans to help reduce moisture build-up in basements and bathrooms.
4. Eliminate Shelter
There’s a good chance your home and yard have plenty of sheltered spots for ants to live. Inside, you’ll want to eliminate clutter and keep things organized. Remove cardboard boxes, stacks of paper, and even piles of dirty laundry. Don’t forget to remove clutter outside too including piles of leaves and mulch.
5. Take Care of Your Yard
Outdoor prevention doesn’t stop at decluttering. You’ll also want to keep your yard well maintained. Keep your lawn trimmed and make sure branches and plants aren’t touching the side of your home. Keep an eye on your gutters to ensure they are working properly and remove any sources of stagnant water.
6. Create a Protective Barrier
Our natural, plant-based insecticide sprays have repellent properties. Not only do they kill pests on contact, they also create a protective barrier. Spraying the perimeter of your yard with our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Yard Bug Spray can help to deter pests from entering your yard. You can also spray common entry points with our Maggie’s Farm Home Bug Spray as an extra line of defense.
7. Eliminate Source of Infestation
When dealing with an ant infestation, you have to eliminate the source of the infestation. If not, more ants will continue to show up. The best way to do this is to use a natural ant bait like our No Spill Ant Kill. Our bait is designed to attract ants and allow them to return to their nest. When they share food, more ants are exposed to the bait. This will help to ensure the entire colony is eliminated and not just the ants you’re seeing. Don’t place baits in areas where you have sprayed because this will deter pests from eating the bait.
Fighting ant infestations starts long before bugs start popping up in your home. A few preventative measures can help you avoid the headache of an infestation. If bugs are giving you a fit, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.