When warm weather arrives, you know that ants won’t be far behind. These pests are notorious for sneaking into homes, and once they’ve settled down, it’s hard to get them to leave. To avoid an infestation, you’ll want to take the time to ant-proof your home. We’ve made a list of tips to help you prepare for ant season.
Minimize Entry Points
The best way to keep ants out of your house is to make sure they can’t find a way inside. Examine the exterior of your home for places that could allow ants entry.
- Use caulk to seal cracks or holes in walls, window and door frames, and the foundation of your home.
- Fix damaged siding or bricks.
- Repair or replace torn screens.
- Seal gaps around doors and windows.
- Seal holes made from utility lines, cables, or pipes entering your home.
- Keep vegetation trimmed away from your house so that ants can’t use it to climb into your home.
Clean Up Your Kitchen
Your kitchen is a hot spot for ants because they can often find food and water in this room. Keeping this area of your home clean can help to prevent an ant problem.
- Sweep, mop, and wipe down counters and appliances to remove crumbs or sticky residues.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Store your produce in the refrigerator.
- Store your food in sealed containers.
- Wipe down jars and bottles to remove food residue.
- Regularly take out your trash.
Reduce Moisture
Ants enter homes looking for moisture. If your home or yard has standing water, ants will likely be attracted to it.
- Repair or replace leaky pipes and faucets.
- Wipe up any water near your sink.
- If there are damp rooms in your home, consider using a dehumidifier.
- Make sure your downspouts and gutters are working correctly.
- Empty items in your yard where water has collected like flower pots or buckets.
Keep Your Pet’s Food Area Clean
Your pet’s food and water can also be a tasty treat for ants. You’ll want to keep their area tidy to deter ant activity.
- Pick up your pet’s food bowl when they aren’t eating.
- Clean up any water spills.
- Store your pet’s dry food in a sealed container instead of the bag.
- Wash your pet’s food bowl regularly.
- Vacuum or sweep near the bowl to clean up any crumbs.
Create a Protective Barrier
Plant-based insecticide sprays and ant baits can help to keep ants from invading your home.
- Using a Plant-Based Insecticide Spray: You can use a plant-based insecticide spray to create a protective barrier. Our Yard Bug Spray kills pests on contact and provides residual repellency. This residual repellency acts as a barrier, helping to deter ants from entering your home. You can spray the perimeter of your yard and house to keep ants out. You can also spray common entry points with our Home Bug Spray for added protection.
- Using an Ant Bait: Ant baiting is an effective solution for controlling ants. Baits are designed to attract and kill ants. They feed on the bait and take it back to the nest to share with the colony, helping to eliminate infestations. You can place our No Spill Ant Kill bait stations around the perimeter of your home to create a perimeter defense system. If you choose to use bait, then you’ll want to avoid spraying insecticides with repellent properties near it. The spray will repel ants away from the area, preventing them from eating the bait.
When ant season arrives, you want to be prepared. Implementing a few preventative measures can help to keep these pesky bugs away. If ants have invaded your space, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.