Like many other pests, ants are basically only interested in food. And, since indoor ants are so small, the tiniest crumb can feed an entire colony. As a result, if you have kids, you will probably see ants in the kitchen.
Squashing individual ants usually does no good. These bugs leave invisible scent trails for others to follow. And, even if you squash them and clean the immediate area, it’s only a matter of time before another crumb gets on the floor and another ant comes looking for it.
So, deterrence is key. Try one of these approaches, because they have other benefits as well. For best results, use a combination of these approaches.
Caulk
Ants squeeze through the tiniest cervices. Use caulk to seal the areas around windows or any wall cracks. Typically, ants come from the outside to the inside. As a bonus, caulk keeps your climate-controlled air from hissing out into the yard.
Vinegar
Remember we said that ants leave scent trails? Vinegar is the best way to remove these scent trails. Plus, vinegar’s odor is repulsive to ants. A half vinegar/half water mixture is generally a very good cleaning solution. It’s a good way to replace phosphorus-based detergents and cleaners.
Lemon Juice
This substance has basically the same effect as vinegar, both in terms of cleaning and ant control. Lemon is one of the most acidic substances in your pantry. As a bonus, it smells like lemon instead of vinegar. You probably didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Herbs, Spices, and Oils
Pretty much anything you have in your pantry will keep ants away. That includes things like peppermint oil, chili pepper, cinnamon, mint, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, cloves, and garlic. These herbs, oils, and spices are also effective outside of your house if you sprinkle them around your foundation.
Coffee Grounds
One of the most effective natural ant deterrents is probably something you throw away every morning. If you see ants around the foundation and sprinkle coffee grounds next to the house, you may literally see the ants turn around and go back where they came from. The effect is that powerful.
Honorable mention goes to baby powder and cucumber peels.
The best way to keep ants out of your kitchen is to prevent them from coming in to begin with. And the best way to do that is to call us. We are your local pest control professionals here to serve you!
