What to Do If You Have an Ant Infestation

Seeing a pile of ants outside probably isn’t something that will concern you. You may not even notice large colonies busy at work near your gardens or flower beds. But if these insects make their way into your house, they can become annoying pests in a hurry. Ants can gather in huge numbers, taking over your kitchen and making you feel upset, embarrassed, or helpless against their invasion.

When you have a massive infestation of ants, you need to use some effective tactics to kill them and prevent more ants from infiltrating your house like potentially hiring hiring an exterminator like Aptive. But first, it’s smart to check out some Aptive reviews. 

You shouldn’t have to share your living space with these tiny creatures. Don’t let an infestation occur in your house without putting up a fight. Learn about various methods and implement them right away.

Seal Your Home

It probably isn’t alarming or concerning to see a single ant or a few here and there in your house. If you see entire colonies in various parts of your house, however, you can feel unsettled or even powerless to stop them. Your first response should be to keep more from coming in.

Start by inspecting your home and searching for entry points that these pests are using. They may be coming in through cracks around the doors or windows. Seal these with caulk or other similar products. Also, place mesh covering around vents and spots where wires and pipes enter and exit the house. Patch up any holes, cracks, or other openings in the foundation or siding of your house. Instead of leaving doors and windows open, use screens.

Keep Food Out of Their Reach

Ants aren’t likely to join you inside your house if you don’t have a food source for them to enjoy. Crumbs on the floors and counters are open invitations to ants to come inside for a snack. It may amaze you just how quickly they can find remnants of your last meal.

Clean your home, especially the kitchen, consistently and thoroughly. Wipe off tables and countertops to keep them free of any food morsels. Sweep daily and mop often. You should also vacuum your carpets regularly and make sure your furniture is clean. Put away any food after you use it. It’s especially crucial that you clean up before you head to bed for the night.

Take Away Their Water Supply

Ants need water to survive, just like all animals do. If you cut off their water sources, they are likely to leave and go elsewhere. Ants like to go for sinks, so make sure your faucets aren’t dripping and that the sink is dry. If you have leaky pipes under sinks, or if appliances are leaking, fix the issues right away.

Outdoors, you want to take care of water problems, too. If you have any puddles of water near your home, dry them up. Repair downspouts and rain gutters that may not be diverting water away from your home properly. Also, be mindful of backyard water features such as birdbaths, ponds, and fountains, as these items can attract pests.

Place Traps in Your House

Ant traps come in different options. These can be effective ways to trap these pests as they come into your home. One of the most common types is a stick pad that keeps ants from advancing any farther. Placing these in areas where ants frequently hang out can capture them well. Put them under sinks, along baseboards, behind appliances, and under furniture.

Poisons

Some traps include poisons that don’t hold ants in place but kill them quickly. These may be small pellets that appear as food but take care of your ant problem. The ants can also take the poison back to their nest, feeding their young and wiping out the entire colony. These are best to use inside your house in areas where ants normally look for food.

Spraying Outdoors

Another way to kill ants before they ever reach your house is to use ant spray around your yard. Use this on your grass (and the product won’t kill your lawn) and in flower beds and gardens. Follow the instructions on the product to ensure the most effective use.

Indoor Sprays

You can also go for sprays designed for use inside your home. These can kill ants instantly and in large numbers. You can also spray in areas where you don’t currently see ants but where you know where they tend to go. You may also want to try the product near entry points. This will prevent the pests from going near the spot.

If an ant infestation is in your home, try some of these approaches first but if you don’t see an improvement, call a local ant exterminator for pricing and treatment. Combining preventive measures with killing methods can do away with your ant problem now and going forward.

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