Having tiny ants in your home or garden can become a difficult problem to solve. If these insects start to bother you, there are some simple solutions you can try to remove them from your home or eliminate them completely.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Keep the Ants away
Step 1. Identify the points they come in from
Ants enter homes for two main reasons: to find food to bring back to the colony and to seek shelter from the cold. They can enter from different areas, so be sure to check for cracks around windows, along doors, the lighting fixture, and any other openings. If you see a trail of ants in the house, follow it to see where they come from.
If you discover specific points in which they have created an opening, concentrate your efforts to reject them starting from these accesses. By doing so, you will reduce the risk of them using them to return
Step 2. Seal the entry points
Once you have identified the areas through which they enter the house, close them. Consider filling the cracks and crevices with silicone. You could also put a deterrent substance (such as borax, cinnamon, coffee grounds, or bay leaves) inside the opening and continue sealing it with silicone.
Latex and acrylic sealants are not suitable for blocking the access points of ants, because they are materials that can easily disintegrate
Step 3. Create a barrier
Try making a barrier around the house or garden to prevent their entry. Sprinkle the coffee grounds around the foundation, along the perimeter of the garden and along any spots where you have noticed ant traces or activity.
- You could also place some peppermint or chilli seedlings around your home or plant them in the garden. They are known for their ability to keep these insects at bay.
- You could also use food grade diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your home or outdoor area. Sprinkle it near the foundation or garden and try to form a circle around any anthills you've spotted.
- Diatomaceous earth destroys the ants' exoskeleton causing them to die of dehydration. It is not toxic to humans, but avoid inhaling dust particles.
- You could use commercially sold insecticides outdoors, but keep in mind that they are harmful to humans, pets and sometimes the environment.
Step 4. Eliminate the comings and goings of ants
Since these insects leave traces of pheromones that form a real path to food sources, when you find them, wipe them off with soapy water. Just prepare a solution of water and dish soap, and use a sponge to remove the scent trail and clean the surrounding areas. In this way, they will no longer have a track to follow to get home.
You can also use white vinegar to remove it. Just spray it on the ants' favorite areas and clean the surfaces where you have seen them pass several times
Step 5. Use herbs and spices to keep them away
Cloves are an extremely effective repellent that you can place in various places around the house to ward off the arrival of these annoying insects. Place them whole where you saw them walk (shelves, baseboards, etc.). In addition to cloves, there are other repellent herbs and spices that you can scatter around your home or plant in the garden:
- Cayenne pepper;
- Bay leaves;
- Mint;
- Cinnamon;
- Garlic.
Step 6. Remove it with other natural ingredients
Along with spices and herbs, there are other natural foods and substances that can keep ants away. Try sprinkling them around house entrances, in spaces where you noticed them or in the garden. Among the most common natural repellents consider:
- Coffee grounds;
- Corn flour;
- Lemon juice;
- Semolina.
Part 2 of 3: Kill the Ants
Step 1. Poison him with borax
Borax is a toxic cleaner for ants, but not for humans. To be able to kill them at the source, prepare a borax-based bait that attracts them and is deadly once introduced into the nest. Mix one part of corn syrup (or another sweet, sticky substance) with one part of borax and spread the mixture onto a laminated card. Place it in an area where you notice frequent ant comings and goings. The latter will carry the sweet poisonous concoction into the colony, which will be slowly exterminated.
- Consider using the bait in the evening, as these insects tend to forage for food at night.
- You could also make a poisonous mixture consisting of borax and powdered sugar. Mix one part of borax with three parts of powdered sugar. Place it in some small containers (bottle caps, spoons, etc.) and place them around where the ants enter the house.
- If there are pets or children who may come into contact with the borax solution, mix 1 cup of hot water with ½ cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons of borax. Dip some cotton balls inside and place them on top of some dinner plates near the passages you have already identified.
Step 2. Buy a bait trap
Commercial baits are as effective as borax baits, but generally they work a little faster (even if they have a delayed action) and are formulated taking into account the food preferences of certain ants. For example, there are traps based on sugar, fat or protein depending on the species to which the intruders to be eliminated belong.
- If you are unsure which bait to use, consider buying one of each type.
- If you notice that they don't make it to the trap, you may want to change it or move it to a busier area.
- In the meantime, you should remove all tempting food sources that hinder the bait's effectiveness.
- When they start eating the bait, let them quietly feast so that they take it to the colony. After some time, the comings and goings should subside.
Step 3. Pour the boiling water over the anthill
If you can follow an ant on its way back to the nest, try pouring boiling salt water into the mound's opening. You will probably need a lot of it, but it will help you get rid of a huge number of ants.
Part 3 of 3: Keep Ants Away
Step 1. Keep the kitchen sink clean
Since ants search for food scraps, don't leave dirty pots and dishes for too long. Once the dishes are washed, wipe the sink with a paper towel to make sure you have removed any residue from the surface.
Consider pouring a small amount of bleach or vinegar down the drain to remove any food particles that might attract these insects
Step 2. Clean the surfaces with bleach
Like vinegar, bleach also clears the trail of pheromones left by ants and can help reduce the number of those that enter the home. To keep them away, clean all surfaces, including counter tops, refrigerator shelves, pantry furniture, and other areas.
Step 3. Wash the kitchen floor
It is the ideal surface where they can find food residues to return to the anthill. So, be sure to sweep and wash the ground regularly (if not every night) using hot water and bleach to prevent them from getting there. A few solid or liquid particles are enough to attract a few ants and create a sudden comings and goings.
Step 4. Vacuum after eating
In addition to sweeping and sweeping on the ground, vacuum areas of the house where you are used to eating, such as the living room, kitchen, or rumpus room. Collect the smallest food scraps that may invite these insects to come into the house and feast.
Step 5. Take out the trash regularly
Any food, sauce or juice that drips from the garbage will immediately attract ants into the house. So, take out the trash every day and use sturdy bags that won't tear easily and drop trash.
Step 6. Use airtight containers
Ants stock up on food wherever they can find it, so it's very important to use airtight containers. Consider keeping sticky foods like honey, jam, and syrups in the refrigerator.
Try putting the cereals and ingredients for making sweets (such as sugar, flour, etc.) in airtight containers or bags
Step 7. Replace rotten wood
Inspect your home for any pieces of wood on the ceiling or frames that may begin to rot. These are the points where the ants prefer to build the nest and enter the house. If you find a rotting part, consider fixing it to keep the ants away.
Advice
- By cleaning kitchen surfaces with bleach and white vinegar, you will be able to prevent an infestation.
- Since many ants are active at night, try to use the traps in the evening.
