In the spring, the quest for shelter usually drives ants indoors. Come summer, they are normally looking for food. That bit of knowledge should help you keep ants out of your house this summer, or at least limit their numbers. If they do not find what they are looking for straightaway, they normally will go somewhere else.
Of course, the best way to keep ants, fleas, and any other type of summertime pest at bay is to call a professional pest control company. A late spring treatment and a midsummer follow-up are usually sufficient.
Seal Cracks
Tiny ants do not need very much space to enter your home. And, hairline cracks are common around baseboards and other areas, especially after a few months of winter. The constant freeze-thaw cycle we usually have in Missouri is tough on concrete and other building materials.
Give your house a once-over both outside and inside. Some people enlist their kids for this inspection. Young children still think it’s fun to crawl on the ground. Pretty much any barrier will do. Unlike termites and some other pests, ants normally cannot eat or force their way through walls.
On a related note, install weather stripping under doors. These barriers keep pests out and keep cool air in.
Keep Your Floors Clean
As mentioned, ants usually look for food inside. They can break down pretty much anything back in their nests. However, they prefer sugar. That includes not only bits of sugary food, but also things like drops of toothpaste foam on the floor.
Pay close attention to crumbs near baseboards. If the food source is close to the wall, ants will heed the siren’s song. Crumbs that are further away, like in the kitchen or dining room, usually are not as bad. Just don’t go more than a couple of days without a thorough floor cleaning.
Try Some Non-Chemical Remedies
For the most part, non-chemical remedies do not kill ants. They just discourage them from using your house as a grocery store.
A 50/50 solution of vinegar and water often kills and deters ants. The obvious drawback is that your home will smell like vinegar. Cinnamon suffocates ants. Other people use lemon juice to destroy the chemical trails that ants leave behind. Black and cayenne pepper, either alone or when mixed with water, keeps ants at bay.
These remedies are hit and miss. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. So, do not have high expectations.
If you see more than two or three ants, contact us straightaway, because more are sure to follow.
