How to Prevent Ants in the Kitchen
If you’ve ever had to deal with an ant problem in your kitchen, you know how irritating it can be. Just when you think you have the pesky little critters under control, they show up again. Preventing an ant infestation is far easier than eliminating one. Use the tips below to help prevent ants in the kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Avoid leaving food out on the counter at night. Ants invade the kitchen because they are looking for something to eat. Try to store food in the refrigerator or pantry. If you must leave food on the counter, store it in sealed containers.
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2
Keep all countertops and work surfaces clean. Clean the floor and remove all traces of food. If a spill occurs, clean it up immediately.
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3
Spray the inside of trash cans with insecticide regularly to help prevent ants and other pests. It's also a good idea to place the trash can as close as possible to an outside door. If ants do attack the trash, they won't pass through the entire house to get to it.
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4
Spray the outside perimeter of your house with an insecticide about every 2 months. Also spray the bases of household appliances. Use an insecticide that contains pyrethrins, an agent that is good for controlling ants.
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5
Get rid of any ants that have already invaded your kitchen. Sprinkle borax powder or boric acid on any ant trails you find and across any entrances the ants are using. You will have to be persistent to completely get rid of an ant infestation and it may take several weeks to get results. One nest usually contains a large number of ants and you must kill all of them, not just the ones you see in your kitchen. There are several good commercial ant baits that are designed for this purpose. The poisonous bait attracts the worker ants; they feed on the bait, then carry some back to the ants in the nests.
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6
Investigate the services offered by professional pest control companies if your ant problem is an especially difficult one.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use the borax powder or boric acid method in Step 5 if there are small children or pets in the house.
