How to Get Rid of Ants in the House

Kitchen ants

Nobody wants ants in the house. While homes have screens to keep flies and mosquitoes out, somehow little ants always seem to find a way to get into kitchens, especially. You might think your house is clean, but as soon as there is a trail of ants going across the counter, it looks dirty. Here are a few ideas that should get rid of the ants pretty quickly.

Instructions

1. Vacuum everything. Use the hose attachment with the narrow end and suck up every bit of dirt you can. Vacuum the floor and the inside of the cupboards and all the drawers. Open the windows and get everything cleaned out from the window sill. Think like a bug and look for small areas where food can collect.

2. Wash down every surface with a warm water and detergent solution, like Top Job ammonia. Remove any traces of sugar, flour or grease. Clean the ridges on cabinet doors and the base of the drawers. Wipe the walls behind the sink and counters or anywhere else food splatters might accumulate.

3. Spray a mixture of peppermint oil and water (1:20) starting at the point of entry, like on the window sills and every other flat surface where ants might crawl. Once this is done, make sure to keep all food off the counters as soon as you are done working with it and wipe up any crumbs.

4. Apply an environmentally safe insecticide on the outside perimeter of your house, especially outside the kitchen. Follow the directions for safety precautions regarding pets.

5. Remove any ants that might still be lingering around by wiping them up with a paper towel and the peppermint spray. The trick is to remove any traces of their pathways with the strong smell of the peppermint.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep foods in your pantry and cupboard in sealed containers.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Insect Relief