How to Keep Ants Out of Your House This Summer

Don't worry I wasn't talking about all your fun relatives, however, they might be interested in this article. So if you are an aunt, have an aunt, or knew someone that had an aunt that still doesn't mean you like ants in your house.

Having an invading army of ants at your door may feel like a hill too hard to climb, but don't worry you can take a few steps further and begin the critical steps necessary to get them under control fast! The best method of dealing with your enemy is to know them. Ants work together, like an army, they function via their leader. To win this war you will have to take the queen out!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boric Powder
• Indoor Ant Traps
• Outdoor Ant Spikes
• Bug Spray
• Cleaning Solutions

1. Every intuition you have is probably telling you to spray some Raid on a line of ants coming right in your door, not a bad idea, but there is a downside, it is only a temporary fix. If you spray that first line of ants you will kill the infatry, but the base remains intact.
   
   Go to your local home and gardening center and pick up the following products Boric acid/powder, indoor ant traps, and outdoor ant spikes. Be sure to purchase traps and spikes - that claim to kill the colony. The traps you use indoors SHOULD NOT be used outdoors and vice versa. I think it may be obvious, but the spikes don't move when the wind blows. Also, spikes aren't relistic indoors as you can't lay them flat anywhere.

2. 
   Spikes

   Place the spikes around the perimeter of your house where ants have been seen, or where there are entryways \ cracks into the house. Typically corners, basement windows, doors, and places sheltered from rain should be covered. If you have enough you could box around your yard as well.

3. Place the Boric acid powder in a straight line in windows, and under doors. The powder will not kill them quickly, it will eventually, but you need some time. This will ensure that the ants make it home to take posion they get from the next step to their colony.

4. 
   Traps

   Place ant traps around entryways and other places that ants have been seen. You should expect this process to take several days to work properly, the ants will not die right away, because it will take them time to find and investigate the bait.

5. After you are reasonably sure the ants have taken the bait, feel free to clean thouroughly all surfaces to remove their chemical trails. YOU may of course choose to do this at the beginning and you MAY get lucky and not need the chemicals, as they may find a path to another place, home or location after you clean up their original trail. It is up to you. The method here hopes to help you get rid of the colony to prevent them from spreading out of control.

6. Optional. If you know where the ant nest is, and you know the bait has been taken (or suspect it) you may spray the nest with bug spray. That will keep them from leaving the hole you found, it will not kill them all so don't rely on that method alone.

Tips & Warnings

• Tip keep track of where you put them as in the early fall it could be tough to find them to dig them up.
• Keep traps and chemicals away from pets and children.
• Wear gloves when handling chemicals and cleaning agents.
• Get help if you find your solution isn't working or the ant infestation is beyond a simple nuisance.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide.
• Ant Spikes
• Ant Traps
• Boric (Acid) Powder

[MyJB]

on 8/9/2009 Informative and humorous article. Thanks. 5

[Mindee94]

on 6/15/2009 Great tips and loving the humor! Thanks for these helpful and sadly needed information. Knock on wood these won't be needed this year but if so... now in the know of what to do.