How to Overcome an Ant Infestation in Your Home

What a pest ants are!

Ants! They send out a scout to find food. Once the scout finds food in your home, it goes back to the nest and gathers the troops to invade your home. Before you know it you see a trail of black ants marching back and forth in your kitchen or pantry.

As insects go, the ant is not particularly a dirty bug. Ants do not carry any diseases, very few ants bite and they may actually help us out by destroying more harmful bugs. Still, we do not want a trail of ants marching through the kitchen.

We want to get rid of ants. There are pesticides that will get rid of ants, but who wants to spray poison in the kitchen where our family's food is prepared? Learn how to overcome an ant infestation in your home naturally, without the use of chemical pesticides.

Instructions

1. Locate the source of the ants. Follow the ant trail to find the nest, or at least locate where they are coming into your house. One way to do this is to put something sweet, a few drops of orange soda or grape jelly will do the trick. A trail of ants will develop and you can follow the trail right to the nest. Find the spot they are coming into your house and use caulk to seal up the hole or crack they are using to gain entry.

2. Spray ants with soapy water, or use a sponge filled with soapy water. Soap kills ants and eliminates the pheromones the ants leave behind to communicate with other ants.

3. Put away any food that is attracting ants. Make sure all of your food is in ant-proof packaging or containers. If air can get in, so can ants, so seal things up tightly.

4. Keep your kitchen clean, by keeping the dishes washed and the countertops wiped up. Take out the trash regularly. Sweep the floor after each meal. Take up pet food after a meal and do not leave it sitting out.

5. Place boric acid along the ant trails or at the point where ants are entering your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Boric acid comes in both powder and tablet form.

• Boric acid can be purchased at your local hardware store or online.

• Boric acid can be toxic to children and pets, so handle with care, and do not use it where they can get into it.