How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House If You Have Already Sprayed Ant Killer
Ants live in colonies and often take up residence in people's homes in search of food and shelter. Although ants are very beneficial in nature, in your home they can be quite annoying, especially if you find them crawling all over your kitchen and food. One way to remove ants from the home is by spraying insecticide in areas in which the ants forage, this destroys them. Unfortunately, spraying insecticide is not always enough. There are a few other ant-eliminating methods to try to completely eradicate these pests from your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soapy water
- Sponge or scrubber
- Petroleum jelly or duct tape
- Silicone caulk
- Ant baits
- Powder insecticide
Instructions
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Clean any ant entry points into your home with soapy water; this means any areas where you have seen ants foraging. Ants leave what is called a "trail pheromone," which will attract other ants from the outdoors to invade your home.
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Temporarily seal any cracks or holes the ants have been frequenting with petroleum jelly or duct tape. This will inhibit the ants' movement and kill any ants attempting to leave or enter the areas. For a more permanent solution, seal cracks and holes with silicone caulk.
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Set ant baits in the areas you see the ants foraging. Ant baits are effective against most types of ants, although they may not be as effective on carpenter ants. Ant baits are designed so that worker ants take food bait from the trap to the nest, in effect poisoning the larvae being fed.
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Look for small piles of sawdust around your home. Ants keep their nests clean and will often move sawdust and other particles into a pile near the nest. A pile of sawdust is an indication of the location of the nest. Nests will often be in wet, rotted wood inside your walls, so contacting a professional may be the best choice. If you can easily access the nest, treat the entire nest with a powder insecticide on your own to stop the infestation where it started.
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Tips & Warnings
Prevent further infestations by keeping any bushes or branches around your home trimmed and not touching the sides of your house.
Fix moisture issues in your home to prevent further infestation. A leaky roof or plumbing issues can cause the wood structure of your home to dampen and rot, making an ideal home for ants.
Store firewood somewhere away from your home, as ants can often nestle into firewood bundles.
There are powders on the market available at most home improvement stores. Sprinkling the powder around the perimeter of your home will stop infestations.
References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
