If you've ever had ants in your kitchen, you know that they can quickly become a pest.When trying to prepare meals, these tiny creatures create a huge hassle, not to mention an unappetizing food space.If you want to get rid of the ants in your kitchen, you can use household remedies and heavy duty ant baits.
Step 1: The ants can be identified.
Correctly identifying the ants in your kitchen is the first step in resolving your ant problem.There are many different ant species that have different habits and behaviors which can affect the treatment needed to get rid of them.Take a look at the ants in your kitchen.Their size and color are characteristics to look for.The most likely species of ants in your kitchen are either pharaoh ants or pavement ants.If you know some identifying characteristics about the ants, you can do some online research to determine the species of ants in your kitchen, and some of the best methods for eliminating that species.
Step 2: Find the entry points of the ants.
If you follow the ants that are already in your house, you can try and find the spots where they are entering your home.Outside of the house, look at the cracks in the floor, as well as the windows, doorways, siding, and accent lights.If any ants are coming in and out of these points, focus on the areas you are cleaning to make sure they don't enter.
Step 3: Take a look at the ant nest.
If you notice the trail that the ants follow out of your house after you have identified the entry and exit points, you may have a problem.They all follow the same trail.They leave a scent trail behind them when they enter your home.If you know the location of the ant nest, you can spray it with a poison spray or bait the ants in your house to take the poison back to the nest.
Step 4: The ant trail needs to be erased.
You are more likely to see more if you see a single ant in your house.That is because ants leave trails behind wherever they travel.You have to do more than just mop or sweep the floor to eliminate the ant trail.There is a trail that needs to be cleared away with a cleanser.If you want to cover all of your kitchen surfaces with the spray mixture, use a spray bottle.Make sure to look for areas where you have seen ants before.The spray mixture won't kill the ants in your house.The trail from those ants is erased so new ants can't follow it.You can use bleach for the spray solution.The sterile cleanser is the most important part of the spray solution.
Step 5: The ants should be Repeled with soapy water.
Put 1 capful of liquid hand soap and water in a spray bottle.Let the soap and water mix by shaking the bottle.Whenever you see ants in your kitchen, spray the mixture on them.Once ants stop moving, it's a lot easier to clean off your counter.Add a few ounces of bar soap to a liter of water and you're good to go.Add the soap to the spray bottle by melting it in the microwave.This method is safe for children and pets, and can be used in your garden to repel bugs.
Step 6: The ants should be Repeled with lemons.
In a big container, combine 1 cup of lemon juice with 4 cups of warm water.If you have ants in your kitchen, you might want to wipe the inside of your cabinets and cupboards with a cloth.The scent repels ants.Cucumber rinds and orange peels have the same repelling effect.You can use this solution to mop the floor, but be sure to clean the areas on the ground where ants are most likely entering your home.
Step 7: Spices and herbs should be used to Repel the ants.
There may be areas where ants may enter.You have seen ants around the edges of your counter.The smell of cinnamon will repel ants, but it will also give you a spicy scent in the kitchen.You can sprinkle these herbs and spices on the ants.
Step 8: Expel ants with dirt.
Take a look at the areas around the kitchen where you have seen the most ants.If you have seen ants in small areas, such as the edges of the kitchen, small cracks in the walls, or along windows, apply dry diatomaceous earth to these areas.If the ants have stopped entering your house, you should apply the DE.Apply more DE to their new routes if you have to.After about a month, clean the areas where you applied the DE, and add more if the ants aren't gone.
Step 9: Expel ants with wet dirt.
If the ants are moving across bigger, flat areas rather than moving around the edges and cracks of your kitchen, take note.You should apply a wet application of DE if they have been wandering along your walls.To apply the spray bottle, follow the instructions on the bottle and use it to target the larger areas where you have seen the ants.If the ants have stopped coming into the house all together, try to keep track of them.If you still see ants after a month, you should apply another round of wet DE.The DE works when the water in the solution dries and leaves behind a finely ground powder that terminates the ants.
Step 10: The ants should be Repeled with other natural ingredients.
Coffee grounds, cornmeal, rice, cucumber peels, chalk, and baby powder have been used to repel ants.If you want to see which methods work for your house and ants, try sprinkling these items around areas where ants gather.It is a trial and error process to eradicate ants using random spices and foods.What works for one household might not work for another.Many of the smells and ingredients are disliked by ants.These items repel ants from areas surrounding them.
Step 11: The entryways of the ants should be sealed.
Use caulk to seal cracks and crevices in your home.There are cracks near windows or doors.If you seal these areas with caulk, you will be able to regulate the temperature in your house.To caulk holes and cracks, insert the caulking tip into the hole or crack and begin to fill it.The opening is filled and no longer has open space when the caulk overflows from the hole or crack.This is a safe method to keep ants at bay.
Step 12: Take a look at the most effective ant bait.
Scout ants are the ants that bring food back to the rest of the colony.The areas of your house where you have seen the most ant activity should have a pre-bait.There is a small plate with some sugar based food on it.Fried food, like french fries or fried chicken.See which type of food attracts ants.If you want to see which type of food the ants prefer, leave this bait out for a while.It's a good idea to do a pre-bait so you can identify the ants' preferred flavoring, and buy a poisonous ant bait targeted to their particular taste.It's not necessary to have this pre-bait step in order to deal with ants in the kitchen.If you are unsure, purchase bait that caters to ants.Liquid baits seem to work best when ants prefer sweet foods.
Step 13: The bait attracts and kills the ants.
You will probably see an increase in the number of ants around your house after you set out poisonous bait.The bait is drawing them in.The more ants are around the bait, the more they will return to the nest to kill the rest of the colony.It might take some time for this process to be completed.You have to kill more than one generation of ants, including the adults, the pupae, and the eggs, because you aren't just killing the ants walking around your house.It can take anywhere from a few days to weeks.All other foods need to be eliminated when using this bait system.The bait can't have other food sources.You want the ants to only take the toxic bait.Once the ants have started eating it, do not disturb the bait.You should replace the bait you are using if you still have ants after two weeks.It doesn't seem to be effective or effective at all.
Step 14: A homemade ant bait can be made.
There is a mixture of organic Boric acid and maple syrup.Boric acid and sweet substance can be spread on a piece of bread or cracker.Place the food with the bait in the center of the box by poking holes into a small cardboard box.Boric acid will eradicate the rest of the colony when the ants take the food back to the nest, just like the store bought ant bait.During the night, ants go hunting for food, so leave the trap out.Attack the ant nest.If you were able to locate the ant nest, kill the ants.The main ingredient in the spray is bifenthrin.
Step 15: If your ant problem persists, call a professional.
If your own methods for eliminating ants haven't worked, you might need to call an exterminator.An ant problem can be treated with better methods if a professional is able to determine entryways and identify other nests.
Step 16: It's a good idea to keep your kitchen sink clean.
If you want to leave dishes in the sink, wash them thoroughly.You want to make sure that there isn't any food that could attract ants during the night.If you want to get rid of the smell of food particles, try pouring bleach down the drain.
Step 17: It's a good idea to sweep and mop your floor.
If ants need a little crumb of food to start calling in for backup, be sure to clean up any leftover food that could be strewed on the floor and hidden underneath kitchen appliances.Eliminate food sources for the ants by sweeping the floor.Place a 12 bleach and water solution on the floor.This mopping solution can also be a solution of water and 12 water.The only thing that matters is the sterile cleaning agent.If you want to prevent ants from gathering around pet food bowls, you can use a mixture of water and water.
Step 18: There are vacuum spaces that are in contact with food.
Just like sweeping and mopping, vacuuming helps clean up any bits of food that could attract ants to come into your house.Food is harder to see against carpet.
Step 19: You should remove your trash regularly.
To reduce the chance of ants feeding on food near and in your garbage can, use sturdy, durable garbage bags, and remove your trash as often as you can.A puncture hole in a garbage bag can allow juices to spill and attract ants.Baking soda can be put at the bottom of your garbage can to repel ants.