Ants can be a real nuisance. They can ruin your food and invade your home, causing damage to furniture and electronics.
Ants are also known to bite humans—causing irritation and even allergic reactions in some cases. If you want to get rid of ants once and for all, follow these tips:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Boric acid is an effective method to kill fire ants in your yard. |
| Using a pesticide specifically designed for fire ants is the most effective way to get rid of fire ants. |
| Cleaning up spills and storing food in airtight containers can prevent ants from coming into your home. |
| Vinegar can disrupt ant scent trails, but may not completely eliminate ants in your home. |
| Sealing cracks and gaps in your home is important to prevent ants from entering your home. |
Call A Professional Exterminator
If you’ve tried everything and can’t seem to get rid of ants, consider hiring a professional exterminator.
Professional exterminators are trained to handle specific pests and have the knowledge and tools needed to get rid of ants permanently.
They’ll be able to identify the type of ant you’re dealing with, determine how best to exterminate them, and help you identify the source of their infestation so that it doesn’t happen again.
Don’t let fire ants take over your yard. Fight back with boric acid! Check out our detailed guide on how boric acid can help you take back your yard and say goodbye to fire ants for good.
Find Out Where The Ants Are Coming From
Once you’ve determined that you have indeed got an ant problem, it’s important to find out where the ants are coming from. Depending on where your home is located, there could be several different sources for them.
If your house is in direct sunlight and heat all day long, ants may come up through cracks in the foundation or walls of your home.
Another possibility is that they’re coming through windows or doors with gaps between them and the frames (especially if these openings aren’t sealed properly).
In other areas of the country, homeowners may even find that their homes have been built with ant-friendly materials such as bricks; these can become chipped over time and create holes large enough for ants to crawl through.
Once you’ve pinpointed what kind of area you might have a problem with, take steps toward fixing it as soon as possible so that there isn’t any chance for another infestation!
Tired of ants in your outdoor space? Get rid of them permanently! Our experts have put together a guide on how to get rid of ants outside permanently so you can enjoy your outdoor area without pesky insects
Keep Your Home Clean
You can also keep ants out of your home by keeping it clean and free from food debris. This means washing dishes and wiping up spills immediately, cleaning floors regularly, sweeping and vacuuming regularly, keeping garbage in tight containers or a can with a lid, cleaning under the fridge and stove regularly.
You may have heard that ants love sugar so if you see sugar ants on your countertops or other areas where you prepare food – don’t panic!
Just toss the sugar away into an airtight container (like Tupperware) until you have time to properly dispose of it later on.
If there are already some ant bodies lying around your patio or porch area then use newspaper strips to wipe them off completely before they become another source of food for these pests.
Get Rid Of Standing Water
As with many things in life, you can’t get rid of ants without first addressing the problem that brings them to your door.
Get rid of standing water. As we mentioned above, ants are attracted to water—and they’re particularly attracted to standing water. So if you want to keep your home ant-free, it’s important that you eliminate any sources of standing water in and around your home.
Use a sponge or towel: If there are puddles on the ground outside your home (or even indoors), soak them up with either a sponge or towel and then dispose of them somewhere far away from where the ants will be able to find them again.
Use a mop or broom: If there’s just one or two small puddles near where they live (i.e., near their nests), try using either a mop or broom as an effective way of soaking up these drops without getting too close for comfort!
Ants invading your home can be a frustrating experience. Follow our owner experience tips on how to keep ants out of your house to finally say goodbye to those unwanted guests and keep your home ant-free
Clean Your Drains
While it’s not the most fun chore, cleaning your drains is an essential first step to preventing future ant invasions.
The clogged drains in your home are a common source of ants and other pests, so keeping them clear can help prevent ants from returning once you’re done with the rest of the steps above.
To clean out a clogged drain, use a pipe snake to push through any debris that may be blocking it and then pour boiling water down after it to kill off any remaining insects or larvae.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized skeleton of tiny aquatic creatures called diatoms. It can be used to kill ants, fleas, bed bugs and other insects.
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made up of crushed-up fossils that looks like talcum powder but feels more like flour or very fine sand. It is harmless to humans and pets when applied as directed below.
Diatomaceous earth can be used safely around children and pets when you follow these instructions:
Use only food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE). If you have any doubt about which type to purchase, buy food grade in its pure form rather than as an ingredient in another product that may not be safe for use around children or pets.
Do not allow anyone (including cats) into areas where DE has been applied until it has been dry for at least 24 hours.
- Keep containers closed tightly when not using so they do not become dusty.
- If any particles get on your skin immediately wash them off thoroughly with soap and water.
- If any particles get into eyes flush them out with water immediately; get medical attention if irritation persists longer than 15 minutes after flushing.
Use caution when applying DE directly under cabinets because it could blow back into your face while dusting under heavy objects such as refrigerators or stoves
Dealing with sugar ants can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be! Go the natural route and get rid of sugar ants for good. Check out our guide on how to get rid of sugar ants naturally and keep your home clean and ant-free.
Winterize Your Home To Prevent Pests
Winterizing your home can help prevent many pest problems in the spring.
- Insulate pipes with foam insulation to prevent them from freezing and bursting during the winter months.
- Seal up any crawl spaces in your basement or attic so they won’t be an easy entry point for rats, mice and other pests.
- Keep all areas of your home dry by ensuring you have a working sump pump and don’t let water sit around your foundation after rainstorms. This can also help avoid mold problems as well!
- Caulk cracks around windows, doors and screens to prevent ants from getting inside!
Seal Off Entry Points Around The House
The next thing you need to do is seal off any entry points that the ants may be using. This is a bit harder than finding them, because it involves getting into corners and checking underneath doors, where you might not have looked before. It’s also important to make sure there are no holes in walls or windows and that pipes are properly sealed up.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Prevents ants from entering your home | May require professional assistance |
| Helps with overall pest prevention | Can be time-consuming |
| Reduces the need for pesticides | May need to be repeated over time |
| Saves money on pest control |
Keep Food In Airtight Containers To Keep Pests Out.
Food is a high-calorie treat for ants. Tossing it out or keeping it in the fridge will help deter them from returning and looking for more food.
Because of the way that ants tend to travel, they’ll often be able to find your kitchen even if you do store all of your groceries properly—and then they’ll be able to get into those things too!
To prevent this from happening, make sure that you wipe down surfaces with hot soapy water after cooking or eating at home (this will destroy any leftover oil on counters).
This will also make sure that there aren’t any crumbs around when another family member decides to snack while watching TV instead of cleaning up after dinner!
Ants in the kitchen can put a damper on mealtime. Don’t let ants ruin your appetite – follow our pro tips on how to get rid of ants in the kitchen and keep your kitchen free of pesky ants
Sprinkle Chili Powder Around Your Plants To Keep Ants Away
Chili powder is a natural way to deter ants from entering your home or garden. The spice contains capsaicin, which is the active ingredient in pepper spray, and it has been proven to be an effective deterrent for ants.
You can sprinkle chili powder directly on the ant mound or even place it in holes that are part of their trail system and they will avoid it at all costs! (Be careful not to get any on yourself though.)
Another trick with this method is putting some up high where the ants will come across it during their travels through the yard; if you do this correctly, then any time they try going down into an area where there’s some kind of food source like fruit trees then they’ll immediately turn back around because there’s no way past this barrier without being exposed again by its effects!
This makes sure that nothing passes through safely without getting hurt themselves first.”
Use Borax As A Natural Ant Killer
Borax is an inexpensive and natural product that’s safe to use around kids and pets. It works by interfering with the ants’ ability to regulate their water balance, causing dehydration and death.
The borax will not kill ants immediately, but rather over time as they get back into contact with it on multiple occasions.
As long as you don’t mind seeing a little bit of powder around your house—and if you do, just vacuum it up later!—borax is effective in getting rid of ants for good.
Pour Boiling Water Over A Nest To Get Rid Of Ants Living There
Pouring boiling water over a nest is perhaps the most effective method for eliminating ants. This method is also safe for humans, pets and the environment as long as you don’t accidentally burn yourself with the hot water.
If you have pets or children who may try to eat any dead ants, consider using cold water instead to avoid accidentally poisoning them.
To use this technique effectively, pour boiling water directly onto an ant nest when the sun has set and no one else is around (except maybe your pet).
The boiling water will kill all of these critters instantly and prevent them from coming back at another time.
Conclusion
We hope that these tips have helped you understand how to get rid of ants for good. Even if you don’t have any ant problems at the moment, it’s always good to be prepared for when they do come back!
Further Reading:
Insider’s guide on how to get rid of ants in your house: Everything from prevention tips to natural remedies and pesticides to get rid of ants in your house.
Healthline’s article on killing ants: natural vs chemical options: Learn about the different methods for killing ants and the pros and cons of natural versus chemical options.
Country Living’s tips on how to get rid of ants for good: From finding and sealing entry points to using bait and traps, this guide covers everything you need to know to get rid of ants in your home.
FAQs:
Does boric acid kill ants?
Yes, boric acid is a highly effective and long-lasting method to kill ants. By mixing boric acid with sugar or honey, ants will take the bait back to their colony, killing the queen and other ants.
Does vinegar get rid of ants?
While vinegar can disrupt the scent trails that ants follow, it may not completely get rid of ants in your home. However, using a vinegar solution can help deter ants from coming into your home in the first place.
What is the best way to get rid of fire ants?
The most effective way to get rid of fire ants is to use a pesticide specifically designed for fire ants. You can also use a bait containing hydramethylnon or spinosad, which will be carried back to the colony and kill the queen.
How do ants get into your home?
Ants can get into your home through tiny cracks and holes in your walls, floors, and foundation. They can also enter through openings around utility lines and pipes.
How do I prevent ants from coming into my home?
Some ways to prevent ants from coming into your home include cleaning up crumbs and spills, sealing cracks and gaps in your home, storing food in airtight containers, and keeping outdoor plants and debris away from your home’s foundation.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
