If you’ve got a little black ant infestation, don’t worry: it’s easy to deal with. First, you’ll want to identify where the ants are coming from and then take steps to seal up those entrances and eliminate the ant food sources.
Read on for more details about how to get rid of little black ants once and for all!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| If you’re dealing with little black ants in your home, there are many effective methods for eliminating them. |
| Outdoor ants can also be managed with some of these methods. |
| Prevention is key in keeping ants out of your home. |
| Common household items can be used to repell ants from your home. |
| Natural remedies can be an effective way to get rid of ants without using harsh chemicals. |
Seal Cracks In The Walls And Foundation
If you have a basement wall or foundation that’s cracked, you may be inviting little black ants into your home.
The best way to prevent this is by sealing up any cracks in the walls and foundation with caulk. If you plan on sealing up large areas, use a silicone-based sealant instead of an acrylic sealant because it will last longer.
If you want to get rid of little black ants in your home right away, apply foam sealant around windows and doors where they may enter through cracks.
Don’t let ants ruin your outdoor fun. Learn how to get rid of ants outside with our helpful guide. From natural remedies to professional assistance, we’ve got you covered!
Get Rid Of Food Sources
Once you’ve identified the type of ant, take measures to get rid of its food source. Ants can be attracted to any number of things around your home, from pet food and crumbs on floors to sweet soda bottles left on the kitchen counter. If ants are coming in through cracks in your foundation, seal them up with caulk or concrete.
If you have a small infestation that’s not too much trouble, consider using an ant trap as an alternative to pesticides or sticky traps (which are not recommended because they trap beneficial insects).
Ant traps work by luring ants into a container with sugar water and then drowning them when they try to cross over an unpassable barrier that has been coated with oil or grease.
You can also use baits like those used for roaches: As soon as ants ingest them and bring back to their nests, they’ll spread poison throughout their colonies.
Get Rid Of Water Sources
If you have little black ants invading your home, it’s important to eliminate any sources of water. You might think that these pests are attracted to the moisture created by your morning coffee or the dishwater in the sink, but they actually prefer standing water.
They are even more attracted to stagnant water sources that contain decaying matter, so if you have a puddle on your property or in your yard, try to clear it out as soon as possible.
You can also make sure there aren’t any leaks under sinks or behind appliances in your house. Similarly, you’ll want to keep an eye out for leaky pipes outside and fix them immediately (and if they’re too big for you to fix yourself, call a plumber).
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Clean Up Debris Outside Your Home
If you’re facing a small black ant infestation, the easiest way to stop them from coming back is to remove their food sources and water sources.
Clean up debris outside your home. These ants can be attracted to any crumbs or food left on the ground around your home, so keep your yard clean by picking up any trash and sweeping away debris often.
Remove any possible food sources inside your home. If you have pets or children who may have left crumbs behind after eating, make sure to thoroughly clean those areas as well—these little bugs love fast-food!
Also keep in mind that they may be attracted to sweet foods like jam or syrup; make sure there are no open containers of these items lying around where ants could get into them later on.
| Debris Type | Impact on Ants |
|---|---|
| Fallen Leaves | Provide nesting location and moisture source |
| Dead Wood | Provides an ideal habitat for ants to settle |
| Damp Soil | Source of water and sustenance for ants |
Maintain A Clean Kitchen
It’s no secret that ants love food. They’re attracted to the scent of your garbage, crumbs from the counter and whatever else might be laying around. So keeping your kitchen clean is a good first step toward ridding yourself of little black ants.
To start, wipe down all surfaces, including floors and cabinets. Next, clean out your sink and garbage disposal (make sure it’s empty).
Then tackle appliances like ovens and refrigerators with baking soda or vinegar. Lastly, take care of any spills on the floor or countertops with an enzyme cleaner — these cleaners break down proteins that attract insects such as ants so they won’t come back!
Use Citrus Peels To Repel Little Black Ants
To keep little black ants at bay, try sprinkling citrus peels around your kitchen. They’re not only good for repelling these pests but also good for your home in general. The citric acid in citrus peels can help clean and disinfect surfaces, which is a plus in any kitchen!
If you want to get rid of little black ants on a budget, try using lemon or orange peels as an alternative to expensive commercial ant repellents. To use them as an ant deterrent:
Step 1: Wash the fruit (you don’t want any pesticides from it) and cut off the ends of each piece
Step 2: Put the peelings into small bowls throughout your house; make sure to leave some room for food scraps so that ants aren’t attracted by food smells
Step 3: Repeat every few days until you notice less activity from these tiny invaders
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Eliminate Odors That Draw The Ants Inside
The smell of food is what draws these little ants inside. To stop this particular problem, keep your kitchen and pantry clean. Remove any spills or crumbs on the countertop, in the sink and in the garbage can. Wash dishes right away after use to eliminate lingering odors that might attract ants.
If you have a pet that eats outdoors it may be necessary to take further steps such as removing food bowls from outside or feeding pets inside only so they don’t leave food behind when they’re done eating.
| Odor Type | Elimination Method |
|---|---|
| Food Odors | Clean food preparation areas regularly and store food securely |
| Garbage Odors | Use tightly sealed garbage bins and dispose of them frequently |
| Sweet Odors | Use sugar and honey substitutes like Stevia, and store them securely |
| Musty Odors | Keep your home dry and avoid damp areas |
Sprinkle Cinnamon Near Ant Trails Outside And Inside
If you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of ants, cinnamon works great! Ants hate cinnamon because it dries them out. To use it effectively against ants, sprinkle some around their trails outside and inside your home.
Cinnamon can be sprinkled on the ground or mixed with water to make a spray solution that you can use around your house—just make sure that you don’t use too much so as not to accidentally kill other bugs (like bees).
Use this method inside and outside the home when little black ants start invading!
Make Homemade Traps For Little Black Ants
To make a homemade trap, use a jar with a lid. Add some sugar, honey and water to the jar. Place peanut butter on the inside of the lid so that it forms an attractive surface for ants to crawl across when they get into the jar.
Put your trap in a place where you see ants crawling around often—for example, near where they enter your home or outside your front door—and leave it there overnight.
The next day check if there are any little black ants inside by shaking out any loose peanuts from overhanging lids (or other pieces of bait) into another vessel nearby before opening up each one individually with care not to spill its contents onto any surfaces which might attract more unwanted guests such as cats or dogs!
When it comes to sugar ants, prevention is key. Our pro tips for getting rid of sugar ants can help you keep these pesky insects at bay. From common household items to professional treatments, we’ve got you covered
Use Borax To Kill Little Black Ants
If you’re having a problem with little black ants, borax is an effective way to get rid of them. Borax is a natural mineral that can be used in the home and around pets. It is also safe for people, animals and the environment because it is not toxic.
Borax powder kills ants by dehydrating them as well as disrupting their digestive system and killing them through starvation. It’s cheap and easy to use—you just sprinkle it where you see ants!
Try Dish Soap Against Little Black Ants
If you have a problem with little black ants, here’s an easy way to keep them out of your house. Mix dish soap, sugar water and borax together in equal parts.
Pour the mixture in a shallow dish and place it near ant trails. The ants will eat the mixture and die. This solution is effective because the borax will break up the exoskeleton of the ant, but will not affect other insects or pets that may feed on it afterward
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Conclusion
We hope that you found our tips helpful and that they helped you to get rid of those pesky little black ants!
Remember that sometimes it’s not just one thing that causes an ant problem, but rather a combination of things working together in harmony.
If one method doesn’t work for you, don’t give up; try something else until you find the solution that works best for your home.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you get rid of little black ants:
Maggie’s Farm Products: Get Rid of Little Black Ants – Maggie’s Farm Products offers expert advice on how to eliminate little black ants from your home.
DoMyOwn: How to Get Rid of Little Black Ants – DoMyOwn’s comprehensive guide takes you through each step of the process to help you get rid of little black ants once and for all.
RAC: How to Get Rid of Black Ants – RAC offers tips and tricks to help you get rid of black ants from your home.
FAQs
What are little black ants?
Little black ants, also known as sugar ants, are a common household pest that are attracted to sweet substances.
Why do I have little black ants in my house?
Little black ants often enter homes in search of food, particularly sweet substances like sugar and honey.
What do little black ants look like?
Little black ants are very small and usually less than 2.5mm long. They are shiny black in color and have a small, inconspicuous stinger on their abdomen.
How can I get rid of little black ants?
There are many methods for getting rid of little black ants, including using bait stations, barriers, and insecticides. It’s important to find the source of the infestation and eliminate it to prevent the ants from returning.
Are little black ants harmful?
Little black ants are not harmful to humans, but they can contaminate food and should be removed from your home.
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!
