Ants can be a problem any time of year, however, they’re particularly pesky during the warm summer months. Like any creature, ants are after water, food, and shelter. While these little bugs aren’t particularly harmful to our health, they’re unpleasant to spot and can multiply quickly. And unfortunately, no matter how thoroughly you clean your home, ants can still be drawn to the warmth of your house. To keep the ants at bay, we have some at-home hacks you can try before calling us for professional pest control in Vancouver.
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How to Get Rid of Ants
Ants and their nests are typically found outside. But when the hot and dry summer weather minimizes their resources, they come crawling into our homes. And where one ant is, the army isn’t far behind (cue the Jaws theme song). These strong, clever, little insects leave a path of scented pheromone in their wake to guide their friends and family in, which eventually, can lead to ant nests being built throughout your home. Here are some ways you can prevent this:
1. Lemons
Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges can act as a natural ant repellent. Lemon juice is toxic to certain types of fungi that ants feed on, so placing this scent throughout your home could render it inhospitable for ant armies. Therefore, placing lemon peels or using citrus-scented cleaners can help keep the ants at bay. But keep in mind that synthetic scents will have little to no effect.
2. Peppermint Oil
Are you into incense? Pouring a few droplets of peppermint oil into your diffuser can discourage ants from entering your home. Or if you’re already stuck with an infestation, dilute some peppermint oil in water and spray the affected areas.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Like peppermint, ants don’t like the scent of tea tree oil. With its insecticidal and repellent effects, this hack can act as a safe, natural remedy to ward off ants. Dilute this oil in some water and spray throughout your home or diffuse it in the air using an oil burner.
4. Talcum or Baby Powder
This trick works for a few reasons. One, talcum powder breaks up the ants’ pheromone trail, preventing an entire pack of ants from following one of their buddies in. Two, the powder is absorbable through the ants’ skin, which clogs up their airways and kills them. Safe for pets and kids alike, lay down some talcum or baby powder around the entry areas of your home.
5. Glass Cleaner
Another way to interfere with the pheromone scent, spray some glass cleaner onto the ant infested areas. This will keep them from darting back and forth between your home and their nest, minimizing the severity of infestation.
6. Coffee Grounds
Coffee addicts unite! There’s a new reason to grind your grounds and that reason is ant deterrent. If you have ants in your entry way or garden, sprinkle some coffee grounds on them. While this isn’t recommended for indoors (a coffee-stained carpet is not the goal), coffee can ward off multiple varieties of sugar loving ants. The Pharoah ant, the big-headed ant, and the ghost ant are no match for a strong douse of coffee. Especially when it comes from the strong Arabian bean.
7. Chalk
You can also use chalk to ward off ants – unusual sure, but effective. Due to the calcium carbonate, chalk interferes with an ant’s ability to trace their pheromone route. Get your kids involved in your pest control in Vancouver and have them create some chalk art in and around your home.
8. White Vinegar
If you see some ants in action, try the old vinegar trick. You can either make a concoction of half vinegar, half water and pour that directly on the ants or be bold with straight up vinegar.
When to Call for Professional Pest Control in Vancouver?
While these natural remedies can be a helpful tool in your arsenal, ant infestations occur quickly and aggressively. If you’re experiencing recurring ant infestations or have exhausted every natural remedy to no avail, it’s time to call in the professionals.
With Atlas, our team will survey the area to check the extent of the infestation. This will help us determine which treatment method will garner the best, most effective results. We’ll target all entry ways, from doors and windows to the small cracks and crevices you didn’t know were there to ensure the job is done right, the first-time round. For expert pest control in Vancouver, reach out to our exterminators today!