Hello World! Welcome Friends! Ants often bring to mind various scenes from cartoons with the little insects taking off with large pieces of food. In reality, this is actually what happens when ants get into the kitchen sometimes. Ants are an unwelcome sight in the kitchen, as there seem to be endless amounts of them that seem to know exactly where the food is. Continue reading to learn how to deal with ants in the kitchen.
What Problems Do Ants Cause?
While ants might just seem like an inconvenience, do they really cause any serious problems? There are a couple of different problems that ants cause, depending on the exact species they are. One of the main problems that ants cause is that they are able to get into many different places with ease. This becomes a problem because when one ant makes its way in, all of the ants that live in the same group as that ant will be able to follow the trail into your home.
One of the major problems that ants cause when they get into the kitchen is the spreading of diseases. Ants have the ability to carry many different viral and bacterial infections simply because they walk on many different surfaces. When ants get into your kitchen, it is only a matter of time before they are able to find your food products and get into them. Once this happens, you and your family have the potential to be exposed to whatever diseases the ants were carrying in the first place. Another problem ants in your kitchen may cause is the potential for damage to your home if they are carpenter ants. Carpenter ants tunnel into wood, causing structural damage, as well as making the wood less aesthetically pleasing. Since these are some bad problems to have, the best way to remove these critters is to hire a professional pest removal service, such as Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control, to not only get rid of these insects, but keep them out in the future.
Seal Up Your Home
Ants can only get into your kitchen if they are able to get inside of your home. If they are already in your kitchen, the best step you can take next is to seal off all access so no more gets in. The best way to begin is to check the interior and exterior of your home, looking for any cracks or holes that allow access for ants. Pay special attention to where any ants are coming from that you can see. Patch these problem areas with all-weather sealant or whatever method seems to work for that situation. In addition, be sure to check the weatherstrips on the bottom of your doors and windows, as these are likely entrance points for ants. To find out more about keeping ants out, visit getridofpests.com, as they have large amounts of information on the topic.
Set Out Bait
One of the best DIY tips for ant removal is to set out either homemade or store bought ant poison. This poison is very effective, as there are certain chemicals that will kill ants quickly. A homemade poison is often created by mixing borax with water and sugar, which creates an attractive combination that ants will want to check out. On contact, ants will die and will not be a problem anymore. There are some commercial baits that are very effective, as they are designed to kill multiple ants through the actions of one ant. This bait is in pelletized form, and an ant will carry it back to its colony in theory, where many ants will be killed by the poison. Baits are usually very effective at quashing a small infestation, but professional help will likely be needed on large problems.
Natural Repellents
One of the more popular remedies to keep ants out is to use natural ingredients that ants hate. Some of the more common scents that ants hate are vinegar, lemon, peppermint, and cinnamon. Each of these can be mixed with water and sprayed around the perimeter of your kitchen or home to help keep these insects out. If this prevention method is employed while removing the ants currently in your kitchen, you will be good to go in the future.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
How to Harvest and Process Your Own Herbs
Tips for Renovating Your House for the First Time
Custom-Made Furniture Is a Great Option
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