How to Deal with an Ant Infestation in Your Kitchen

When it comes to household pests, ants are one of the most common offenders. Ants can be found almost anywhere in the world, and they’re particularly drawn to kitchens and food stores. While they may not pose a significant health threat, they can be a nuisance and can contaminate food. If you find ants in your kitchen, there are several things you can do to get rid of them.

Common Causes of Ant Infestations

The first step in getting rid of ants is understanding what attracts them. Ants are primarily attracted to three things:

• Food

In the kitchen, they’re drawn to sugary foods, spilled drinks, and crumbs on the countertops and floor. In order to keep ants away, it’s essential to clean up spills and crumbs right away and store food in airtight containers. When ants find a food source, they leave a scent trail for other ants to follow. The scent trail leads the ants to the food source and also tells them how much food is available.

• Moisture

Ants are attracted to moisture because it is essential for their survival. Ants need water to drink, to dissolve food, and to regulate their body temperature.

•  Warmth

There is a reason why ants are constantly crawling all over your picnic food and invading your house in the summertime. Ants are attracted to warmth, which is why they tend to congregate around heat sources such as sidewalks and buildings on hot days. Their attraction to warmth also helps them stay warm in colder months; when temperatures start to drop, ants move closer to heat sources to keep their bodies at a comfortable temperature.

Treatment and Prevention Methods

When it comes to getting rid of ants invading your kitchen, there are a few different treatment and prevention methods that you can use.

• Cleanliness

Keeping your house tidy and free of clutter, crumbs, and spills is the first step to ensuring an ant-free home!

• Borax

One popular way to get rid of ants is by using borax. You can mix borax with sugar and water to create an effective homemade ant bait.

• Vinegar

Another way to get rid of ants is by using vinegar. Vinegar will kill the ants on contact. However, you will need to reapply it if it rains.

• Cucumber

This is a surprising and unique DYI natural treatment that can actually work! You can place cucumber peels near the entrances of the ants’ nests to keep them from coming back.

• Insecticides

Insecticides are available as powders, sprays, or granules. They can be effective but toxic to people, pets, and plants. Therefore, they are best used outdoors and far away from living things.

• Traps

Traps are another viable option for getting rid of ants. Various raps are available to use. Some of these traps include adhesive traps, liquid traps, and bait traps.

When Homemade Solutions Do Not Work

If you have an ant problem in your kitchen, the best solution is to call an exterminator. Ants are persistent pests and can be challenging to get rid of on your own. An exterminator will be able to identify the source of the ants and will recommend a treatment plan that will get rid of them for good. Treatment plans for ants possibly involve pesticides, so it is important to consult with an exterminator before starting any kind of treatment on your own.

In conclusion, there are a few things as problematic with an infestation of ants in your kitchen! However, the experts at ECPC are ready to help you get your home back to being pest-free. So rid your kitchen of those pesky ants for good, and call ECPC today!