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CartHere’s How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home
Maybe you’ve noticed an ant in your home. Or a few. It may not seem like a big deal, but the bad news is that where there’s one ant, there’s a colony and thousands more. While most ants are relatively harmless, some ants can bite, cause allergic reactions, contaminate food, and cause structural damage.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to remove ants from your home. Read on to learn how to get rid of ants naturally or with sprays and traps, plus the benefits of both methods.
Where Do Ants Come From?
Sometimes ants come indoors because of changes in weather or due to heavy rainfall. Other times, ants are attracted to food crumbs and spills. Certain ant species prefer damp environments, so water-damaged areas, especially wood, make an ideal setting. Bare spots in the yard are the perfect place for ant hills, while bushes that touch the exterior of your home can provide a bridge for ants to enter.
Types of Ants
While ants look very similar to termites, ants are differentiated by their slender waist, bent antennae and six long legs. The most common ants you’re likely to find are black ants, carpenter ants and flying ants.
The small black ants you commonly see are actually dark brown to black in colour and are found in yards and wooded areas. Carpenter ants can be red, black, or a combination of both colours. They are larger than black ants and are typically found in areas with excess water or rotting wood. Flying ants, as the name suggest, sprout wings during mating season. They can be mistaken for termites, but termites wings have a uniform shape whereas flying ant wings are short in the front and long in the back.
How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally
Many people prefer trying natural home remedies for ants first vs. traps and sprays that contain chemicals. Here are some of the best methods.
Other Home Remedies
Other home remedies may contain chemicals, but they’re still cost effective because you can use household ingredients you already on hand.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a type of silica that kills ants by drying them out. Use food-grade DE powder and sprinkle it wherever you see ants, or in hard-to-reach areas like cabinets and under appliances. Make sure you avoid getting DE on your body as it can irritate the skin.
Borax
Borax is also effective at removing ants. Mix borax with warm water and sugar to use as bait. Although borax has low toxicity, it should not be used in areas accessible to children and pets. Like DE, it’s best used in hard-to-reach areas.
Best Products to Get Rid of Ants
If natural remedies don’t solve the problem, try ant traps or sprays. These products can be more effective since they are designed to kill ants and the colony.
While most ants are not dangerous, they become a nuisance once indoors. A few preventative measures can keep ants out, and there a number of different natural and non-natural methods that can help get rid of ants for good. Check out our range of ant traps, bait and sprays to keep your home ant-free!
