Ants are a nuisance that can take over your home once they find a way inside. Because they’re so small, they only need a tiny crack or hole to gain access. Luckily, there are ways to get rid of ants in your house that don’t require calling an exterminator.
Destroy the Scent Trail to Get Rid of Ants
Scout ants leave a scent trail for other ants to follow. This trail will lead them from their nest to any sources of food they find. Erasing this scent trail will help keep other ants out of your home.
You can do this by simply sprinkling some baking soda along the trail of ants, spraying surfaces with Windex to remove the scent, or wiping the trail away with dish soap.
Use Bait
While this might seem counter-intuitive, ant bait will attract the ants and they’ll carry it back to the nest. Ant baits are slow-acting poison. As the ants (including the queen) in the nest eat the bait, they will start to die off. Eventually, the colony will be diminished.
Ant bait is a good long-term prevention tool because it can be placed in areas of your home where ants typically enter.
Get Rid of Ants with Diatomaceous Earth
This powdery white substance is a great way to get rid of ants in your house. It’s non-toxic to humans and pets and is classified as food-grade because it is used in many foods we eat. However, diatomaceous earth isn’t friendly to ants. Instead of poisoning the ants, it sticks to their fragile exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate and die.
You can spread diatomaceous earth anywhere ants enter your home, even on and around a swarm of ants in your house.
Prevention is the Best Line of Defense
Prevent an ant infestation by sealing up cracks and holes in your walls, floors, and the foundation. Don’t give ants a reason to come into your home. They are looking for a food source, so keep surfaces clean and free from food and crumbs. There are insecticides you can spray around the foundation of your house to help prevent ants from coming into your house.
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