Ants are the scourge of homes — and particularly kitchens — up and down the country. At a certain time every year, householders begin a campaign of ant extermination, yet most are fighting a losing battle from the beginning. Ants are agile, intelligent and determined insects, and they won’t leave your home without a fight.
If you’re sick of the perennial battle with ants, it’s time to look for long-term solutions to the problem — starting with prevention.
Preventing ants from entering your home
Prevention is definitely the best cure when it comes to eliminating ants from your home. In most cases, ants are enticed into properties by food… the merest hint of it can send entire armies into hunger-induced frenzies. So the first thing you need to do is make sure all the food in your home is covered. It’s also essential that you get into the habit of clearing up spillages and crumbs immediately. Ants have powerful sensory capabilities, and they can track down food sources from great distances.
Keeping your house spotlessly clean at all times won’t stop ants from making themselves at home per se. However, ants won’t stick around if they know that a regular supply of food isn’t available. Get into the habit of washing every dish, utensil and item of cutlery immediately after you’ve used them. Take the rubbish out as often as you can, and keep all your worktops and cupboards clean, sanitised and free of debris. And regardless of whether you think it’s necessary or not, vacuum your carpet and steam clean your hard floors at least once a day.
Observe them
Once you have taken every preventative measure you can think of, it’s time to investigate. Ants are disciplined creatures, and they tend to work efficiently in large groups. It is therefore relatively easy to find out exactly where and how they’re entering your home.
Look for lines of ants. When you find one, follow it backwards. If you’re struggling to locate a significant number of ants grouped together, leave a small cake out as bait. Ants take their prizes back to their nests, so they might lead you straight to it.
There’s a good chance that the ants will be entering your property through the tiniest of cracks. If they are, seal the entry point immediately. Of course, ants won’t be deterred if they think there’s food to be had, so stay vigilant. The chances are they will find another entry point to your home.
If you’re lucky enough to find the nest, you can wipe it out with a mixture of orange and water. Place some orange peel in a blender, and add some warm water. Blend the mixture until combined, and then pour the thick, sludgy orange soup over the nest. Unfortunately, many of these nests are hidden within the walls or foundations of property. If you suspect this to be the case, you might need the help of a builder.
Take action
Whether or not you have been able to eliminate the nest, you will still need to deal with the ants in your home — and there are several ways you can do this. The most obvious is to buy an ant-killer, which is usually in powder form. However, as most ant infestations occur in the kitchen, this isn’t always a sensible course of action. You can also lay traps, but they aren’t as effective as some of the natural solutions available to you.
One powerful homemade remedy is white vinegar. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, and put it into a spray bottle. Clean the commonly affected areas with the vinegar solution as often as you can. This should deter most of the ants from coming back.
There are also some sweet-smelling natural remedies you can try. For instance, a sprinkling of cinnamon powder at key entry points will send ants on their way — as they hate it. You can also try rubbing a little lemon juice on windowsills, worktops, and anywhere you notice ants regularly. Also, try scattering some lemon peel around the outside of your home, particularly where you see potential routes of entry.
One thing that is guaranteed to have ants running for cover is peppermint essential oil. Add a little to your cleaning sprays, and make sure you’re wiping down surfaces in affected areas with it at least twice a day.
While banishing ants from your home permanently is impossible, taking the necessary preventative steps can ensure the infestations you have to deal with are few and far between.
