Helpful hints for Ants

Ants found indoors may be nesting in the structure itself or they may just be coming indoors looking for food or water. Whatever the case, the moisture and the warming temperatures are sure to have them on the run very soon. (Unless your home is on a slab, in that case you probably have already seen a few!) In the spirit of Spring we will go ahead and share a few tips to help keep ants outside this Spring by making your house a little less appealing to them…….

• Most ants feed on sweets, meats, and/or greases. Wipe up spills immediately. Clean crumbs and drips from shelves, counters, and floors. Don’t overlook hidden areas like stove vents and drip pans that collect grease.
• Don’t leave open containers of sugar, honey, butter, or snacks on counters or tables.
• Put leftover food away in sealed containers. Food in cardboard boxes or plastic bags should be transferred into glass, metal, or plastic containers with tight lids.
• Leave pet food out only briefly, then remove it.
• Remove piles of papers or stacked bags, which can provide easy ant nesting sites.
• To keep ants from crawling up kitchen tables or other standing objects, place double-sided sticky tape around the legs.
• Do not use store-bought insecticides or strong cleaners near areas where you have placed ant bait. This will repel them from just that area and scatter them even further.
• Store household garbage away from ant-infested sites in sealed bags and containers. Take the garbage out frequently.
• Rinse out food containers for the garbage and recycle before tossing them into the bins.
• Eliminate excess moisture. Repair leaky faucets and roof leaks. Replace any wet and rotting wood.
• If you have an ant problem in a particular area in the past, look around outside and seal any cracks with caulking and add weather stripping to your door areas. This may cut off their entry point.
• Many ants co-exist near aphids, feeding on the sugary “honeydew” the aphids secrete. Make sure their are no plants with aphids indoors or leaning against your house.
• Check cut flowers before bringing them indoors. Ants may take up residence in a potted plant. Place it indoors and soak it repeatedly with water to force them out.
• Bring in only small quantities of firewood at a time to avoid bringing in over-wintering ants.