How to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen
Ants enter home looking for easy sources of food and water, which is why they usually end up in the kitchen. Once you have seen a few ants crawling around window sills and countertops, it probably won’t be long before you find a steady stream of ants. These pests use pheromones to communicate and signal to the rest of the colony that they should follow suit and come enjoy a feast in your home. If you are experiencing an ant problem in your kitchen, follow these steps to get rid of them.
1. Find the Entry Point
It shouldn’t be hard to see exactly where the ants are entering the home. Usually, they sneak through cracks in the floor or around window sills, damaged window screens or other small holes. In the meantime, try to follow the trail of ants directly to the nest. Depending on the type of ant, the nest may be in the ground, in a tree or in the walls and cabinets of your home. Finding the nest will allow you to destroy the ants right at their source.
2. Use Ant Bait
If you can’t find the nest, your next best bet is to head to the local hardware store and pick up some ant bait. Ant bait usually consists of a small tray of liquid. It works by attracting ants, which then take some of the liquid chemical back to the nest where it works to eliminate the colony. You will see a small increase in ants as they come to take the bait, but eventually, the entire nest should be exterminated.
3. Call the Professionals
There may be some cases where ant bait isn’t 100% effective in treating the infestation. A pest control professional will be able to identify the exact type of ant you are dealing with and implement the best course of treatment. This will help ensure that the problem is dealt with swiftly and you don’t have to worry about future infestations.
4. Make Your Kitchen Ant-Proof
Once you have completely eliminated the ants, you will want to make sure that you aren’t attracting more ants. First, go back and make sure that all cracks and possible entry points have been sealed. Next, go through your cabinets and store all your food in airtight containers. Finally, clean up any standing water and repair leaky pipes. These steps will help you enjoy a pest free kitchen and home.
For professional help dealing with an ant infestation, call the professionals at Capital Pest Services, Inc. We are home to a skilled and experienced team of technicians who can help with all your pest control and prevention needs.
Capital Pest is proud to be a family-owned and operated pest control company serving Raleigh, NC and its surrounding area (Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Clayton, Pinehurst, Pittsboro, Fuquay-Varina, etc). Contact us for our pest control services today!
