Are ants driving you crazy? This is something ants are good at. They are uniquely qualified to drive you nuts. Why? Because ants can crawl on walls and other surfaces in a way that defies gravity. That’s just not right. They enter your home by the hundreds, and even thousands, which can be alarming and more than a little bit disturbing. Worst of all, they’re prone to getting into food packages. There are few people with the fortitude to find ants in their food, shrug, and say, “What’s a little extra protein?” Ants are gross and annoying pests, but they can be more than this. Some ants are drawn to rotting food. This can cause them to spread harmful bacteria to other foods, or to surfaces in your kitchen area. Some ants spread diseases. Some will damage the wood of your home. Some can sting you. Life is a whole lot better without ants. Here is a quick mini-guide to effective ant control in Oklahoma City.
Remove Attractants
Have you ever noticed that the word attractants is “attract” and “ants” put together? That can’t be a coincidence. One of the most important things you can do to control ants is to address the conditions that attract ants. Attractants cause one worker ant to lay down a trail for other workers to follow. This results in large numbers of ants entering your home from an exterior ant colony. Here are some of the many ways you can prevent this:
- Keep your trash in a covered container and clean the container routinely to remove smells that attract ants.
- Refrain from placing bags of trash on your floor. Moist, decaying juices can transfer to the floor and create a strong attractant.
- Store food packages that come in paper, cardboard, or thin plastic inside sealed glass or plastic containers. These food packages can attract ants.
- Put pet food down only during meal times.
- Routinely vacuum your rugs and sweep your floors.
- Clean spills up immediately.
- Refrain from eating in the living room where food particles can get into your couch, or routinely clean your couch and upholstered chairs to remove crumbs.
- Address leaky faucets or pipes to minimize moisture. Ants need a drink too.
Remove Pathways
Ants get into your home because they can. Your goal should be to make it harder for them. While you can’t keep ants out entirely, sealing entry points can reduce the chances of a random ant getting into your home and finding an attractant you have failed to remove in the above tips.
- Inspect your exterior.
- Seal cracks in foundation walls and gaps around pipes and other foundation penetrations.
- Repair or replace window or door screens.
- Repair or replace damaged weatherstripping or door sweeps.
- Fill in holes created by carpenter ants, mice, rats, and other pests that damage wood.
- Seal gaps around window and door frames.
- Trim tree branches and bushes to make it more difficult for ants to get to higher entry points.
- Inspect your interior.
- Seal gaps around the pipes under your kitchen sink.
- Seal gaps around interior window and door frames.
- Seal gaps in cabinetry.
- Seal gaps in baseboards.
Directly Target Nests And Colonies
If you have a nest in your home or nest in the ground around your home, you may need to target those ant colonies directly. This is best done by a licensed pest service provider like Thunder Pest Control. We select appropriate ant control products and methods to ensure proper results. Reach out to us any time with questions about ant control in Oklahoma City or to schedule a visit from one of our pest control professionals. We’re standing by to assist you with all your pest control needs.
