How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Serving Las Vegas | Henderson | North Las Vegas

Nobody wants to find ants crawling around their kitchen. But, which is worse to have near your food—annoying insects, or harsh chemicals? That’s a question a lot of homeowners ask themselves when it comes to treating an infestation, but at Pest Control Inc, we don’t believe that has to be a choice. If you want to protect your health while getting rid of these pests, here are some pro tips on how to get rid of ants naturally. 

Natural Ant Prevention Tips

A lot of people assume that ant prevention is only helpful if you don’t already have ants, but it’s still an important step even if you are dealing with an infestation. Ants are incredibly persistent pests that will keep showing up unless you deter them from your space. Taking these steps first will ensure the ants don’t come back once you do kill them:

• Clean up spills and crumbs quickly: Ants don’t need much food to survive, so even small splashes or crumbs are enough to attract them to your space. Sweep your floors regularly and wipe down your countertops at the end of each night, and avoid leaving any spilled items out for too long. 
• Store food properly: When it comes to pest prevention, airtight containers are your best friend. In addition to preventing ants naturally, they’ll also keep out moisture and other pests like rodents. Try to keep even dried goods like flour or sugar in durable containers to avoid accidental spills.
• Eliminate excess moisture: Like any creature, ants can only live in places where they have access to water. So, that leaky pipe or dripping faucet could be sustaining a whole colony. Repair any sources of extra water and try not to leave cups of water on the counter overnight. 
• Seal entry points: Ants can’t infest places that they can’t reach… But, keeping an ant out of your home isn’t an easy task. Meticulously inspect your area for cracks or gaps they might be getting through, such as holes in your foundation, broken window screens, or gaps along utility lines. 
• Keep your pet food bowls clean: Human food isn’t the only thing that ants will eat! A lot of people don’t think twice about leaving a pet food bowl down for a few hours at a time, but while your pet isn’t snacking, ants might be. Once your pet is done eating, store the leftovers in a covered container in the fridge or clean the bowl entirely.
• Maintain your garden: What does your garden have to do with your kitchen? Well, it’s where ants live before they get inside. Having a cluttered garden with overgrown branches or lots of leaf litter will make it easy for ants to encroach upon your house without you noticing. Trimming these areas prevents ants from sneaking in too easily.
• Wipe counters and floors with vinegar: Ant colonies send out workers to search for food, and those worker ants leave behind pheromone trails once they find something to eat. Other ants follow the trails, which might be leading them right into your home. Vinegar can disrupt these pheromone trails and make it harder for a colony to locate your space as a source of food.

Do Natural Ant Repellents Work?

A lot of people swear by natural ant repellents, from peppermint oil and cinnamon to citrus peels. While these ant repellents may have a bit of an effect, they’re rarely strong enough to work on their own. If ants know they can find a quick bite to eat in your kitchen, they’ll likely just bypass the deterrent anyway.

For the best results, we recommend pairing natural ant repellents with other techniques like the exclusion tips listed above. If you do want to try adding a natural ant repellents to your pest control plan, try spraying very diluted mixtures of these essential oils around your space:

• Peppermint 
• Tea tree 
• Lemon 
• Orange
• Eucalyptus
• Neem

How to Kill Ants Naturally

So, now you know how to keep ants out of your kitchen naturally. But, how do you kill ants without using chemicals? There are a few different methods you can try, and you might already have the ingredients in your pantry.

• Diatomaceous Earth: A lot of filtration systems use diatomaceous earth to separate solids from liquids. It’s a natural, powder-like material that can be found at most department or gardening stores. In pest control, it’s also a very helpful tool because it can absorb the oils in insect exoskeletons. With enough exposure, the diatomaceous earth can kill ants. Try sprinkling it wherever you regularly come across the insects. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Just because the substance is natural and used in filtration doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe. Getting diatomaceous earth on your skin, in your eyes, or in your lungs can cause irritation and more severe problems. 
• The Borax Method: Borax is often used to help clean laundry by boosting detergents, but it can also kill and repel ants. If you mix 1 ½ tablespoon of borax with ½ cup of sugar and 2 cups of warm water, you can create a solution that will be toxic to ants. Saturating cotton balls with this solution and placing it on top of areas where you routinely see ants will kill them quickly. Similar to diatomaceous earth, however, it’s important to be aware that borax can also be toxic to humans. Never apply it in areas where children or pets may come into contact with it, and handle it safely by using safety gloves. 
• White Vinegar: White vinegar is one of the best ways to kill ants naturally because it’s relatively safe, cheap, and easy. In addition to killing the ants, it’ll also wipe away pheromone trails that might be attracting more. Try adding a mix of 1 part vinegar, 1 part water to a spray bottle. You can use this mixture to directly spray and kill ants, or you can use it to wash your countertops and floors at the end of the day to prevent ants from crawling around at night. 

Natural Ant Removal Services

Dealing with pests can be a challenge, especially if you want to avoid harsh chemicals that could be harmful to your health or the environment. At Pest Control Inc, we understand how important it is to keep your family and your pets safe even when treating an infestation, which is why we offer a wide selection of natural ant removal services. 

Our team has many years of experience serving the Clark County NV area, so we’re well-versed in the biology of pests in our area. We use that expertise to our advantage so we can create highly effective pest control solutions that don’t rely on harmful pesticides. If you want to learn more about our natural ant removal, contact us today!

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