Ants in the Kitchen?
You’re not alone. Our phones have been ringing non-stop for the last few weeks with one common problem: ANTS IN THE KITCHEN. So you may be asking yourself: 1) Why are they here? 2) How can I get rid of them? 3) How can I keep them from coming back? 4) Should I call a pest control company?
Why are Ants in the Kitchen?
Let’s start with why you’re suddenly seeing ants. Ants are always looking for food. Most likely, your kitchen has food. Simple. But maybe you don’t have any food laying around, easily accessible to the ants. No spills or messes left uncleaned. And still… those pesky ants are trailing around your sink or across the countertops. Why? They’re foraging for food and even the smallest supply (that you can’t even see) will keep them busy for days.
How to Get Rid of Ants?
Next question: How to get rid of ants? Start with the basics. Clean any kitchen spills immediately. Wash dirty dishes after using them. Take the trash out daily. Don’t leave any unsealed food out. Kill any ants you see with a household pest product and clean the areas thoroughly. Try and find where the ants are coming in. Clean these areas too and seal any points of entry. Apply an ant bait product near entry points, preferably on the outside of your home so the ants don’t have to come back inside to eat the bait. The goal here is for the ants to take the bait back to their colony, therefore eliminating the source.
How to Prevent Ants?
So now that you’ve eliminated the ants you’re seeing today, how can you keep them out tomorrow and the next day? The answer isn’t as simple. Ants are everywhere and they are constantly looking for food to feed their colony. You can eliminate one tribe and another will appear within days or weeks. This is why preventative pest control is so important and necessary.
DIY or Professional Pest Control?
If you have the time and patience for DIY pest control, you should repeat the above process regularly, in addition to treating the perimeter of your home with some type of granular pesticide. Or you can save time and your sanity and call a pest control company.
Our comprehensive pest control service covers ant control and so much more. Trained technicians will inspect your home quarterly for current pest infestations or entry points, treat and correct these issues, and implement treatment methods that will prevent future infestations. Our unique pest control program, NorPest Green, utilizes the latest professional products (all of which are completely environmentally, kid and pet friendly) and equipment, and comes with a pest-free guarantee.
For more information or to schedule a free pest inspection, visit our pest control services page or call (888) 466-7849. If you’re seeing a few ants now, most likely there are hundreds more that you can’t see. Our advice: act quickly before the ants takeover and move into other parts of your home.
Hello, I wanted to leave a comment on your ‘Ants in the Kitchen’ article. Great article! We have an advice site for people looking for answers on Pest Control, and i would like to link to this article with your permission. I also have an article posted specifically on Carpenter Ants and the damage that they can do http://thepesteliminator.com/how-to-get-rid-of-carpenter-ants/ In the article it reviews some techniques for sealing voids in the walls, where to buy baits etc… But it also stresses the importance of calling in a professional exterminator to deal with the problem. Feel free to link to the article if you like.
I’ve found short-term success in getting rid of ants with a lot of homemade remedies, such as oatmeal or grits, but they’re usually pretty short-lived. Calling in the pros to prevent ants is definitely a worthwhile investment to avoid the frustration of having to keep reapplying.
I noticed a bunch of ants in my kitchen, and I want to get rid of them. I cleaned up all the spills that I noticed, but they’re not going away! I feat that there might be a nest. I think I’m going to hire pest control to see if they can find it!
I hadn’t realized that ants could find a food supply so small that I can’t even see it and then keep coming back. My apartment has had ants three times in the past few months. In between them coming in, my roommates and I have scrubbed the floors and counters clean to not have food lying around. But it may be time for me to find a pest control company so that they will be able to get rid of the ants once and for all.