Ants are the most common household pest in the United States, especially during the summer months. As the weather warms up ants come indoors in search of food and water. While most ants are harmless, a few of them can cause problems for you and your home. Odorous ants can contaminate your food, carpenter ants can cause damage to wood structures, and fire ants will definitely sting if they feel threatened. When ants get into your home they can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and even around air conditioning units. Ants can be one of the hardest pests to get rid of. One key to controlling ants is through prevention. What can you do to keep these pests from ruining your summer? Check out these 14 tips for summer ant prevention.
- Keep your food sealed in airtight containers, even pet food.
- Keep your pet’s food and water dishes clean and don’t leave them out overnight.
- Wipe up any crumbs or spills immediately.
- Thoroughly clean your counter tops, cupboards, cabinets and other kitchen surfaces regularly.
- Make sure to also clean under your sink, stove, and refrigerator.
- Sweep your kitchen and bathroom floors daily.
- Vacuum regularly to pick up any missed food crumbs.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- Dispose of your trash promptly.
- Inspect the outside of your home for cracks and holes and seal them with silicone caulk.
- Caulk around your windows and doors and repair any holes or gaps in them.
- Replace weatherstripping around windows and doors and repair loose mortar around your foundations.
- Keep tree branches and other shrubbery trimmed back from the sides of your house as ants can use these to access your home.
- If you have an ant problem, contact a professional pest control company who can identify the type of ants you have and recommend the appropriate treatment for them.