7 steps to getting rid of ants inside your house

Ants belong outside, but sometimes they invade homes to search for new sources of food. Others enter homes to find shelter. When you have ants inside your Phoenix home, you can try the following ideas to deal with them.

Find the Source

Ants leave a scent trail wherever they go. This helps them find their nest after they leave. It also helps their friends find your home, time and time again. It can be time-consuming, but necessary, to watch the ants and see where they’re entering your home. Finding their entry point can help you determine where to use home remedies.

Keep in mind that ant nests might be located inside walls or outside your home in the ground. To fully eliminate an infestation, you’ll need to find the nest. Otherwise, ants from the colony will keep coming into your home.

Use White Vinegar

Ants don’t like the smell of white vinegar. Applying it to surfaces where ants have been can discourage them from coming back. White vinegar also helps eliminate the scent trails they leave behind for other ants.

You can mix a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then, spray the vinegar solution around your home where you see ants. Keep in mind, white vinegar only works on a temporary basis. If you want to fully eliminate your problem, you’ll want to call in the professionals.

Try Borax

Borax is another home remedy that may get rid of ants inside your home. Although it doesn’t happen instantly, ingesting this substance is fatal to ants. You can mix Borax with sugar and water, then set it in places where you’ve seen ants. Eating this mixture should eventually kill ants inside your home.

Before trying this method, remember that it’s toxic. If you have kids or pets, you should use a different approach.

Unfortunately, Borax probably won’t get rid of the queen or the hundreds or thousands of ants inside the nest. To completely take care of your ant problem, call Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination.

Use Lemon Oil

The scent of lemon repels ants inside homes and disrupts their scent trails. You can place drops of lemon oil on surfaces that have had ants. Lemon juice and lemon slices can work if you don’t have lemon oil. Remember lemons are acidic, so use caution before placing it on delicate surfaces.

Much like vinegar, lemon only offers a short-term solution to ants inside your home. To be effective, you have to reapply it multiple times. Additionally, the lemon won’t reach the nest, which means that more ants are likely to come back.

Spread Liquid Dish Soap

A liquid dish soap, baking soda, and water mix sprayed directly on ants can suffocate them. You can also spray this mixture where you’ve seen ants to destroy their scent trail. The downside is that you’ll have to clean up the dead ants from the surfaces of your home. This is a temporary solution as well, since it doesn’t affect the nest.

Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper

Sprinkle cayenne pepper in areas where you’ve seen ants. The spice is another common household item that ants avoid. The strong smell may confuse them, making it difficult to follow the scent trail back to their nest. They’ll have a hard time finding food as well.

Warning, if you have pets, cayenne pepper can irritate their nose and eyes. Don’t use it in areas that pets can access.

Hire an Ant Control Professional

Getting rid of ants inside your home on your own can be a challenge. When home remedies don’t work, it’s best to hire an ant control professional to eliminate them. They’ll have the right knowledge and materials needed to thoroughly stop an ant infestation. They also know how to locate the nest, along with the queen and the rest of the colony. Getting to the root of the problem is key to eliminating ants inside your home.

If you’re tired of trying to deal with the nuisance of having ants inside your Phoenix home, contact Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination.