Kitchen Pantry Ant Control Tips

If there is one place in your home that is a prime location for ant infestations, it is your kitchen pantry. Ants come into Phoenix-area homes looking for food, and they’ll likely find plenty of it in your pantry. Once even a single ant finds a good food source, it will leave a trail for other ants to follow. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of attracting ants. Here’s what you need to do. 

Keep Food in Sealed Containers 

Ants can’t find food that they can’t smell, so keep your food sealed whenever possible. You won’t find ants on cans and other sealed packages, as the smell of the food stays trapped inside.

For packages that you will continue to use after opening, like boxes of cereal, invest in some airtight containers. After opening the package, transfer the rest of the food into the container instead of leaving it in the original packaging. This way, you’ll be able to keep the ants out while also keeping your food fresher in the process. 

Clean Your Pantry Regularly 

Even minor spills and small crumbs can attract ants, so take the time to clean out your kitchen pantry frequently. Whenever you spill something, clean it up right away.

Every month or two, pull everything off the shelves and give them a thorough wipe to remove any debris you might have missed. You can use standard household cleaning products or make a DIY solution using vinegar and lemon juice.

Ants can’t stand the smell of vinegar, so this will help keep them at bay better than regular cleaners can. The vinegar smell will dissipate quickly so that you can no longer smell it, but the ants will be able to detect it for quite a long time after. 

Deal with Ants Immediately 

Whenever you spot an ant in your home, get rid of it right away. Ant colonies often send “scouts” to look for food, so these are likely the ones you are seeing. While a single ant may not seem like much of a threat, it can alert other ants to any food sources. This can lead to an infestation in your kitchen pantry much more quickly than you might expect. Stop the infestation before it starts by eliminating the scouts before they have a chance to bring back more ants the next time they visit. 

Block Entry Points to Your Home 

Ants can’t get into your kitchen pantry if they are unable to get into your home in the first place. Do your best to block off any potential access points so they can’t get inside. If you have experienced an ant infestation in your kitchen pantry in the past, try to remember where the trail of ants was coming from. This will alert you to where they are getting in so you can seal it off. Check the seals around your windows and doors regularly, as these are common access points for ants. Repair or replace the seals as needed. Not only will this prevent ants, but it will also help with insulation, possibly reducing your heating and cooling costs. 

Treat Your Home to Prevent Ants 

If you have tried all of the above tips and are still struggling with ants in your kitchen pantry, you may need to take more drastic measures. Here at Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination, we are experts in treating homes against ants. When you work with us, we’ll visit your home on a regular schedule to treat around your property to help keep ants and other pests out. We’ll start with a thorough inspection of your home and yard so that we can advise you of the necessary steps. Call today to schedule an inspection appointment to protect your kitchen pantry from ants.