Stop Ants
Keeping Ants out of your home at this time of the year can be a very challenging task, however with a few small housekeeping adjustments it doesn't have to be so hard.
Here are a few things you can do around your home to deter these little critters from entering your residence. |
Eliminate food/water sources. If you're having an ant problem in your home it is very likely that they are coming in to get access to a food or water source, limiting or removing the food or water source will greatly reduce the likelihood of having an ant infestation.
Regular wiping down of benches, putting away food scraps will go along way to achieving this. The cleaner you keep the house, the less they'll have to eat, and the more they'll look elsewhere for sustenance. |
- Wipe down all surfaces. Spray tables and benches with a mild bleach or vinegar solution. Make sure you keep up with a regular cleaning regimen: sweep, mop, and vacuum at least a few days each week.
- If you do accidentally leave something out, take the opportunity to trace the trail of ants back to their source. It can be tempting to wipe out a swarm immediately – but try to think long-term about the problem.
Store food in airtight containers. Even if you've stashed your food in a cupboard, ants can still find their way in through the smallest of holes. If they can smell it and reach it, then they will swarm it. Putting food in airtight containers has the added bonus of keeping the food fresher.
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Seal off all entrance areas. Since ants are tiny, they can find thousands of tiny doorways into your residence. Some of them of are easy to identify; others will only be discovered when there's a parade of ants marching through them. First, figure out where the ants are entering the house: follow the trail of ants to see where they're entering and leaving your home. Seal all the entrance holes that you can find using silicone caulk, putty, glue or plaster. Temporary methods might include petroleum jelly or poster tack.
- If you use a temporary sealant, only do so until you can fill the space with a more permanent solution. A weaker material will deteriorate over time, and the gap will open up again.
Keep foliage away from external walls. Trees and shrubs that are contacting the external walls create an easy access path to your roof void and widow sills. Regular pruning to keep these branches from touching the walls will make it much more difficult for ants to start nesting in your roof void and accessing your home.
If you have had enough and want to get your home treated by a professional then feel free to contact us for an obligation free quote to rid your home of any pest related issues. Thank you for reading our article and if you're interested in any information about other pests then feel free to check out our website or Like us on Facebook to get free tips and info about pests in Cairns. |