Did you know that ants outnumber humans 140 000:1? There are plenty of ants roaming this earth, however, they don’t have to become your house guests. We have helpful tips on how to keep ants from getting into your home.

Seal Off All Entrance Areas

Since ants are such small insects, they are able to find thousands of tiny doorways into your home. Some of them are easy to identify and others will only be discovered when you see what may seem like hundreds of ants marching through them. First, you will have to investigate around your home in order to identify where they may be entering from. Once you have discovered all entrances, the following step is to seal the entrance holes using silicone caulk, putty, glue or plaster. 

Make sure to seal all  cracks with caulk. Close the gaps around your windows, doors and walls. Block off any spaces that may allow ants an easy passageway into your home. The good news is, sealing around windows and doors will also benefit your energy bill!

Make a Tape Barrier

Make a tape barrier. Line your kitchen with adhesive tape, sticky-side up. No poison or messy powders necessary. When ants try to climb over the tape, they may stick to the adhesive – effectively stopping them in their tracks. Make sure that the ants can’t crawl under the tape; try using double-sided tape, or taping the back of the tape to your floors, walls, and counters so that there is no room for ants underneath

Make a Barrier With Talcum Powder

Talcum powder is known to deter ants, therefore you could try using it if you’re worried about ants entering your home. 

Try Using Non-Toxic Ant Deterrents

You can also defend your home with scents and substances that ants don’t like. Consider using vinegar, peppermint oil, cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and bay leaves. Make sure to keep peppers and spices away from your pets and children.

Don’t Leave Food Out

If you set your home up for ants to be a source for food, then you’ll be seeing them coming over for dinner on a regular basis. If your home is dirty, ants will multiply, therefore, you need to make sure that you clean daily and make sure there are no crumbs left on any countertops or on the floor. The cleaner your home is, the less attractive it will be to them and the less they will have to eat. 

• Wipe down all surfaces. Spray tables and countertops 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.

Remember that all it takes is one ant. If you see a lone ant roaming your counters, it is acting as a scout. It is scoping out your kitchen for scents and food sources. If this ant discovers a food source—even just a sticky sweet spot on the counter-top—it will carry the information back to its nest, and you’ll have an infestation on your hands.

Store Food in Airtight Containers

Even if you’ve stashed your food in a high cupboard, ants can still find their way in through the smallest holes. If they can smell it and reach it, they can surely swarm it. Putting food in airtight containers also has the added benefit of keeping your food fresher for longer. 

Keep the Sink Clean

Sometimes it is tempting to leave dishes for the next day, but it is best to wash them right away. No dirty dishes and no standing water for ants to drink will be your saving grace. 

Call a Pest Control Expert for Help

Sometimes, ants can be stubborn. If you’ve tried all of the methods listed above and you still can’t seem to get these critters to stay away from your home, you may have no choice but to look into contacting a pest control expert for more aggressive methods. 

Let’s face it, no one wants ants or other insects in their home, however, no home is absolutely ant proof. Luckily, there is a lot you can do to prevent ants from entering your home such as cleaning up after a food spill, temporarily block holes, seal up gaps and cracks, use natural repellents and last but not least, contacting a trusted pest control expert.