Any organic ant exterminator will tell you to consider yourself among the lucky few if you’ve never experienced an ant problem in your home or office. Otherwise, you’ve probably gone through several encounters with this bothersome pest whether it’s an army of odorous house ants invading your kitchen counter or a nest of pavement ants holed up in your garage.
Why Ants are Everywhere
With over 700 species scattered across the United States, it’s no wonder ants take the top spot as the country’s number one nuisance pest. There are about 20 common ant types known to infest homes, buildings, and other structures, so it comes as no surprise that a lot of people occasionally experience issues with this particular pest.
Ants are not a problem you have to live with, however. There are many things you can do to prevent ants from invading your home or property. Check out these top recommendations below.
1. Know their favorite hangouts.
Ants have a particular liking for some areas of your home. It doesn’t take rocket science to understand why the kitchen is their favorite spot because it’s the one place that has everything they need to survive – food and water. Bathrooms and basements are also popular among ants because of moisture and water. You’ll also observe that ants gather in and around air conditioning and heating units in the home.
2. Starve ants by eliminating food sources.
Keep your kitchen spic and span so you don’t send out a signal that there’s a feast inside. Wipe counters clean, sweep your floors and mop up spills. Store ripe fruits and veggies in your chiller and keep food in airtight containers. Remember to wipe down jars and bottles containing syrup, honey, jams, and other sweet stuff. Use garbage cans with lids and take out your trash daily. When ants can’t find a good food source, they’ll leave your home and go somewhere else.
3. Don’t give ants access to water.
Ants love moisture so go the extra mile to reduce standing water sources to prevent an infestation. Also, regularly check for pipe leaks especially under your kitchen sink, in the bathroom, and in your laundry area. A dehumidifier will also help reduce moisture damp basements, attics, and crawl spaces. Make it a point to inspect the exteriors of your home as well. Make sure drainage outlets aren’t clogged so water flows away from the foundation. Clear out gutters and downspouts so they function properly at all times.
4. Watch your pets.
Pet food and water bowls are often an easy target for ants so don’t leave any unconsumed pet food out in the open. Clean up any spilled food and water immediately after feeding and transfer dry pet food from their packaging into airtight plastic containers. Also, opt for non-food-based chew toys instead of rawhides for your puppies.
5. Block off all access points to your home.
Inspect the exteriors of your home regularly to check for easy access points such as cracks and crevices. Seal these with silicone caulk and pay extra attention to sections where utility pipes pass through your walls. Check floors and walls for gaps as ants can easily use them as entry points from the outside environment.
6. Seek help from an organic pest control expert who specializes in ants.
Addressing an ant infestation can be an uphill battle if you’re not equipped with the proper knowledge, training and tools. What’s even worse is that most ant repellent sprays sold in your supermarkets are nothing but band-aid solutions that can even aggravate an infestation. Certain ant species such as carpenter ants can also cause serious damage to property, while others like fire ants can pose a threat to your health. And even if they’re simply considered nuisance pests, less threatening species like odorous house ants can still contaminate food and transmit bacteria and food-borne diseases like salmonella, strep, E. coli, staph, Shigella and various fungi.
Ant Pest Control Beaverton Services
The best route to take when confronted with an ant problem is to hire the services of a licensed organic pest control professional like Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control in Beaverton Oregon right away. We will be able to identify the ant species, spot likely entry points, and determine an effective course of treatment. Click here to get in touch with us today!
