How can I prevent ants from entering my home?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.To prevent ants from invading your home, you'll want to seal all entry points and remove attractions at the same time: Silicone caulk seals any cracks in your foundation so that you deny the little bridge builders access, and by maintaining a 12-inch blank space between the plants and the foundation wall, you further deny them access. Put food in airtight containers so as to remove your main feast table.
Exterior Fortification
- Seal cracks >1/16 inch with silicone caulk
- Install door sweeps on all exterior entries
- Apply weather stripping around window frames
- Repair damaged mortar in foundation walls
Landscape Management
- Maintain 12-inch clearance between plants/walls
- Replace mulch with gravel near foundations
- Trim tree branches away from rooflines
- Install downspout extenders 5ft from house
Food Source Elimination
- Store dry goods in glass containers
- Use sealing-lid trash cans emptied nightly
- Clean pet bowls within 30 minutes after feeding
- Refrigerate ripe fruits during ant season
You'll want to implement a daily vinegar cleaning routine. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, and use this solution after every meal on your countertops. Take 5 minutes to clean up spills (and mop up after everyone), which eliminates any residual trails. Give extra TLC to kitchen hotspots and the dining room. Reapply after a big cooking session.
Maintaining basement humidity control at a level below 50% throughout the year via a dehumidifier is recommended. Proper plumbing repairs must be made immediately after identifying leaky faucets. Bathrooms with bathroom vent fans will help control moisture. These two actions will provide an unfriendliness towards ants. It is also important to continuously monitor relative humidity levels using hygrometers placed in areas where specific problems are known to exist.
Check foundations annually using flashlights at night. Repair loose caulking around cracked seals. Replace gravel barriers surrounding plants. Test seal integrity on containers by shaking them. These are proactive steps for getting ahead of problems emerging before you need to deal with them.
Implementing a proactive approach should begin today: close-up three entry points right away; clean around the perimeter of one flowerbed today; clean with vinegar product this evening. Consistent effort creates an unbreachable defense against ants. A few weeks from now, you'll have an ant-free environment in your home!
Read the full article: Natural Ant Repellents That Work
