4 Ways to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

No one likes to spot ants in the kitchen. These small insects are an eyesore, a nuisance, and a health hazard. They track dirt, garbage, and even bacteria through your home. Though not common in the Northeast, some species of ants also bite humans. While ants are one of the most common pests that appear inside the home, you don't have to allow them to share your space. There are ways to prevent ants and eliminate them if they have already made their way into your kitchen.

Common Reasons You Get Ants Indoors

Ants tend to make their way indoors in search of food and water sources. While more active during the warmer months, as temperatures get colder, ants begin to look for warm shelter. Unfortunately, this means that ants can attempt to invade your home any time of the year, so you must stay vigilant and take the proper precautions to keep them out.

Ant Prevention Methods

There are several things you can do to lower the likelihood of getting an infestation of ants:

• Keep it clean by vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and washing dirty dishes immediately.
• Make sure to store all food items in sealed containers.
• Take out the trash often.
• Remove leaves, sticks, and yard debris close to your home.
• Use a dehumidifier to keep moisture levels low.

If you notice any signs that ants are present, it's time for you to increase your efforts and take action to eliminate them.

Four of the Best Ways to Get Rid of Ants in Your Kitchen

Whether you have already seen ants in your kitchen or you want to keep them out, it's important to know a few simple ant control techniques you can implement yourself:

Seal Gaps and Crevices Where Ants May Enter - Ants need a way to get into your kitchen, frequently through the gaps and crevices in your walls, floors, and ceilings. If you seal these gaps, you cut off ants' access to your kitchen and can contain the problem.

Trim Trees and Shrubs That Touch Your House - Many people have shrubs, trees, bushes, and other plant life immediately adjacent to their homes. Left to their own devices, they will grow closer to your home and can eventually provide bridges and entry into your home itself. It's important to trim any trees, bushes, or plants that touch your home to deny curious ants direct access points, especially if the branches touch openings into your home, like windows or doorways. Aphids often live on the trees and shrubs that rub up against your home, and considering aphids are one of ants' favorite snacks; they provide an enticement for ants to find their way into your home.

Vacuuming - Use the hose on your vacuum cleaner or a hand-held vacuuming device to literally suck up ants. It's substantially quicker and more efficient than squishing them individually. While this will quickly eliminate immediately visible ants, it is not likely to be a long-term solution. 

Cleaning and Disinfecting - If you clean surfaces where you find the ants with soap and water or detergent, it will eliminate the pheromone trails ants use to communicate, disrupting their ability to draw other ants to a food or water source.

Big Black Ants in the Kitchen

While most ants you are likely to see in the kitchen in NJ, PA, DE, and MD are likely small ants like odorous house ants, you may have a bigger problem if you see big black ants. Big Black Ants are often Carpenter Ants infamous for burrowing into the wood to create living and nesting spaces. One important sign to look for is sawdust at the base of wooden walls and cabinets. If left to their own devices, carpenter ants will create tunnel networks inside your wood that can lead to severe and expensive damage to your home. 

Stop Ants in Their Tracks With Viking Pest Control

If your efforts for eliminating ants don't have the desired effect, call a professional ant exterminator for effective and lasting ant control. Viking Pest Control is an award-winning company that can get rid of your ants once and for all. Homeowners throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland have come to rely on Viking for customizable and sustainable solutions for pest control, including the six species of ants that live in these areas. Contact Viking for your free estimate today and get started on keeping your home pest free!