We all know ants like the sugary foods in our kitchen, but they often use our homes as shelter from rainstorms and long periods of dry heat, which is why you’ll likely see more ants in your home over the next few months.
There are a few moves you can make to ant-proof your home, but first, top Consumer Reports scientist Michael Hansen explains what you should not do.
CONSUMER REPORTS: How to Ant-Proof Your Home This Spring
Never spray ants with a pesticide, Hansen says. You’re wasting your time and possibly adding harmful ingredients to your environment.
Hansen said the sprays will kill the worker ants you see in your home, but so will soapy water. And either way, you’re not really making a dent in your ant problem because you’re not dealing with the source: the queen, her colony or her eggs.\
An entomologist and market technical director for Terminix also told CR that identifying which type of ants you’re dealing with can be crucial to successfully ant-proofing your home.
“To properly identify them often requires some level of magnification where you have to look at features on the exoskeleton, such as grooves, the number of segments in the antennae, and the number of nodes (like bumps on the waist) on the segment between the thorax and abdomen,” Chad Gore says. “Some ants, like Pennsylvania carpenter ants, tend to be very large and black, which makes them fairly easy to recognize. There’s also some that, when squashed between fingers, have a very distinct odor. [Editor’s note: Leave this one for the experts to do.]
Just remember that all ants have elbowed antennae, a constricted waist, and either one or two nodes on that constriction. Also, when you see the reproductives with wings, they have two pairs with the hindwings shorter than the forewings. Proper identification of the ants that plague is very important. Not all ants are treated the same way from a control perspective. It’s best to get professional advice on your ant ID.”
According to Consumer Reports, the best way to ant-proof your home is to block their entrances. Ants typically get into homes through cracks and crevices, like windows, doors and openings in your foundation.
The best way to find out where they are coming into your house is to put out a sugar substance and then follow the trail once the ants take the bait.
Then you can seal up any cracks with caulk and replace broken weather stripping.
You should also keep tree branches and other shrubbery trimmed and away from your house because ants often use that as a way to get to your home in the first place.
Another way to make your home less ant-friendly is to clean.
“Inadequate sanitation is the main factor contributing to ant infestations,” a representative from Orkin tells CR. “When dishes are left unwashed in the sink, food remnants linger on countertops, crumbs accumulate on the floor, and trash is not regularly disposed of, it creates a ready supply of food for ants on the lookout for meals. Foods that ants are attracted to are going to vary based on the ant species, time of day and/or year, and temperatures. Most ant species will eat sugars at times, but also fats, carbs, and proteins.”
Most ants will eat sugars, but they also like fats, carbs, and proteins. Wipe up all crumbs and spills immediately and keep food in sealed containers.
Toss any fruits and vegetables when they start to rot and take out the garbage regularly. Keep pet food and water dishes clean when not in use and remove any spilled food.
And be sure to rinse cans, bottles and containers whether they are going in the trash or back in your pantry. This especially applies to anything with sugary liquids inside.
One Consumer Reports chef said he takes it a step further when it comes to agave and honey. He puts those containers in plastic zipper bags for an extra layer of protection against ants.
An Orkin representative tells CR that, in addition to using airtight containers for food and keeping your space clean and sanitized, these are some steps you can take to block an ant colony’s entry into your home:
- Prevent and reduce moisture because it is essential for ants’ survival. Repair water leaks around pipes and on the roof, ensuring that gutters and downspouts direct rain away from your house.
- Employ exclusion methods to prevent ants from entering your home. Seal holes, cracks, and gaps in the exterior where ant workers (foragers) may gain access. Trim tree limbs to avoid overlapping with the house, because ants can use branches to enter your home.
- Deter ants from your property by eliminating or minimizing potential harborage sites. Keep items away from your home that could offer protection and moisture for ant colonies. Move mulch and landscape timbers at least 1 to 2 feet from the foundation, thin out or remove ground cover plants, and clear debris around the house.
- Regularly inspect under splash blocks near the foundation and remove any tree stumps, fallen logs, or limbs. Store firewood away from the house, avoiding indoor or garage storage.
Ants can be a major headache and a source of stress. But a few solid cleaning, storage, and home maintenance tips can help keep them from treating your space like their comfy home away from home.