No one wants to deal with an ant infestation. However, because ants can get in very tiny cracks and holes, it’s actually more common than you might think to have ants in your home. What can you do to avoid issues with ants? Whether you have ants right now or you’re just looking for a way to stay ant-free, here are some tips to keep in mind.
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Most Common Places for Ants to Hide
Where are you most likely to see ants? These are the top places to find ants in your home, which means they’re the first places you may want to look.
- Kitchen
As you might expect, the kitchen is a very common place to find ant infestations. That’s largely because ants love the food that you leave out. Even just leaving a single crumb out can be cause for a full ant infestation, which makes the kitchen the most common source of ant infestations.
- Bathroom
Although kitchens tend to have food galore, ants also need water to live. That’s why the bathroom may be another common source of ant infestations; you’re more likely to have water, even small amounts of water, in the bathroom.
- Basement
Because many people don’t enter their basements very frequently, that leaves them open to a lot of problems. Among these problems is ant infestations. If you have cracks in your basement walls, even small cracks, ants can burrow into the earth and come in through these cracks.
Tips for Keeping Ants Out of Your Home
How do you make sure ants don’t get inside? Here are the top six tips you can use.
1. Fix Leaky Pipes and Faucets
First off, it’s important that you fix any leaky pipes and faucets. Even if the leak is “minor,” it’s still leaking water. This can make your water bill higher, attract ants, and be a slipping hazard on hard floors and a mold hazard on carpet.
2. Seal Food in Airtight Containers
In some homes, you may be able to keep shelf-stable food like cereal and flour in its original container after opening it. However, if you have a home that’s prone to ant infestations, it’s a good idea to take precautionary steps and seal this food in secondary airtight containers.
3. Wipe Down Kitchen Counters After Using Them
Once you’re done with the kitchen counter, wipe it down completely. Even if you don’t see any additional food on the counter, there’s no telling if there are very small crumbs. Remember that ants can see these tiny crumbs, even if you don’t.
4. Empty Trash Frequently
The trash is a repository that typically has both water and food in it. Especially if you throw out a lot of food waste, it’s extremely important that you empty your trash on a regular basis. Remember to empty the trash directly to the garbage as well.
5. Caulk Around AC and Heating Units
AC and heating units should sit firmly into the wall where you installed them, but sometimes, they may have cracks around the outside. Not only does this minimize the impact the units have, but it can also allow ants in. Caulking around the units can reduce that damage.
6. Repair Cracked Pavement or Foundations
Lastly, if you have cracked pavement around your home or a cracked foundation in your basement, it’s extremely important that you repair it. Ants can easily burrow through the cracks to get inside your home, and these problems can be indicative of a deeper home structure problem.
Conclusion
Avoiding ants in your home can be a fairly simple endeavor. Even though it can feel a little overwhelming when you have ants, the process of avoiding them is easier than you might expect. Whether it’s a quick DIY fix like sealing food in airtight containers or it’s a more complicated one like repairing your cracked foundation, these fixes can make it easier to avoid ants both now and in the future.
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