Ants are a common sight in homes and yards in the warm weather. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with them. Got an ant problem in Phoenix but are reluctant to use harmful chemicals to get rid of them? Good news is that there are natural things you can do to eradicate these nuisance pests without putting your pets, kids or family at risk.
Check out these natural ways to prevent or kill ants in your Phoenix home without the use of potentially dangerous and harsh chemicals. If these remedies don’t work, hire a trusted Phoenix ant exterminator for more effective and direct approaches.
Natural Remedies
To kill or deter ants, you can try some natural herbs, spices, and essential oils such as these.
To kill ants:
- Boric acid
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon leaf essential oil
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth
To prevent ants, try:
- Chalk
- Black pepper or cayenne pepper
- Coffee grounds
- Peppermint
Eliminate Their Food Source
The best defense against ants is to keep your home as clean as possible, especially when it comes to the pantry, dining areas and kitchen. Ants are attracted to open food sources. If you cut off those food sources, they won’t invade.
- Keep pet food in sealed containers, and mop up leftover food around your pet’s bowl once they have eaten.
- Seal all leftovers in tight, reusable containers.
- Wipe crumbs from the floor, countertops, around and under kitchen appliances, in between couch cushions, around trash cans, and inside the pantry.
Remove Scent Trails
Grab some white vinegar and use this natural all-purpose cleaner to remove ants from your home. The first step is to observe the lines the ants seem to be following. This will tell you the location of the scent trail. While you may not be able to see the trail, you can notice where they are traveling from to determine where it leads and where it starts.
Spray a mixture of white vinegar and water on your countertops, baseboards, walls, and window sills to erase the scent trail.
Trim Bushes
Ants use bushes, tree branches and other nearby vegetation to gain access to your home. Regularly cut back overhanging tree branches, while trimming shrubs near siding to keep ants form using these as a way to enter your property.
Seal Off Entry Points
As you can imagine, ants can gain entry by the tiniest of openings. To deter them, seal off main entry points, such as torn or broken window and door screens, and cracks in the floorboards. You will never find all the entry points, but start with the main ones and you should see results.
Call an Ant Exterminator in Mesa AZ
If these remedies don’t work, it’s time to call a pest control technician in Phoenix who knows ant behavior and how to get rid of them. Because ants are social insects, they tend to work together in organized patterns by using pheromones, not only to communicate but track as well. Ant exterminators in Chandler AZ know how to zero in on their nests, something the average homeowner doesn’t know how to do.
Call Frontino Pest Control in Phoenix today for an ant extermination consultation. We will treat main areas with bait that kills both the nests and the ants.