Ants come in the house looking for food, water, and shelter. They enter through the small crevices on floors or walls, build a nest, and become the newest housemate! They move anywhere, picking up germs and bacteria along the way. It is not detrimental compared to other pests. But ants can be carriers of bacterial and fungal organisms that can contaminate food and utensils if not stored properly.
OVERVIEW
Ways To Keep Ants Away From Food Containers
- Airtight Food Containers
- Natural Deterrents
- Prevention of Infestation of Ants
- Ant Baits
WAYS TO KEEP ANTS AWAY FROM FOOD CONTAINERS
1. Airtight Food Containers
It is so much devastating after putting so much time, effort, and money into building a pantry, and you lost them to pests. It does not only cause frustration but the cut back of the family budget. It’s good to know there are ways to prevent them from stealing goods.
Ants will keep coming back in the house as long as they can find food. The best thing to do is to cut their source of food by storing them in containers. But it is essential to keep food properly to avoid contamination.
An airtight container is one of the best options for food storage. In this design, nothing can pass through with, not air or odor, which results to be tightly closed. Food odors won’t escape, and it will not attract pests. These airtight containers comes in a different sizes and shapes, they are made of glass, plastic, and stainless. Mason jars are suitable for storing herbs and spices, for they are thick for ants to chew through.
Pet foods are also a target of ant attacks. Make sure to store them in an airtight container, too.
Keep all foods that can be refrigerated or frozen to minimize things that can be smelled by these pests.
2. Natural Deterrents
These pests love bread, sugar, crackers, and other dry goods. Listed here are some of the natural deterrents to use to shove them away or prevent them from invading.
1. Vinegar, lemon juice, or any citric juice – Mix 1 part of vinegar to 1 part of water. Same measurement for others. Wipe pantry with the mixture or put it in a spray bottle and sprays to areas near food items. Ants can’t stand their smell, and they will stay away from the house. The mixture also removes the scent trail excreted by ants. Repeat the process throughout the day for efficacy.
2. Bay leaves, coffee grounds, ground cinnamon – Their smell too is off with ants, keeping them afar. Place some near foodstuffs, in entry points, under refrigerator, cupboards, to make ants avoid the area. When ants inhale cinnamon, they are suffocated and eventually dies.
3. Dishwashing liquid and water spray solution – When sprayed or wiped, it destroys odor trails that are left behind. Ants become dehydrated when in contact with dishwashing liquid.
4. Baking soda, dried yeast, and powdered sugar – Ants don’t like baking soda. It gets messy spread on counters and cupboards, so better to put it on their entry point. Mixing an equal part of yeast and powdered sugar is good bait. Put the mixture in a container and spray where ants can get in. They pop when they drink it.
5. Salt – The cheapest item to use to get rid of ants in the kitchen or food area. Boil water in a pan or pot, add a generous amount of salt, stir until it dissolved completely. Pour directly into the entry spots of ants or may pour contents to spray bottle.
6. Cucumber Peels – Ants do not like the smell of cucumber peels. Research shows that cucumber skin contains chemicals that eliminate fungi to which ants are attracted.
7. Peppermint and peppermint essential oil– Plant it around the house, in the at the entryways, or have it in a small pot and place in the kitchen. Ants hate its minty fresh smell. Have some drops of essential oil in a cotton ball and wipe it out at the doors and windows. It forms a barrier that ants won’t cross. It emits a minty and sweet aroma in the house.
8. Cayenne and black pepper – Their smell makes ants go away. Sprinkle some at the location of ants. It can also be mixed with water and put it in a spray bottle. The mixture will not kill ants but will deter them.
9. Essential oils – Place drops of eucalyptus oil, neem tree oil, tea oil, or citrus oil in some cotton balls, and put them on the affected areas. Replace them when needed. Their strong scent repels ants and other pests.
10. Soap and detergent – Together with a washcloth, wipe counters, tables, and the floor to get rid of ants trail.
Prevention of Infestation of Ants
Ants are not only looking for food but also moisture, water, and shelter. Here are some ways to keep them from coming.
- Ensure cleanliness at home. Have family members get involved in eliminating or prevention ants invasion. Remember, one ant on your counter can be hundreds in a matter of seconds if you’ll not do something. Start the task of getting rid of them as soon as they’ve discovered.
- Wipe out food crumbs on countertops and sweep up the floors. Keep the food area as clean as possible. Regularly vacuuming the house can help smaller items that might have missed and the same time, sucking up smaller bugs that thrive in the carpet or floors.
- Make use of the refrigerator or the freezer as much as you can. Store cakes, bread, treats, chocolates, and other pastries in the fridge.
- Dispose or keep in sealed containers any left-overs.
- Always put food away when done with it, and wash dishes every after use.
- Wipe down the outside of storage bins and other containers after every use.
- Don’t leave food sitting around in a trash can. Dispose trashes properly. If there’s standby garbage, store it away from the home entrance.
- Seal up any cracks, window edges, around piping, holes, or any areas ants can enter. They can’t do any harm unless they have access to the house.
- Fix water leaks, drain out any standing water, wipe out wet surfaces, or any spills.
- Check out under sinks and bathrooms. Wipe excess water and ensure proper ventilation.
- Check now and then electronic equipment or electrical boxes. Certain ant species are attracted to them.
ANT BAITS
Baits are preferred because it is more effective and easy to use. While household spray kills the ants they come in contact with, bait poison is taken by worker ants to the queen and spread throughout the entire colony, eliminating the whole nest. Check out at home and garden stores for different kinds of bait. Adhere to protocols and follow directions strictly.
There are many ways to prevent ants from invading the house. It’s easier to keep them out with early detection and prevention. But sometimes, it’s impossible to keep them out. If they pose a substantial threat, especially if they have to get into electrical boxes and wirings, consider then a pest control team.
