How To Quickly Get Rid of Ants

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Ants are undoubtedly pesky pests. Seeing a swarm of them in your home is grounds for freaking out. But rather than be frustrated, be active! There are plenty of ways to get rid of ants.

You might also be interested in how to get rid of spiders.

There are many different types of ants, yet some of the most common house-invading ones include odorous house ants, carpenter ants and thief ants. To get rid of ants quickly, you’ll need to have a good eye.

For the ultimate guide on dealing with ants, as well as mice and other pesky pests, check this out.

Odorous ants like to nest indoors near areas of the house where moisture can be found. They’re often referred to as sugar ants since they seek out foods high in sugar or protein. Carpenter ants will nest indoors below baseboards and near radiators or heating ducts. This type of ant also has a sweet tooth.

Ever wondered how ants know there are crumbs on your floor? Here’s what you need to know.

Watch this video for some super-simple solutions for keeping ants out of your house:

For an army of ants seeking out sugary foods, don’t be hasty and kill them. Use them! These worker ants seek out food to bring back to the queen and her kin. They’re where the problem begins and ends. This means you’ll need to bait the worker ants. Be patient and search for the trail that they are coming from, and follow to see where they are going to.

Now, place ant bait stations along this trail. You can buy ant bait (we recommend the Amdro Ant Bait) or DIY your own. One option is to mix one cup warm water with ½ cup sugar and 3 tablespoons borax. Soak cotton balls in the mixture and place them in shallow dishes near the ant trails. Once the workers find the bait, they’ll bring it back to their home base, where the queen and her kin will consume it and die, thus eliminating future populations. Just be sure to give it a few days for the entire colony to be eliminated. You can even replace the bait stations if they’re empty.

A great way to bait the ants is testing out what food they like best.

Thief ants, also known as grease ants, can be found nesting indoors in tiny crevices. Unlike odorous and carpenter ants, thief ants prefer grease and high protein foods, as opposed to sugar. To get rid of ants on the lookout for such foods, you’ll want to use the right type of bait. You can mix chemical ant baits with grease or oil, like vegetable oil or peanut butter. Try adding a single drop of grease or oil to 5 to 10 drops of bait on a piece of wax paper. Make a few of these and place along the trail you identify. Just remember, when using chemicals, you’ll want to make sure your precious pets are nowhere near the area!

Here’s more information on getting rid of pests, including home invaders like ants.