It is helpful to establish a weekly kitchen cleaning routine and a full pantry cleaning. One day a week, sweep and mop your floors and wipe down all your kitchen surfaces, including those in your pantry.
It may also help to keep your garbage in a can with a tight-fitting lid.
If you are putting your dishes in the dishwasher, rinse them thoroughly before doing so (or run a cycle immediately after loading the dishwasher).
Rather than leaving your bag of chips on the counter, make sure you clip the bag and put it in the pantry.
This won’t kill the ants, but it may deter them from coming into your home. You can also use soapy water instead of vinegar.
You can also sprinkle these natural deterrents around any entry points, like your doors and windows. You can also use chili powder, peppermint essential oil, or garlic for other natural alternatives.
At first, you may see a large swarm of ants around the sugar and borax mixture, but that’s perfectly normal! Just keep replenishing the mixture every other day. This is one of the most effective methods to get rid of ants and it can kill the entire colony.
Try to seal as many holes or cracks as possible. You may not be able to get every single spot, but this will help with overall ant prevention.
You can use any type of bait, though it is recommended to use one that has both sugar and protein bases.
You want to spray enough to wet the surface, but not soak it. Use an insecticide that contains bifenthrin, permethrin, or deltamethrin. For more serious ant issues, you can also spray around the perimeter of your house.
Call a few exterminators to compare prices and make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. You might have carpenter ants if you have any damaged or wet wood in the house.
