Ant Prevention Tips: How To Keep Ants Away

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If you’ve ever dealt with an ant infestation, you know how frustrating they can be to get rid of. Ants are a very common household pest in Georgia, making it important to learn the best ant prevention tips. To keep ants away, it’s recommended to maintain a tidy home and fix any moisture issues inside. 

To keep ants out for good, it’s recommended to team up with a professional ant exterminator such as Active Pest Control! Keep reading for our expert tips on preventing ants in your property year-round.

Ant Prevention Tips & Control Methods

Once you have them, ant problems can seem never-ending. To avoid the frustration of an ant infestation, there are several ant prevention tips to incorporate into your regular house cleaning routine. If you’re wondering ‘how to prevent ants’ keep reading:

Cleanliness is Key

Maintaining a clean environment is one of the most effective ways to prevent ants from entering your home. Limit ants’ ability to find food.

1. Make sure your kitchen is clean and crumb-free.
2. Wipe down counters and sweep floors regularly.
3. Store any food in airtight containers, and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator.
4. Dispose of trash frequently and use bins with tight-fitting lids to prevent attracting ants.

Seal Up Your Home

Ants are persistent, and if they find a way inside, they’ll continue to return. Seal entry points, cracks, and crevices.

1. Routinely inspect your property for cracks or other entry points, and seal them.
2. Double-check that your windows and doors don’t have cracks, and consider installing screens.
3. Use weatherstripping to seal any gaps around doors and windows where ants could squeeze through.

Landscaping and Yard Maintenance

Your yard and landscaping play a significant role in keeping ants away. 

1. Trim any tree branches or shrubs near your home, as ants often use them to gain access. 
2. Remove fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris that could create nesting sites for ants.
3. Manage moisture levels around your home by ensuring proper drainage and avoiding standing water. Moist environments attract ants, so keeping the yard dry can significantly reduce their presence near your home.

Avoid Excess Moisture in the Home

Ants thrive in humid, damp environments, so it’s important to avoid excess moisture indoors. Fix leaks promptly, especially in areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and basement.

1. Fix leaky pipes and routinely check under sinks for areas of moisture.
2. Use a dehumidifier in damp basements or crawl spaces.
3. Ensure downspouts and gutters are functioning properly.

How to Keep Ants Away Naturally

It’s easy to understand why so many people are drawn to all-natural ant prevention tips. While DIY or at-home methods may work for preventing ants, they do not stand up to the test when it comes to controlling an infestation! That said, there are a few ways you can lessen the risk of getting ants. 

Essential Oils

Essential oils, such as peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and citrus oils like lemon or orange, can help repel ants. You can mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it to areas where ants are entering or gathering. 

Vinegar

Vinegar is another natural solution that ants dislike. Its strong scent disrupts ants’ scent trails and can confuse them, making it difficult for them to navigate. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it to areas where you’ve seen ants. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic powder that can be sprinkled around the home to control ants. This fine powder is made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms and works by dehydrating ants when they come into contact with it. Be sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth, which is safe for both pets and humans.

Coffee Grounds

Used coffee grounds can be an effective and environmentally friendly way to repel ants. The strong smell of coffee deters ants and can keep them from entering your home. Simply sprinkle used coffee grounds along ant trails, near entry points, or around the perimeter of your home. 

To keep ants away, consider planting mint around the perimeter of your home, using a vinegar and water spray solution, or spreading diatomaceous earth, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or black pepper around your property. To reiterate, these methods rarely work to get rid of ants, but could prove useful in ant problem prevention.

Professional Preventative Measures

Sometimes it can be hard to determine when to call an ant exterminator. Professional ant preventative measures can be highly effective for preventing large ant infestations, long-term ant control, and your peace of mind. 

Perimeter Treatments

Professional pest control companies like Active Pest Control often use perimeter treatments to create a barrier around your home. This involves applying specialized insecticides, repellents or ant bait stations along the foundation, entry points, and other areas where ants are likely to enter. These treatments not only kill existing ants but also act as a deterrent for new colonies looking to invade. Regular perimeter treatments can significantly reduce the likelihood of ants and other pests gaining access to your home.

Regular Inspections

Regular inspections by a pest control expert can help identify potential problem areas before they become infested. These inspections often include checking for cracks, gaps, and moisture buildup that could attract ants. By detecting issues early, a professional can address them promptly, preventing ants from establishing a colony inside your home. Scheduled inspections also allow for the monitoring of pest activity and the application of necessary treatments.

Sometimes an ant problem is inevitable, even when you’ve implemented all the ant prevention tips you could find. Whether you’re dealing with fire ants, carpenter ants, argentine ants,  odorous house ants, or other common ants in Georgia, it’s always best to call your local exterminators.

The team at Active Pest Control specializes in ant control and prevention – no matter the ant species.

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