Many people look at ants and ignore them. Usually it’s because they’re afraid to be bitten (often the case with red ants) or because they think, what’s the harm in one ant or two? A LOT. Though they aren’t as popular as termites or moths, ants are an insect that can turn your home upside down. Not too long after you see one or two ants, you may end up seeing hundreds of them puttering around! So before it’s too late, learn how to prevent ants from taking over your home.
The first thing you have to do is make sure to cut off their food source. Ants will eat anything humans eat so making sure that your food is stored well is important. Make sure you use airtight containers made of plastic, glass or metal. Think plastic and cardboard containers can be eaten through by these insects. Also, inspect food packages before you buy them. Sometimes we bring ants and other insects directly from the store without our knowing!
Once you’ve secured your food, begin to hunt for the entrances the ants are using to get into your home. Follow the ants to see where they go and where they’re entering. Seal off these entrances. You can plug the holes and cracks or simply line them with some ant chalk. Ants won’t cross over ant chalk so this is one great method of keeping them out. If you love lemon aroma you can use lemon juice to repel ants. Squeeze lemon juice from actual lemons on the areas that the ants are invading. For example, squeeze the juice in the openings or holes they keep coming through, cracks in between the floor and wall, on windowsills and on any thresholds. This method will completely deter these insects and give your house a lemon-fresh scent. If you continue to have a problem, check for other cracks and holes.
Say you find a hole or crevice and you can’t properly seal it off? Use some home remedies to keep the ants away. Sprinkle some cinnamon or chili pepper into the hole or crevice. Like ant chalk, they will not cross over these ingredients. For further prevention, plant mint and cloves around your home as these will repel the insects. You can also dip bay leaves into some mint mouthwash and place these in problem areas.
Never try to kill them unless you are certain you can flush all of them away. Dead ants will emit a pheromone, signaling the others to come for their bodies, which means killing them may only attract more. If you plan on washing them away, do so with a vinegar and water solution. You are sure to both kill them and keep others away.
I hope this idea make your home free from ants’s invation
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