Ways to Keep Ant Control More Effective Against Small Black Ants

Jul 2
13:23

2013

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Maybe you've tried making a trail of sugar, with the idea of leading the little critters away from your home, but that hasn't worked? So what to do?

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Small black ants invade homes and kitchens,Ways to Keep Ant Control More Effective Against Small Black Ants Articles feeding on meats, grease and sweets. Keeping a clean house, sealing off the ants' points of entrance and utilizing natural remedies may rid the home of these pests and prevent their return.

Deterrence.The best way to get rid of ants is to prevent them from ever considering your home an easy target. Ants are tiny, and can find thousands of doorways that you didn't even know about. But as much as you can, block those entryways.

Small black ants gather in kitchens when attracted by food, garbage and standing water. Mop up all spills, take out the trash and close any open food containers. Wash dishes thoroughly, and rinse all bottles and cans before throwing them out. Sealing canisters can be used to store cereals, grains, sugar and other food products more securely than their original boxes or bags. Keeping the kitchen clean on a regular basis removes ants' food sources within the home.

Caulk.Continuing on this theme, try sealing with caulk any windows, doors and any cracks the ants crawl through. This will also give you better temperature control and lower energy bills, and is one of the least risky methods if you have kids or pets.Observe where small black ants enter the kitchen, and block the entrance to prevent their return. Seal all cracks and holes within the kitchen, as well as outside of the home. Ants may enter through cracks created by plumbing and wires, or other small points of entrance. Use caulk to seal small cracks and holes and to prevent little black ants from returning. Once they're sealed, wipe down or spray the areas with laundry or dish detergent to remove the ants' pheromones, which attract others in the colony.

If those two don't work, try these deterrents:

3. Vinegar. Clean surfaces in your home with a half-and-half solution of white distilled vinegar and water. As an added bonus, this is a great mixture to use for cleaning in general, replacing detergents with polluting phosphorus. Vinegar works because ants hate its smell, and the vinegar removes the scent trails they use to get around.

Cleaning with Vinegar

Vinegar helps rid the kitchen of small black ants and prevent their return. White vinegar---the less sugar the better---repels ants. Sprinkle it around points of entrance and in areas where they gather. When cleaning, wipe down counter tops with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. This wipes away pheromones created by trails, and the vinegar smell keeps the ants from coming back

Lemon Juice. Just like vinegar, lemon juice also seems to destroy those scent trails that ants follow. Try spraying lemon juice around the places you think ants are using for entryways.

Removing the Ant Colony
  • Small black ants may live outside of the home, but travel inside for food. Remove piles of wood and leaves or other debris sitting close to the house. Be sure as well to move outdoor garbage cans as far away from the home as possible. These items serve as a suitable habitats for small black ants, and removing them keeps the insects from colonizing or gathering around the home and is a good ant control

Other Home Remedies
  • Borax is poisonous to small black ants. Mix this with equal parts jelly, and spread it near the pests' point of entrance. Stuff bay leaves, fresh mint or cloves under counters and in cracks, and sprinkle talcum powder, baby powder, chili pepper or coffee grounds around their points of entrance. These all keep small black ants at bay, as they are natural insect repellents.

Go to main page Ant Control Auckland for best reliable assistance on the job