7 Ways to Prevent Ants from Taking Over your Kitchen

Ants are tiny, but they are everywhere. They are usually found in the kitchen where food sources, such as leftover food, improperly stored foodstuff, food waste, etc. However, kitchens must be pristine and hygienic since this is where we prepare and food and sometimes eat.

So, what can we do to keep ants away from our kitchen?

1. Keep the counters and floors tidy.

   Keeping kitchen surfaces clean is essential because food crumbs and spills draw the attention of ants. Spills need to be cleaned up immediately. Regular sweeping and vacuuming also helps. The crumbs and other debris from beneath appliances and other hard-to-reach places should also be cleaned.

   Use a water and vinegar solution to wipe the kitchen counters and surfaces and floors. Ants can’t stand the smell of vinegar and it is a great alternative to commercially available detergents.

   The water and vinegar solution will also get rid of scented trails that ants produce to help them travel to and from their colony to your home.

2. Use food containers with a tight seal.

   All your food stuff, including pet foods, should be stored in tightly sealed containers. If food is not stored properly, ants will no doubt find it. If ants are still getting into your food packages, store them in the fridge. One prime example of food that you be kept in the fridge is ripe fruits. Ants will go after ripe fruits because they are packed full of sugar, which ants love so much.

   There is a broad range of options to choose from for airtight containers. They are made from glass or plastic and are available in variety of shapes and sizes.

   Do you know that there are natural products that repel ants? A fine example is bay leaves. You can put them in areas where ants can enter your food supply like the kitchen cupboards and under your fridge. Bay leaves also discourage other pests like silverfish and weevils.

   Another is vinegar. Not only can vinegar be used as a disinfectant, but you can also wipe down the area where you store food to keep ants at bay. Another item that ants hate is baking soda. Don’t spread it around your counters and cupboards to avoid the resulting mess. Just sprinkle it where you see ants entering your home. This is enough to keep ants out.

   A concoction made of dried yeast and powdered sugar is deadly for ants. One sip of this combination will kill an ant.

   However, using just these natural remedies is not enough. Ant control involves following all preventive measures to ensure success.

3. Put away food.

   Ants are hard workers when it comes to searching for food. They will travel and crawl anywhere to find a food source. This means your kitchen should be kept as immaculate as possible. You can do this by not leaving food out, as well as the plates and utensils you used to eat. Clean up after every meal after you are done eating.