Ants and Infestations
Kitchens
In the warmer months, you should not be surprised if you start to see more ants in your home. It is during this season that worker ants go on their searches for food and water.
It doesn’t take long for a small ant problem to become large. The two most popular rooms for ants to gather in are kitchens and bathrooms.
Kitchens are an obvious target for ants because that’s where all the food is. It’s likely that countertops and floors host a variety of crumbs. The sink provides a nice water source, too. To avoid an infestation, there are a few things you can do in your kitchen.
For one, make sure you keep all food – especially sweet food – stored and sealed in plastic containers and bags. An obvious preventative method is to clean up any messes. Don’t leave food sitting out, and wipe down counters after preparing food. Clean up all spills that happen and be sure not to leave any sticky residues.
A secret to keeping ants out of dry goods is to put a bay leave in them. This will keep the ants away. The scent repels ants along with other pests.
Be sure to empty your recycling and trash regularly. Any items thrown in the recycling should be rinsed first.
Bathrooms
Any place that has excess moisture is a place that can attract ants. Bathrooms host tons of water, from the sink and the toilet to the shower or bath. Make sure to keep a clean bathroom, but don’t leave wooded areas too damp after washing.
Products like shampoo, conditioners, and lotions with sweet smelling fragrances can also attract ants. Maintain a clean shower area and make sure these products aren’t overflowing.