How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Ocala, FL Kitchen; Store Food Properly, Use Natural Ant Repellents & More

Ants are one of the most common complaint among pests in the home. They seem to make their way in through the smallest of cracks, and when they do, they start to take over. There is good reason to not want them in your kitchen. Pest 911 is here to share tips that will help you keep ants out of your kitchen.

Ants Pose a Threat to Your Kitchen

Aside from the fact that ants are an insect and nobody wants insects in their kitchen, ants pose some real threats to the health and cleanliness of your kitchen. When ants are around your food, there is a risk of contamination since they track a long list of bacteria on the bottom of their feet. If ants are found near or on any food, it should be discarded to avoid getting sick.

How to Avoid Ants in the Kitchen

There are several steps you can take to avoid an ant infestation in your kitchen. Here is a list of helpful tips that will help you avoid attracting ants:
1. Store Food Properly– Store your food in sealed containers. Make sure food that has not been opened has no signs of pests through holes or cracks in packaging.
2. Don’t Leave Food Out– Avoid leaving food out on the counters, especially dirty dishes in the sink overnight. This will attract ants and other pests.
3. Keep Jars & Containers Clean– Ants are attracted to sticky, sugary foods. If you have a jar of honey or jam that is covered in that sticky goodness, you will surely have an ant problem.
4. Sweep and Vacuum Kitchen Regularly– Any crumbs left behind are attractants for ants. Sweeping and vacuuming your kitchen regularly will limit the amount of food on the floor left behind to attract pests.

Natural Ant Repellents & Killers

You may find that you have more things in your kitchen that repel ants than you might think. Here are some natural ingredients that you can find laying around your kitchen that will keep ants away:
• Citrus– Ants will avoid any contact with citrus because they don’t like the smell. Spritzing lemon juice in areas you have seen ants will keep them from coming back to that area.
• Spices– There are many spices that repel ants. Cheyenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves and garlic are all spices ants find repulsive. They also don’t like bay leaves and so you can place bay leaves in cupboards and other food storage areas to keep ants away.
• Talcum Powder– Talcum powder will keep ants away and is found in both baby powder and chalk. Sprinkle or draw a line with baby powder or chalk in areas that you see ants entering your home.

Ant Extermination

Ants are one of the most difficult pests to get rid of. The key is finding their colony and getting rid of them at the source. Because they are so difficult to get rid of, it is best to call a pest control company like Pest 911 to take care of any ant infestation you may have in your kitchen before the problem gets out of hand. Call us today!