5 Ways to Keep Ants from Invading Your Home

The spring and summer seasons in Oklahoma are always a time that most residents look forward to. Pools start to open, cookouts become more frequent, and the grass and trees begin to take on the beautiful green hue that the state is well known for. While these are all a welcome change, they are often accompanied by the arrival of hungry ants looking for new food sources and nesting locations – some of which may even prefer your home. Fortunately, homeowners can do some key things to keep ants from invading their homes during the warmer months. 

Keep a Cleaning Routine 

Summer is often a time for lazing around inside an air-conditioned home or splashing around in the pool. While these are fun activities, it is vital to ensure that you aren’t neglecting your cleaning routines. The last thing you want to do is leave small food crumbs around that ants may be drawn to. For this reason, one of the best ways to keep ants from invading your home is to wipe down surfaces after food is used on them, vacuum and sweep regularly and make sure that leftover food and dirty dishes aren’t left out. 

Seal Cracks and Entrances 

Now that the weather is warmer, this is a great time to inspect your home for potential cracks or crevices that appeared during the winter. Most often, these are found around windows and doors when the home shifts. Sealing these areas and the foundation around your home is a critical step in eliminating the many ways that ants and other pests get indoors; however, this is a great time to look for potential wasp nests that are forming. Remember, sealants will degrade over time. So it is crucial to ensure you are reapplying annually as needed. 

Improve Your Food Storage 

Safely storing food ensures that ants and other insects don’t contaminate it. Restricting access to your pantry items by using air-tight containers is a great way to ensure that these pests cannot enter loose packaging, chew through cardboard boxes or find other ways to get to it. One important thing to remember is that this also includes pet food that may be stored inside the home and human food items like breads, cereal, or other starchy and sugary foods. 

Locate and Treat Ant Colonies Outside 

One great way to keep ants from invading your home is to be proactive in finding them and treating for them outdoors. The further you can drive back colonies away from the house, the less likely they will be to try and venture indoors. When paired with an ant barrier around the home’s foundation, this is a great way to ensure that you remain ant-free during the spring and summer months. Although, it is essential to ensure that your lawn is well maintained and kept as clean as possible to make locating these colonies easier. 

Contact a Pest Control Professional 

Obtaining a preventative pest control plan through a pest control professional can help keep ants from invading your home and other common pests like cockroaches, rodents, spiders and more. At Emtec Pest Control, our preventative pest control plans are designed to ensure that these common pests don’t become roommates with our clients. Contact Emtec Pest Control, and we will happily provide you with a completely free, whole home or business pest control evaluation.