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Home Blog  10 Tips to Keep Ants Out of Your Baltimore Home This Season

10 Tips to Keep Ants Out of Your Baltimore Home This Season

Jul 28, 2021

Ants are tiny pests that can cause massive amounts of damage. Carpenter ants alone cause an estimated $5 billion of damage to U.S homes every year. Beyond their ability to damage your property, ants can ruin your food or even bite you.

Baltimore is home to several ant species, including carpenter ants, pyramid ants, and odorous house ants. Ants are small enough to find the tiniest entryways in search of food, shelter, or water, so it’s important to take steps to keep them out of your house. 

We have put together a few tips to help you keep ants from visiting your home this summer. 

Tips to Keep Ants Out During Summer

Follow these ten steps to keep your home ant-free

1. Check Your Home’s Exterior for Cracks or Gaps

Ants can squeeze into the tiniest spaces, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any cracks or spaces leading into your home. You can apply putty or caulk to any gaps in your home’s foundation or walls to seal these access points.

2. Use Sealed Containers for Food Storage

Ants are attracted to food items such as sugar, syrup, cereals, chips, and crackers. Crumbs, fruit, sugars, and even gains of salt can also be major food sources for ants. Keeping foods properly stored in containers goes a long way in keeping ants out.

3. Keep Pet Food and Water Dishes Clean When Not in Use

Pet food is one of the easiest targets for pests. To keep ants away, only serve the amount your pet normally eats. Cleaning up extra food or water will deter ants from nesting in or near your home.

Outside feeders for other animals outside the home can also attract ants and other pests. Move nectar and jelly feeders away from doors and windows to keep ants at a distance and check feeders regularly for spills and leaks.

4. Dispose of Garbage Regularly

Food waste, including crumbs left inside food packages, can attract more ants than you might expect. Purchase sealed outdoor trash bins with lids to prevent ants from crawling inside.

5. Clean Up Crumbs and Spills Right Away

Clean cooking and eating spaces are less inviting to ants. Wipe down floors and countertops after cooking and clean dirty dishes when you’re finished with them.

6. Sweep or Vacuum Your Home Regularly

If possible, restrict eating to certain areas of your home, like the kitchen and dining room. Dining areas tend to collect tiny crumbs invisible to the naked eye. You can sweep or vacuum these spaces, in particular, to keep crumbs from accumulating.

7. Keep Your Cupboards and Pantry Clean and Make Sure Items are Properly Sealed

Food packages contaminated by ants need to be tossed out immediately. To avoid unnecessary food waste, make sure lids and bags are properly closed. Keeping stored food, including pet food, off the floor or low tables will keep them from being easy targets for ants.

8. Install Dehumidifiers

High humidity and moisture levels can cause surfaces or objects in your home to become damp. Bathrooms are easy targets for pests, so keeping them dry and free of humidity can help you avoid unwanted house guests. 

9. Repair Leaking Pipes and Faucets

An ant colony’s survival depends on having consistent access to a water supply. While colonies can survive a few days without food, they perish quickly without water.

Check underneath sinks and other plumbing for any leaky pipes. Cleaning under sinks, refrigerators, doors, and windows will also prevent water accumulation. 

10. Check Screens for Rips and Tears

Window and door screens with tears can be an easy access point for pests to get into your home. Fix or replace any screens with wear and tear. Because ants can travel through even the smallest openings, check these potential access points for damage often.

Keep Ants Out!

Finding even one ant in your home could mean more are on their way. Phenom Pest Protection’s licensed Baltimore professionals can help you get rid of ants and prevent them from getting into your home in the first place. Phenom Pest Protection offers guaranteed pest control solutions to keep your home free of any unwanted guests. Call today for a free quote!

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