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Most people are packing up their barbecues and picnic blankets as summer comes to a close, but unfortunately, ants are still scurrying around searching for food. Late summer is the peak foraging season for ants as their colonies will have grown larger, so they need more plenty of food to sustain themselves.
Having any ripening fruit or vegetables in the garden will attract ants, but even pet bowls and a small amount of spilled crumbs is enough for them to try to come inside your home. If ants are becoming a problem then it is incredibly important to keep your kitchen tidy, but Andrew Saladino, an expert from Kitchen Cabinet Kings, has shared you also need to be doing a quick evening clean to keep them away for good.
Andrew said: “Take the time each night to quickly wipe down your countertops, sweep any crumbs off the floor, and put dishes in the dishwasher. Doing so will minimise the potential risk of an ant infestation.”
It might seem simple, but ants lay down pheromone tails when they are searching food, and even a few crumbs on the ground will cause them to leave a scent so other ants will follow.
The best way to stop ants coming into your home is to break these pheromone trails, which is why you need to be wiping your counters every day as they tend to have the most food residue on them.
Ants have very strong senses which means they can detect event the smallest amount of food such as sugar crystals, juice droplets, grease or any other miniscule leftovers.
You can clean your counters at any time but it can be easier to do it before you go to bed as ants are very active at night since the weather is cooler and there are less humans about.
The best way to keep ants out of your home
A very effective way to clean counters is white vinegar, which is acidic so can kill bacteria but has a pungent scent that will break down any ant pheromones.
Andrew said: “A mixture of white vinegar and water can be used to wipe down the entry point and surrounding surfaces. The smell of the vinegar can disrupt the ant’s scent trails, which will help discourage them from reentering your home.”
Simply place the white vinegar and some water in a spray bottle, and use it all around your counters. Make sure you spray any counter edges, under any kitchen appliances and also use it around your sink as well.
If you have more time, it can really help to reorganise your kitchen cupboards and seal up any food in open packets. Make sure to close your rubbish bin at night and empty your pet bowls as well.
Taking a few minutes to clean in the evening might be a pain, but it is the absolute best way to keep any pesky ants out of your home. Once your kitchen is clean, it can also help to use some other natural deterrents like cinnamon or peppermint oil as a extra preventative measure.
