Most Cost-Effective Ways to Get Rid of Ants
Ants can be a common problem in a variety of homes, but you may not need to hire an exterminator as soon as you see them. Getting rid of ants doesn’t have to be extremely expensive or very difficult. Although these pests are frustrating, there are definitely ways you can get rid of them regardless of your unique ant problems. Here are a few of the most cost-effective methods you can use to get rid of ants in your home.
- Seal Cracks and Holes in Walls
First off, if you have any small cracks and holes in your walls, you’ll want to seal those. In many situations, you can do that on your own. Just grab a caulking gun and plaster over the small cracks. Of course, if these cracks are very large or if you have a significant number of them, you might need to talk to an expert about structural worries.
- Fix Your Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Most of the time, leaky pipes and faucets only require your own tools. Grab a wrench from your local home improvement store and try tightening up any pipes and faucets that currently have leaks. You may be able to fix a large number of these leaky pipes and faucets without ever calling in a plumber.
- Seal Food in Airtight Containers
After you get shelf-stable food, you may want to consider transferring that food into a secondary airtight container. Ants only need a little bit of food to keep going back to, and certain shelf-stable products that aren’t in airtight containers, like pasta and cereal, often give these ants more than enough to keep invading your home. Airtight containers are cheap, readily available, and effective.
- Wipe Down Kitchen Counters After Using Them
Once you’re done using your kitchen counters, always wipe them down. It can be tempting to only wipe down the kitchen counters when you can see that there are crumbs or food residue on the counter, but remember that ants can see small things much better than you can. Even if you don’t see anything, wiping down the counters gets rid of near-microscopic food particles.
- Use Vinegar Where You See Ants
When you see ants in certain areas, you may want to wipe those areas down with vinegar. Vinegar helps dissuade ants from certain areas, which can help you avoid them entirely. If you hate the smell, you can use a 50/50 water and vinegar mix, which may smell less strong but still work to keep ants away from your home.
- Empty Your Trash Regularly
Most people know they should empty the trash on a regular basis, but it’s important to remember this means emptying your trash directly to the garbage can. The trash is full of both water and food, which attracts ants very well. Emptying the trash makes it less likely that you’ll end up with ants inside your home.
- Repair Your Cracked Pavement and Foundations
It’s true that this one isn’t technically cheap, but it is extremely cost-effective. That’s because cracked pavement and foundations can let ants inside your home until they’re fixed. Additionally, they can indicate a deeper problem that will persist unless you fix the problem. That makes the money you spend on fixing them extremely cost-effective both for ant problems and structural concerns.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of cost-effective ways to get rid of ants. These aren’t all cheap, per se, but they can definitely make it easier for you to manage your ant problem without having to get an expensive exterminator. Consider trying these methods of getting rid of your ants next time you have an ant infestation, and make sure you talk to an expert about any underlying problems.
