DIY Ant Removal
You might be asking yourself, “why would a pest control company be giving advice on home remedies? Isn’t that bad for business?” Well, we believe that by helping people and doing the right thing, customers will remember us when they need us. Also, keep in mind that nearly every home that we go to for pest control treatments has already tried something to get rid of the problem themselves. So, these suggestions may or may not work, but if the budget is tight and you need to try and solve your pest control problem on your own, I would give these a try and then call me if you still need help!
Use Boric Acid
Boric acid is a naturally occurring acid or mineral that can be found in volcanic settings, seawater, plants, and in almost all types of fruit. It is a handy tool when treating many different kinds of insects. As a pest control company, we use a lot of boric acid, but most people are not aware that you can purchase it over the counter. It is a very safe and effective option that could be tried before bringing in the professionals to treat.
First, start by looking for ant trails and track them back to their nest. Generally, ants will be looking for food and then returning it to bring sustenance to the colony. If you can reasonably determine where the nest might be located, sprinkle boric acid nearby and let the worker ants do the rest.
Ants Don’t Like Coffee
Used coffee grounds are an excellent natural ant repellent. You can sprinkle them around the perimeter foundation of your home and create a barrier that ants will not like to cross.
Make Their Trails Slippery
Ants love to follow straight lines and can often be seen making a trail up your gutters, posts, or other vertical beams. You can stop this by applying Vasoline to block the path, and generally, the ants will not cross it.
Give Them Syrup
Ants cannot resist maple syrup even know it could be their demise. Place a cup of maple syrup in one of their high traffic areas and let them swarm it. Make sure that you do not fill the cup to the top because the ants will get into the syrup and will not be able to make it back out and eventually drown.
Trim Shrubs
Treating a home that looks like an Amazon jungle is never easy, and all those shrubs that are touching the house are also a conducive condition. Be sure to cut back any bushes or tree branches that are touching your home, and you might be eliminating an ant highway.
Use Soap and Water
If you are lucky enough to track a trail back to the actual nest, you have a high chance of getting rid of it. People commonly will try and kill the ant colony by flooding it with water, but this rarely works because they can survive underwater for a very long time. Instead, make a mixture of 1 cup dish soap and 1 cup of water. Pour half of the mixture down the ant nest opening. Then, wait for about an hour and pour the rest down.
Conclusion
All the things I have mentioned have come from my customers. I have verified that these are commonly used techniques with some online research. Now, keep in mind that if these methods were effective, I probably would never have had to come to the customer’s house who used them. I do think that all of these ideas have some merit and will assist in eliminating an ant infestation. However, some ant infestations are a little too advanced for these home remedies, and that is when you will need to call in a pest control company. And, when you do, I hope that I am the one you call!