7 ways to invite ants into your home and how to stop them
Experts share their take on this all-too-common bug problem.
Once you spot an ant in your home, you know trouble is just around the corner. That single intruder likely has other people crawling behind it, and before you know it, your space will feel like it's been invaded by annoying insects. Sometimes it seems like ants are unavoidable, but your habits could make your home even more attractive to them. harmful . Read on to find out seven ways you can attract ants to your home and what you can do to stop them.
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1 You let shrubs and trees grow too close to your house.
You might like to have lots of greenery around your house, but be careful where you let things grow.
Shannon Harlow Ellis , partner certified entomologist and technical specialist at Mosquito Joe, says Better life that shrubs and trees can act as a highway on which ants can travel if they overhang or touch a house.
With that in mind, make sure you never let your greenery get too close to your home.
"By keeping that vegetation at least 3 inches from the structure, you limit those 'highways,'" Harlow-Ellis shares.
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2 You wear your shoes inside.
Shoes can also serve as a means of transport for ants, according to Ryan Farley , A home care expert and CEO of LawnStarter.
“If you or your children spend a lot of time outside, it is quite possible to take a passenger or two with your shoes,” he explains.
And it may not end there.
"That may be enough to get the process started, especially if you wear shoes at home," warns Farley. "Try to avoid wear shoes indoors and make sure your hall or mudroom is closed off from the rest of the house.
3 You have a window air conditioner.
This summer has been hot and many of us have gone out of our way to try to stay our houses are cool . But if you have a window air conditioner, Leonard Ang , home expert and CEO of iPropertyManagement, says you might end up inviting yourself to a new problem.
"If you have a window air conditioner, it's important to make sure it's fitted properly in the window and that the window seals perfectly," notes Ang. "Not only does this keep cold air in and warm air out, but it also keeps pests out of cracks."
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4 You have fragrant flowers planted nearby.
Although beautiful flowers can beautify your garden, you should also avoid planting them too close to your house, especially if they give off a strong smell. Fragrant flowers to watch include gardenias, roses, lavender, peonies, daffodils and azaleas, according to Better homes and gardens .
"Ants use their sense of smell to find food, shelter, and water," says Harlow-Ellis. Better life . "By planting fragrant flowers near the structure, workers or forager ants will smell it as a food source."
5 You leave pet food between meals.
You may know that you shouldn't leave food out if you don't want to attract ants. But it also includes any food for your pet, depending on Megane Wede , co-owner of pest control company Well-made pest control solutions.
“Pets like cats and dogs often have food dishes containing wet or dry food for hours between feedings. This food source for your pet can also serve as a food source for ants,” warns Wede.
To deter ants, she recommends pet owners schedule feedings and clean their pet's food dish until the next meal.
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6 You have leaky pipes.
But it's not just food that can cause problems. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
"Like any other living creature, ants also need water to survive." Mo-Samir , pest control expert and Senior Technician for Bugwise Pest Control, says. This means that your leaky pipes could be an interesting find for these pesky pests.
"To stop ants, fix any leaky pipes or faucets and make sure there's no standing water in or around your home," advises Samir.
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7 You do not clean near electrical outlets.
Few people realize that ants love electrical outlets. Ben Esman , general contractor, landscape architect and founder of My life in the garden , tell Better life .
"Electromagnetic fields can attract them," he explains.
Therefore, any mess around electrical outlets may simply increase the attraction of ants.
"Sugar spills or sugary residue near those places? It's like throwing a party they weren't invited to," Esman says. "So be sure to wipe down surfaces regularly and check behind appliances."
