Prevention Tips Houston Homeowners Can Use To Keep Ants Out Of The Kitchen

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of a home. It is where families and friends come together to cook, share a meal, or just grab some snacks and hang out. And where there is food, ants also gather. Is your kitchen safe from an ant infestation?

Where Do Ants Target?

Ants get into Houston homes in search of food. Since the kitchen is the room where cooking is done, food is stored, and people gather to eat, it is no surprise that this is the room most likely to have an ant invasion. But the kitchen isn’t the only room that may be targeted. If you take food into the living room, basement, bedroom, or any other room, ants may follow the crumbs. Ants also get into open trash cans. It is important to take preventative measures so that you don’t have a home invasion.

All The Problems Ants Cause Around Houston

For Houston residents, ants might seem like no big problem, but they can actually cause a lot of trouble. Here are some of the problems that local ants might be capable of causing:

Structural issues: Carpenter ants are a species of ant that is linked with property damage. They are usually lured by water damage and condensation, but they proceed to burrow inside wood, which can lead to destruction that is similar to what termites cause.
Health problems: Some ants are linked with the spread of health issues. The red imported fire ant can be particularly hazardous. These ants usually stay outdoors and create mounds while they’re trying to access the earth. If people disrupt them or they feel provoked, then they may have cause to sting repeatedly. The result of this can be painful welts, burning, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
Overall discomfort: The truth about ants is that they tend to make people uncomfortable, whether they pose a threat or not. Their mere presence is enough to make homeowners or customers squirm. If ants appear in a business, then they can tarnish an otherwise clean reputation. They might imply cleanliness issues for some patrons and cause them to cease supporting a business.

For more information on ant control, call Modern Pest Control today.

Tips To Prevent Ants

Preventing ants in Texas from getting into your home includes keeping them away from the outside of your home. Here are a few indoor and outdoor ant-prevention tips.

Indoors:

Use door sweeps to keep ants from getting inside through gaps beneath entrances to your home.
Seal gaps around pipes.
Vacuum, sweep, and mop regularly, especially after spilling sugary beverages or dropping crumbs of food.
Do not leave dishes in the sink overnight.
Keep counters, tables, stove, etc. wiped down and free of crumbs, food particles, and grease.
Store food in sealed containers.
Do not leave dirty dishes or unfinished beverages lying around the house.

Outdoors:

Seal cracks in your foundation with caulk.
Keep trash cans and recycling containers sealed so that ants can’t get in.
Do not leave pet food outside. It will attract ants and other pests.
Clear your property of debris, rotting wood, and leaves.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When dealing with ants, do-it-yourself methods of control rarely get the job done. While ant traps and other over-the-counter ant control products may get rid of some of the ants in your home, it is unlikely they will get rid of them all. Also, using certain products on some types of ants can result in ant colonies splitting up and establishing additional colonies, which will only make your ant problem worse.

Trust The Professionals

Whether you are dealing with rover ants, tawny crazy ants, fire ants, or even carpenter ants (which can cause interior damage to your home), call the trusted professionals at Modern Pest Control. We have been servicing Texas properties for over 70 years, protecting businesses, families, and homes like yours in the Houston area. Give us a call today to learn more about our ant control programs.