Seattle Ant Removal Tips

Sure, they might not be dangerous, but they’re still gross! So with that in mind, here’s our list of the top ways to prevent ants this spring.

Keep Your Home Crumb Free

Easier said than done, keeping your home clean is the best way to prevent ants. Ants are attracted to food, specifically sweets such as bread crumbs and crumbs from fruits. If you have children, the spread of new crumbs and food particles is a guarantee, which means ants will be attracted to your home.

We suggest vacuuming/sweeping on a daily basis in high traffic areas like the kitchen, pantry, and under the kids highchair. We also recommend cleaning off counters and table top, removing any sticky spots, as these are often made of sweet substances that attract ants. This is the hardest of our tips to maintain, but is easily the most effective method for ant prevention. If there’s no food to eat, the ants won’t be interested.

Erasing Ant Trails

Ants travel in lines, following a pheromone scent trail. This trail is initially set up by a scout ant who, when finding food, leaves a trail back to the colonie, allowing all of the worker ants to find the food source. There are two ways to prevent this. The first and easiest is, when seeing one ant by itself, to squish it with a paper towel and throw it away. The second is by erasing trails that have already been set up.

To erase a trail, you need to identify the trail. The ants will be in a single file line, moving swiftly. To remove the pheromone trail, take 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water and mix it into a spray bottle. Spray this mixture directly on the ant trail, erasing the pheromones. Note that this will lead to a lot of confused ants, so be careful where you spray it!

Batten Down the Hatches

Ants are tiny, and can get into the home through the smallest of holes. Take some time evaluating the ants paths and track down how they are getting in and out of your home. It may be under a door, through a window, or through a vent. Whatever the method, you will want to close off any holes. Most of the time, this can be solved with some caulk or a door skirt. Whichever method you decide to use, closing the entry points is crucial to preventing future ants from entering your home.

If you’ve tried all of these tips and you’re still experiencing ant problems, it may be time to call a professional exterminator. If you need pest control in Seattle, give us a call! PURCOR is here to help.