Are you suffering from an infestation on your kitchen floor? We all know that ants can quickly go from being an occasional annoyance to a persistent pest.
It’s not surprising that ants are attracted to your kitchen, seeing that the kitchen has enough crumbs to keep them busy.
It thus boils down to a pertinent issue: how to get rid of ants on kitchen floors. The most effective way to get rid of ants on your kitchen floor is by blocking their entry point, then killing them off with some household products like vinegar or soapy dish wash.
Stay tuned as we run you through the most effective way to kiss these annoying pest’s goodbye!
Find out: Can you vacuum ants?
Why you Have Ants on your Kitchen Floor
Table of Contents
Why do you suffer from an ant infestation, particularly on your kitchen floor? Well, the reason is quite obvious, isn’t it? Your kitchen is filled with resources that will definitely keep the ants happy.
The little crumbs of food on your kitchen floor are all the invitation the troublesome pests need. Thus, you need to be extra vigilant about cleaning your kitchen floor regularly.
Pet food bowls are also another ideal way ants get attracted to your kitchen. Suppose you feed your favorite pet in the kitchen. In that case, you might need to take extra care to ensure that you throw away uneaten pet food or seal them in a container.
It is also likely that your pet might have dropped some crumbs of food while eating; thus, always clear up the area immediately after your pet is done.
Standing water on your kitchen floor is also another direct invitation to ants. Thus, always fix all leaky pipes under your sink and dishwasher.
Lastly, if your trashcan is situated in your kitchen, always make sure it is covered, as ants will have a field day once they have access to your trashcan.
Read: How to get rid of carpet beetles naturally
How to Get Rid of Ants on Kitchen Floors
Before attempting to get rid of ants with any products, you need to, first of all, ensure that your kitchen is free from all food crumbs since these 6-legged pests are attracted to crumbs.
Follow the steps below to get rid of ants permanently from your kitchen:
1. Block their Entry Points
Most often than not, get into your kitchen through a particular nook or hole in your home. While it is impossible to seal every hole opening in your home, you have to try as much as possible to seal every crack and crevice. You can get their entry point by following their trail to find out their entry point.
2. Find the Nest
Sometimes, following the ant trails might not lead to the entry point but their nests. Sometimes, their nests might be located outdoors and not even inside your home. Their nests typically resemble a mound of debris or a pile of decaying leaves.
3. Destroy the Nest Directly
Once you find the nests, use outdoor non-repellent insecticide to kill the ant. Alternatively, pour a half-gallon of boiling water over the nest to collapse it and kill off the ants. For nests indoors, pour boric acid powder over the nests to kill the ants inside.
4. Find the Colony and Use a Trap
Sometimes, it might be impossible for you to find the nest or even the ants’ entry point. If that is the case, you will have to find a place where the ants gathered and destroyed them using a trap (Terro is quite effective, and it’s available on Amazon).
Position the trap very close to the colony. Once the trap kills the ants, you can use a scant amount of food-grade diatomaceous earth to kill some stray ants.
Read: How to get rid of grease on kitchen floor
Natural Homemade Products to Get Rid of Ants in your Kitchen
Sometimes, the ant infestation might not be as severe as it requires you to trace their entry points, nests, and colony. If such is the case, you can easily use some homemade products to deter and repel these pests. They include:
1. Essential Oils: essential oils like peppermint oil can be used to repel ants. Simply soak a few cotton wool balls in the oil and place them in the corners of your cabinets and drawers.
2. Lemon and Vinegar Mixture: combine equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice in warm water. Transfer to a spray bottle and shake slightly to mix the solution well. Spray all over your kitchens, such as the floors and countertops.
3. Hot Water: hot water is an ideal way to kill ants in the kitchen. Once you find the ants hole, pour hot boiling water into the hole to kill off the ants.
4. Pepper: Both black and red pepper repels ants. Sprinkle around the house to get rid of ants.
Read: How to get rid of powder post beetles
Conclusion
There is no hard and fast rule on how to get rid of ants on kitchen floors. We still maintain that the best way to get rid of ants in your kitchen is by maintaining good hygiene in your kitchen.
