How to Prevent Ants From Taking Over Your Home

Many people look at ants and ignore them. Usually it's because
they're afraid to be bitten (often the case with red ants) or because
they think, what's the harm in one ant or two? A LOT. Though they
aren't as popular as termites or moths, ants are an insect that can
turn your home upside down. Not too long after you see one or two
ants, you may end up seeing hundreds of them puttering around! So
before it's too late, learn how to prevent ants from taking over your
home.The first thing you have to do is make sure to cut off their food
source. Ants will eat anything humans eat so making sure that your
food is stored well is important. Make sure you use airtight
containers made of plastic, glass or metal. Think plastic and
cardboard containers can be eaten through by these insects. Also,
inspect food packages before you buy them. Sometimes we bring ants and
other insects directly from the store without our knowing!Once you've
secured your food, begin to hunt for the entrances the ants are using
to get into your home. Follow the ants to see where they go and where
they're entering. Seal off these entrances. You can plug the holes and
cracks or simply line them with some ant chalk. Ants won't cross over
ant chalk so this is one great method of keeping them out. If you
continue to have a problem, check for other cracks and holes.Say you
find a hole or crevice and you can't properly seal it off? Use some
home remedies to keep the ants away. Sprinkle some cinnamon or chili
pepper into the hole or crevice. Like ant chalk, they will not cross
over these ingredients. For further prevention, plant mint and cloves
around your home as these will repel the insects. You can also dip bay
leaves into some mint mouthwash and place these in problem areas.When
trying to exterminate ants, try not to kill them unless you are
certain you can flush all of them away. Dead ants will emit a
pheromone, signaling the others to come for their bodies, which means
killing them may only attract more. If you plan on washing them away,
do so with a vinegar and water solution. You are sure to both kill
them and keep others away.A severe infestation must be treated by an
expert. They will usually treat the outdoor area of the home, and then
search for the colony to kill the queen. Getting expert help and
advice is one sure way to get rid of the problem and prevent ants from
taking over your home.