Small ants are everywhere in my kitchen—what should I do next?

With summer in full swing, there are many pests that are ready to crash a barbecue or picnic. The real trouble is when you find ants in your home. The most common room homeowners find ants in is the kitchen. If you’ve found ants in your kitchen, there are a few steps you need to take quickly to control the infestation.

Clean up the source

Wipe up any food, drink, or grease spills as soon as they happen. Rinse out food containers before throwing them away or recycling them. Don’t let overripe fruit sit in the fruit bowl or on the counters for too long. Wash pet food bowls regularly, and store pet food in sealable containers.

Identify the intruder

Use our handy guide to identifying the types of ants in our region. It’s important to know what type of ant you’re facing because the treatment can be quite different. Especially with structure-damaging ants, like Carpenter ants, you’ll want to be decisive and thorough with treatment to prevent expensive structural repairs.

Prevent future a Small Ants issue

Ants are drawn to sweets, treats, and moist cracks and crevices that provide easy access. This tends to make your kitchen the most popular place for them to infest. Make sure you store sweets like candy, baked goods, sugar, maple syrup, and honey in glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Wipe down any sticky residue. Repair or replace leaky pipes and eliminate any sources of standing water. Ants look for moisture.

Call a pro

Even the cleanest of homes have some level of desirable food sources. Thorough repairs on siding, foundation, and screens can greatly improve your chances of preventing future infestations. However, long-lasting prevention is typically furnished by a professional. A good pest control professional will use a hybrid of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and professional-grade materials. We may be a little biased, but we have found that one-off treatment may stop invaders for a while, but consistent, thoughtful prevention stop invaders long-term.

Use the guide above to keep your home healthy and safe. Our team at Graduate Pest Solutions specializes in prevention. Call us at 413-566-8222 or contact us with any questions or if you are experiencing a pest problem. We have the knowledge and service necessary to help keep your home and workplace pest-free!