How to Keep Ants Out of the Kitchen & Off Your Lawn

Ant activity spikes in summer when warmer temperatures kick their insect instincts into gear. This means they leave their nests looking for food and expanding their shelter, which can lead to a host of problems for homeowners. 

Don’t let ant activity in your yard or home ruin your summer—make sure you can enjoy your lawn with ant prevention tips and ant extermination from Creature Control. Follow our guide below to keep your kitchen and yard free of these pesky arthropods. 

Your Guide to Getting Rid of Ants this Summer

While small instances of ants in your home may seem innocuous, they can lead to much larger problems. Ants are incredibly social creatures, so if you see one ant, there are undoubtedly more nearby. And if they find food, moisture, or shelter on your property, they’re likely to become permanent residents, breeding and growing their colony. 

How Do I Know If I Have an Ant Problem? 

Different kinds of ants can cause different types of problems for homeowners. But here are some of the most common indicators that you have one or more types of ants on your property: 

• Ant hills near or against buildings on your property
• Larger mounds in or around your yard
• Clusters of dead ants, especially near windows
• Ants coming out of walls or crossing areas in your home

Types of Ants

There are many types of ants in Michigan (including native and invasive species), but here are some of the most common:

• Carpenter Ants
• Odorous House Ants
• Little Black Ants
• Tennessee Thread Waisted Ants
• Yellow Shadow Ants
• Pharoah Ants
• Acrobatic Ants

A licensed exterminator can help you identify the specific type of ant infesting your property and tailor a pest management strategy to curb their behavior. 

Why Do Ants Keep Coming Back Every Year? 

Ants are attracted to sources of food and moisture—two things common in every modern household. Often, people mistakenly think they have eliminated an ant problem once cold weather hits only to have pest activity start up again in spring when warm weather arrives. This is because ants are dormant during periods of lower temperatures, and often homeowners fail to get rid of their ant problem due to this cycle. 

How Do I Get Rid of Ants in My Home? 

There are many common tricks to getting rid of ants. Some people love to sprinkle baby powder or cinnamon along window sills and at door thresholds to deter ants, but this can quickly be messy and may not work, especially if the barrier is disturbed. It may also prove ineffective if the ants have another way into your home that you don’t know about. 

Other homeowners find simple bait traps bought from the hardware or home supply store to be an effective solution. However, if your home is large, if you have small children or pets, or if you have recurring ant problems, bait traps may not be an ideal solution. Similarly, if the ant problem is out in your yard rather than in your home, you may struggle to get ants to take the bait into the nest and stop the problem at its source. 

No matter what your ant problem looks like, the professional ant exterminators at Creature Control can help. We provide safe, convenient solutions for all your pest control needs, from creepy crawlies on the ground to squirrels in the attic. Call us today to request your service. 

What Can I Do to Prevent Ant Problems? 

Preventing ant problems from happening in the first place is one of the smartest solutions to keeping your home pest-free. Here are some of our top tips:

1. Reduce moisture sources like leaky pipes and standing water
2. Keep all food containers sealed properly and don’t leave food out
3. Try to eat only in kitchen and dining areas and clean up after meals
4. Clean up food and water that your pets may spill or leave lying around
5. Call an exterminator when you notice any signs of ant activity

Creature Control Stops Pests in Their Tracks

With integrated pest management solutions, Creature Control provides advanced strategies for deterring and addressing pest problems. Ants don’t stand a chance against our extermination techniques—our team is committed to protecting your home and family with long-lasting solutions. From chipmunk exclusion to eliminating carpenter bees, Creature Control is here to take back your home from wildlife and pests. Contact our team to book your service appointment. 

Safe & Effective Pest Control from Creature Control

The Creature Control team is here to handle your pest issues with thorough treatments that will keep your pets and loved ones safe. Our comprehensive strategies are designed to address existing pest problems and deter recurring issues in the future. When you have a pest problem on your property, call Creature Control at (800) 441-1519 for fast, reliable service.