Sugar ants aren’t dangerous to humans, but they can be annoying pests. These ants are attracted to sweet and sugary foods, and they can quickly cause an infestation in your home. In addition to their appetite for sweets, sugar ants are known to carry pathogens like bacteria and yeast.
The best way to get rid of sugar ants is to use preventative measures, rather than extermination Sugar Ants Removal methods. There are a number of natural and homemade solutions that will help to deter sugar ants from entering your home. These include storing food in airtight containers, cleaning dishes immediately after eating or cooking, and applying food-grade diatomaceous earth around the areas where you notice ant activity.
Using vinegar as an ant repellent is another effective technique. Simply add equal parts white vinegar and water to a spray bottle, then apply the solution directly on the ants, their trails, or the places where you have seen them foraging. The vinegar will kill the ants and remove their pheromone trails, so other ants won’t be able to follow them to your home.
Other natural remedies for ant control include pepper, bay leaves, and coffee grounds. You can also use these in a bait station with a sugar and borax mixture to poison the ants.
It’s also important to keep your living spaces clean and free of crumbs and spills. Sweep and vacuum your floors regularly to eliminate these attractants, and take the trash out frequently. Ants are attracted to discarded food, and they will crawl through the holes in your garbage bags to access it. Ensure that you are using strong garbage bags, and take your trash out regularly to prevent this from happening.
Finally, trim trees and shrubs that touch your house or block its foundation, and pick up rotting fruit. Sugar ants love to climb into these plants, and they can spread plant-sucking insects such as aphids and scale insects that produce honeydew, which the ants are attracted to. A professional can treat these plants with systemic insecticides to kill both the ants and the insects that they are feeding on.
For a more targeted ant control approach, you can purchase commercial products such as Orange Guard and EcoSMART Organic Ant & Roach Killer. These products contain natural ingredients such as citrus peel extract to kill the ants and plant extracts to deter them from returning. However, these chemicals are harmful to pets and children, so make sure to use them with caution. For a non-toxic and child-safe option, you can try mixing a few drops of peppermint or lemongrass essential oil with water in a spray bottle and applying it around your home. This will deter ants and other pests while leaving your home with a pleasant scent.