With spring right around the corner, it won't be long before common household ants become a problem for many homeowners yet again. Unlike many household pests, these tiny creatures are able to fit through even the smallest spaces and feast on even the smallest crumbs for days. Consequently, the usual methods of sealing off cracks in the wall and placing food products into air tight containers may not be enough to keep ants out of your home. Thankfully, there are still a few very effective ways that you can stop an ant invasion in its tracks without the use of potentially dangerous chemicals.

Destroy The Ant's Trail

As ants make their way through your home, they will leave behind an invisible trail that allows them to use their sense of smell to navigate their way through your home and back to their nest without getting lost. Once the scout ant has determined that your home makes a wonderful food supply, they will also use this invisible trail to guide the rest of their colony into your home. Consequently, destroying this trail is one of the most effective ways to stop an invasion in its tracks.

In order to eliminate the trails left behind by ants that have been sent to scout your house is to use bleach- or ammonia-based products to clean all of the countertops and floors in your home. Not only will these cleaning products remove the trail, but they will also overpower the ant's sense of smell and prevent them from finding their way back into your home.

Deter Them With Amazing Smells

What smells good to you does not always smell so good to an ant. This is because many of the scents that people find pleasant are overpowering to a small ant and will send them packing in the other direction. The good news is, this means that you can effectively keep ants out of your home, while also helping your home to smell amazing.

There are several different products that have been used to keep ants at bay by overpowering their sense of smell. However, the two most effective products are ground cinnamon and peppermint oil.

In order to tap into the power of these natural ant repellents, simply create a line of ground cinnamon or peppermint oil around the openings where ants tend to enter your home. For instance, you may wish to place these products along baseboards, window sills, and doors. For assistance, contact a professional like Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control.