One of the most common pest control problems you’ll encounter is a trail of ants making their way to your kitchen or other areas of your home. Not only do ants infest your food, but some may also deliver painful bites or stings. If you have a recurring ant problem in your home, try these DIY tips to control the problem, and then call your local exterminator for a permanent solution.

How to Remove Ants From Your Home

1. Identify the Species

You don’t need to get too scientific here, but there are a few basic signs to look at. If your ants are small and black, they are probably house ants and aren’t likely to have a serious sting. However, larger, brightly colored ants may be more aggressive and difficult to deal with, so call in a pest control expert.

2. Find the Nest

No matter how many individual ants you remove, the nest will always produce more, so treat the problem at its source. You can often complete this step just by following a line of ants back to their starting point. Some ants prefer to nest outdoors, but others will make their nests in your home—sometimes hollowing out wooden cabinetry or furniture like termites.

3. Treat the Nest

Once you’ve found the nest, it’s easy to eliminate. A bleach mixture or a pot of boiling, soapy water can be poured into outdoor nests to kill most of the ants inside. However, aggressive species like fire ants may swarm out to defend the nest, so if you encounter this type, leave the treatment to an expert. For indoor ant colonies, you’re better off setting out ant traps that will poison the whole group.

4. Seal Entrances

After you eliminate your ant colony, take some steps to keep new ants out of your home. If following ant trails showed you how they’re getting inside, now is a good time to seal that off.

5. Vacuum Up Stragglers

Give your home a thorough cleaning to eliminate any easy food sources which may be attracting ants. As you do this, you may come across a few leftover insects. You can simply vacuum them up with your everyday vacuum cleaner and then dump the bag in an outdoor garbage can.

Ants are a nuisance but can be dealt with at home or by a professional. If you have a recurring ant problem, or they are a dangerous variety, call in a pest control expert to get rid of the infestation.

Based in Newport, OH, Joy Exterminators serves Marietta and Beverly, OH, and Parkersburg, New Martinsville, and St. Mary's, WV, with fast, effective pest control. From ant treatments to rodent removal, they tackle any pest problem with their thorough training and cutting-edge technology. Call them at (740) 473-2739 to schedule an appointment or learn more online.