Ants in the kitchen or pantry is an issue that’s happened to nearly everyone. You open up the pantry door to grab an ingredient for dinner, only to find a line of ants dutifully marching nearby. But don’t lose hope! Ants are a common problem, and that means that solutions are also relatively easy. 

Check your storage containers.

The first step to taking care of ants in the kitchen is to seal off their tempting food sources. Using tightly sealed containers for things like flour, sugar, and pet food removes their access to food, thus making it less likely they’ll invade your kitchen space. 

Clean up spills immediately.

“Eh, I’ll get it later” can lead to ants finding your spill first. Always quickly wipe up or throw away anything spilled. Use soap and water to get sugar off counters, and properly dispose of any paper towels used to clean up messes. (If you use reusable towels, toss them in the washer to clean off the food debris.)

Take a look at your plants, towels, and other moisture sources. 

Herb gardens and other flora are great additions to any kitchen. However, they can also lead to attracting ants thanks to standing moisture. Since they’re small, ants don’t need a lot of water to survive. Wet towels or poorly draining sinks can also be enticing water sources for ants. 

Seal small crevices. 

If you have tiny holes around your windows or screen doors, look for ways to patch them. Check for any rotting or rotten wood around entry points (especially windows). Sealing these holes with caulk or replacing rotting wood will help keep ants and other pests out of your kitchen. 

Consider adding lemon and citrus to your cleaning. 

This has been a popular DIY trick for keeping ants at bay. Add a few drops of lemon, lime or orange to wherever ants get into your kitchen. Some also suggest squeezing some fresh lemon into your cleaning solution whenever you mop your floors. 

Know when to call the pros. 

There are tons of at-home remedies and plenty of on-the-shelf chemical solutions available to handle ants, but sometimes ants just won’t seem to leave your property alone. If you’re struggling with constant waves of ants no matter how hard you try, give us a call. As the leading pest control company in Des Moines, we’re skilled at helping homeowners get pests out of their lives. Give us a call at  515-279-7378 or contact us online to schedule a free inspection.