How to get rid of tiny ants in the kitchen? I have a toddler and a cat, so I want to use things that won’t make them sick.
Priya Duchenne, Racine, WI
While we expect to see ants outside, they are certainly not welcome indoors and hanging around our food. It can be a hassle at first, but I can tell you how to get rid of tiny ants in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home. And, you shouldn’t need a commercial pesticide or other poisons to take care of the problem either.
The first step is to make your home unwelcoming to ants and other creepy crawlies. This means taking away food, which is probably the reason they come to visit. You said you have a cat, so start with your pet’s food dish. If you don’t need to leave out food because you can feed on a schedule, that’s better for keeping ants away. Be sure to sweep up any crumbs right after mealtime.
In fact, remove leftover food and spills immediately after meals that your family has, too. Check under appliances and furniture for particles that might attract ants. In the beginning, you might have to move large items out of place to ensure a deep clean. Make sure your trash can has a tight-fitting lid and put away all food in sealed containers.
Once the kitchen is clean, it’s time to put down ant repellent. One of the cheapest tools is just one part white vinegar to one part water. Spray that mixture where you’ve seen ants moving as well as windowsills and doorways they could use. The smell will disrupt their pheromone trail so that they can’t follow scouts to a food source.
If we go back to your pet’s dishes, I can illustrate another way to protect against ants. Simply use double-sided tape to make a barrier around the bowls. The tape will trap ants. This is a handy trick for the legs of a picnic table, too.
Finally, see more ideas for deterring ants in this article: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/natural-ant-remedies-how-to-get-rid-of-ants/
I hope you discovered what you need to protect your kitchen from invading insects.