Got ants? That’s a problem. Ants in your apartment can be a nuisance and make your apartment feel dirty! But you don’t have to resort to harsh chemicals to get rid of your pest problem. Here are a few home remedies for getting rid of ants in your apartment once and for all.
Why Are There Ants in My Apartment in the First Place?
Ants typically don’t infiltrate your apartment unless they have a reason to. And that reason is almost always food. Even crumbs left on the counter can attract a colony of ants. Additionally, ants don’t care where you live, so you can get ants in a third floor apartment or a 30th floor high rise.
So, while it seems like a no-brainer, eliminating their food source is the best way to repel ants. Cleaning up spills and messes as soon as possible is one of the best ways to avoid an ant problem in your apartment. But if you do have ants, here are some ways to get rid of them.
1. Use vinegar and water to create a natural ant repellent.
Vinegar is a great natural solution to repel and kill ants. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it around the areas where you’ve seen ants. The acidity of the vinegar spray will help keep the ants at bay by making it difficult for them to travel through the sprayed areas.
2. Use lemon juice as a natural ant repellent.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice around the areas where you’ve seen ants and leave a lemon-scented trail around common food areas like your sink. The strong citrus scent can repel ants; like the vinegar spray, it’s tough for them to walk through the treated area. When using lemon juice, however, be cautious not to apply it to things like hardwood floors or plated brass items, as acidic lemon juice can damage these surfaces.
3. Use essential oils as a natural ant repellent.
Peppermint oil, citrus oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, and tea tree oil are all known to repel ants. Mix a few drops of any of these essential oils with water in a spray bottle and spray it around the areas where you’ve seen ants. As an added bonus, this method can make your house smell amazing! Win-win!
4. Seal cracks and crevices.
Ants can enter your apartment through small cracks and crevices, especially around windows and doors. Luckily ants usually make it easy to spot where they’re coming from by forming a line to their entry points. Mark the places you suspect ants are getting in, and call your apartment’s maintenance service to come out and seal them up.
5. Call in the experts.
Home remedies can only get you so far. If you find that the ants are not responding to these methods, it’s best to have a professional pest control company take care of your problem. They can identify the type of ant you have and recommend the best course of action to get rid of them.
6. Inform your apartment’s maintenance team.
Your ant problem may not actually be your fault. It may result from a messy neighbor or a lack of pest control on the apartment complex’s property. Home remedies can help keep ants at bay, but it’s best to inform your apartment maintenance team about any pest infestations so they can treat the problem properly. This not only takes care of the problem in your unit but also helps them identify a problem that may be occurring in other apartment units as well.
7. Find a new apartment with ApartmentSearch.
If you’re tired of dealing with pest problems, it’s worth considering moving to a new apartment. ApartmentSearch is the perfect resource to find a new pest-free place. But why stop there? Find a new apartment with the perfect pool, community amenities, pet perks, and more, all through ApartmentSearch.
