Ants can be an issue for anyone who lives in Bakersfield or the surrounding area. After all, you live right near Ant Hill! Ants have a way of making you feel overwhelmed. There are so many of them, and they can often seem to pop up out of nowhere after you thought you got rid of them all. There are a few methods that can help you get rid of ants, some more aggressive than others. Here we’ll list a few so that you can make an informed decision about which method is best for your situation.

Finding the source

If you think your ant problem isn’t at a critical point yet, and you’ve just started noticing a few lines of ants every once in a while, you might want to try to handle the problem on your own. The first thing you need to do is figure out what the ants are after. Of course, the first place you can check is the kitchen. Ants are usually after food, so look around for some unnoticed spills or crumbs that they might be feasting on. Make a habit of cleaning any accidents as soon as they happen. Wipe down all surfaces to pick up any sticky substances that might be attracting the pests. Also, take out trash more often than usual. Just because you’re done with that food doesn’t meant the ants are. Don’t leave dishes or sinks full of water sitting for very long. Believe it or not, the ants might actually be after water. People often find ants near their toilets and sinks and it’s due to their attraction to pools of water.

Removing ants, DIY style

Once you’ve cleaned your house thoroughly to take care of the source of the problem, you can start getting rid of the ants. The simplest way to do this is with a sponge and warm soapy water. Simply wipe the ants up and rinse out the sponge. Wait an hour and check the spots you wiped up again. If the ants have reappeared, repeat the process until they are completely gone. You can also use a bleach solution or all-purpose cleaner instead of soapy water. Next, there are a few household items you can use to deter ants from coming back. Vinegar, borax, cinnamon, peppermint oil and baby powder have all been known to repel ants. If you have kids or pets in the home, be careful about leaving substances lying around where they can be reached.

Calling in the pros

Maybe you’ve tried all of these do-it-yourself methods and your problem still persists. Or maybe you’d just rather not get your hands messy in the first place (a lot of people actually have a phobia of ants). Regardless of the reason, the next method is definitely the most effective: professional pest control services. Call your pest control expert and have them come over to take a look at the problem. The most common method the professionals use is a fumigator, or fogger. Using this approach will require you and your family (pets included) to leave the house for a few hours, so you’ll have to plan accordingly. By the time it’s finished you can feel confident that your ant problem will be no more. To find out more about this and other possible ant control methods, call your local pest control company. To read in detail about keeping your home free from ants (and other pests!), download our free eBook “How to Keep Your Home Pest-Free in 10 Easy Steps”