Cleaning, Garden, Home

How to get rid of ants in your home

Ants

Ants are not dangerous to humans. Nevertheless, they can be real pests in the house and apartment. Do not panic – with a few tricks you can curb the plague and get rid of ants in your home. First, find out why the insects actually got into the walls and what attracted them. Then you can decide how best to get get rid of ants in your home. We answer the most important questions about the topic.

Why do ants come into the home?

There are several causes of ant plagues in the house or apartment. There are usually two reasons for your new roommates arriving:

  • Ants have tracked down food in their homes
  • Ants have found good conditions for nest building there

The first option is the most probable. In most cases, the storage pests are looking for food, which is why they have penetrated into the living space. They form so-called “ant roads”, which they mark with fragrances and draw attention to conspecifics. The paths can lead through gaps in the house wall as well as through leaky windows and doors.

Most of the ants are out for sugar or protein foods. It is rare for ants to actually nest in apartments or houses.

Are ants dangerous?

In general, ants pose no danger to humans. Rather, the insects are useful animals, which loosen up the earth with their passages. In addition, they enrich the soil with fertilizer. The bites and stings are still painful to humans and can cause skin irritation.

In the worst case, the insects crawl into electrical devices, this can lead to cable fire. For allergy sufferers, special care should be taken, here should be contacted with appropriate reactions to a doctor.

 Get rid of ants in your home without chemicals

In order to protect the environment – and also their own health – should be dispensed with damaging the ant plague on chemical agents and biocides, as informed by the consumer center Hamburg. Especially elderly, sick or pregnant persons as well as babies can suffer from the contact with the use of chemical insecticides. In addition, the funds pollute the groundwater and damage the environment.

Baking soda, herbs, chemistry: what helps ants in the home?

A proven home remedy is to spread baking soda to combat the ants. Biologists also confirm that this method is effective. The downside: As the baking soda swells in the abdomen of the ants and they thereby burst, the animals are unnecessarily tormented. There are also animal friendly options:

  • Draw a line with chalk. Ants cannot pass this
  • Lock the access with clay, silicone or glue
  • Plant or design aromatic plants such as lavender, thyme or marjoram. The animals do not like the scent
  • Essential oils of lemon herb, chervil or lavender confuse the ants
  • Use home remedies such as lemon zest, vinegar or cinnamon
  • Special “ant oil” distributes the insects with fragrances
  • Store supplies in closed containers, such as jars with rubber seals

If all attempts fail, a professional pest controller can take action against the ants in case of emergency. However, this should be discussed in advance that no dangerous insecticides are used.  For pet owners, it is also important to keep the food bowl always clean. The leftovers in the shell can attract ants.

Does the landlord need to clear ants in the apartment?

Normally the tenant is responsible because in most cases the ants are looking for food sources in the apartment. Therefore, the tenant should eliminate them and ensure that the ants disappear again.

 In exceptional cases, however, it may be that the insects have chosen the apartment as a suitable place for nesting. Behind it are often structural defects in the building. Then the landlord should be informed immediately. He is then obliged to investigate the situation and remedy the damage. If this does not happen and the apartment cannot be used because of the infestation, this may be a reason for rent reduction.

gerhardt-richter Gerhardt Richter is a writer and a trainer at trade technical colleges, specializing in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and construction.