Keep ants and other pests out by sealing cracks and crevices around windows, doors, wiring, plumbing and foundations. Seal gaps and cracks and maintain door sweeps in good condition. Since most ant pests nest outdoors, preventing access to the building is an important control measure.
Keep food preparation and eating areas clean. Rinse or wash recyclable food containers before storing. Empty trash cans daily and keep cans clean inside and out. At least once daily, wipe counters, sinks, and other surfaces that collect food debris. Store food in sealed containers with tight-fitting lids or inside refrigerators and freezers.
Regularly check pest-prone areas, such as kitchens and staff lounges, for indicators of ant problems. Moisture is also attractive to ants, so watch sinks and drains and report leaky plumbing immediately.
Wipe up individual ants with a sponge and soapy water and dispose of them. Ant trails may be wiped up, mopped with soapy water, or vacuumed.
How to prevent sugar ants from invading your home
Since sugar ants are most prevalent between March and September, take countermeasures throughout the year to prevent them from entering your home.
Look for damp areas Sugar ants are attracted to dark and damp environments like bathrooms, garbage disposals, and kitchen sinks. Wipe away excess water with a dry towel and fix any plumbing leaks to prevent ants from forming a nest in these areas.
Routinely clean your sink Thoroughly rinse dirty dishes and drain the sink of any standing water. After the sink is cleared of all dishes, wipe down the sink in its entirety with a dry paper towel and make sure you haven’t left any residual food or moisture behind. A garbage disposal may also be a big draw for sugar ants. To destroy their pheromones, pour a little bleach into the garbage disposal every few days this should destroy any ant attractants.
Sweep or vacuum your kitchen floor after meals—Even trace amounts of food left behind on counters or floors are enough to lure a trail of ants into your home. Sweep or vacuum at least once a night during the summer to make sure any pheromone trails aren’t left for other sugar ants to follow.
Take the trash out regularly Holes in garbage bags can attract sugar ants to discarded food and lead them straight to your trash. Use strong garbage bags to prevent holes from forming and take the trash out every time it gets full