Let’s talk bugs. Keep in mind, as any Israeli will tell you, even keeping your home as clean as possible may not help keep ants at bay. Listen to me when I say: having an ant problem is not a sign of a dirty home. Sometimes you can clean and clean and clean and they will still return. You may need to take further steps to help curb this problem.
I remember being on the phone with my mother after finding ants in my home and can recall the conversation clearly:
*Opens Facetime*
Me: “arrrgg. I have an ant problem”
Mom: “arrg, so do I”
Me: *Sees three ants*
Her: “I hate ants”
Me: “So, when I say I have an ant problem I don’t mean three ants. These are Israeli ants.”
My recommendation when you find ants or other pests? Okay, take a moment. Freak out, because it probably is stressful right now. Now, take a deeeeeep breath. Listening to some music or an episode of a tv show you like may not be a bad idea if you’re feeling stressed right now. Don’t worry, this too shall pass. A little elbow grease may be needed.
For ants in the kitchen area:
Start by trying to locate where they are coming from. If you can’t figure it out right away, try to keep an eye out while you work.
Make sure that all food items are properly sealed. Cereal boxes should have tight bag clips, open food should be stored in a sealed container or sealed bag.
Clean any dirty dishes that are out. If you don’t have time or are about to go on a Zoom call, put them on the stove (if there aren’t ants on it). Make sure to follow the next step before moving on.
Wipe down your kitchen table and counters. Table legs and kitchen cabinets too. Basically, anywhere you’ve seen your new “friends”. This will help prevent ant lines from forming and help you narrow down where they are coming from.
Take out the garbage and wipe down the garbage can. It’s maddening, I know, but when they want to, they will find the smallest of food residues.
Clean the floor with a bleach-based floor to erase pheromone trails.
Unfortunately, this may not be enough to permanently keep them at bay. You’ll likely need to use ant poison and your “friends” will probably return yearly. The best way to prevent a serious infestation is to locate where they are coming from. Check around windows, doors, bathrooms and along where the floor meets the wall (especially corners). I once figured out they were coming inside via the cord from an in-wall a/c unit. I’m still not completely clear on how that worked. The closer the poison is to the main entry point, the more effective it will be.
The most effective method I’ve found: keep your home as clean as possible, find where the ants are entering from, and place ant traps by entry points. Ants will likely return year to year and enter from the same places. Keeping the traps discreetly hidden under/ on top furniture, away from pets and children, and refilling them each year, will help give you piece of mind. The only place I’ve been able to find the refillable bait traps is ACE and they don’t always carry them. The blue ones are for ants and the purple ones are for cockroaches.
If the problem persists, call an exterminator.
Ants in Other Areas of the Home:
Finding ants in your bedroom is NEVER fun.
Start by making sure there is no food in the room. Not even a cup of tea. (She says from personal experience). Remove any food, open or closed from the room.
Keep an eye out for where the ants might be coming from. Maybe from a bathroom or behind a closet.
Wipe down areas where you’ve seen ants and clean the floors with a bleach-based floor cleaner. (You don’t need to wipe down your nightstand/ closet with a bleach based cleaner. If you’re concerned, use some diluted vinegar. NEVER mix vinegar and bleach as it can create a toxic gas. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Cleaning products and lung health - Mayo Clinic News Network
Put down traps/ poison in areas with the highest concentration of ants. You may not be able to find exactly where they are coming from.
I’d like to repeat: Keep in mind, as any Israeli will tell you, even keeping your home as clean as possible may not help keep ants at bay. You may need to take further steps to help curb this problem. Such as calling an exterminator. Dealing with ants is all part of the Israeli experience and is not a sign of a dirty home. Even though it can feel like it. In summary, coming back from a hard day and finding some new “friends” is never fun. Remember to give yourself a break and do something nice for yourself today.
*Please note: I am not an exterminator and any advice in this article should be considered as a suggestion and not a professional solution.
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