Every summer, homeowners across Eastern Ontario deal with the same frustrating problem: ants. Whether it's a trail of tiny black ants marching across your kitchen counter or a colony of carpenter ants tunnelling through your wood framing, ants are persistent, resourceful, and surprisingly difficult to eliminate once they've moved in.
The good news? With the right preventive measures, you can make your home far less attractive to ants before they become a problem. Here are 10 proven strategies our technicians recommend.
The 10 Tips
1 Seal cracks and entry points
Ants can squeeze through gaps as small as 1mm. Inspect your home's foundation, window frames, door sweeps, and where pipes or wires enter the building. Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks you find — it's cheap, durable, and highly effective.
2 Keep your kitchen spotless
Ants are foraging for food and water. Wipe down counters after every meal, sweep or vacuum crumbs daily, and never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Even a small residue of spilled juice or a few crumbs is enough to attract a scouting ant — and where one goes, hundreds will follow.
3 Store food in airtight containers
Cardboard boxes and loosely sealed bags are no match for ants. Transfer dry goods like cereal, flour, sugar, and pet food into airtight glass or plastic containers. Pay special attention to anything sweet — sugar and honey are among ants' favourite targets.
4 Fix moisture problems
Many ant species are drawn to moisture as much as food. Fix leaky pipes, repair dripping faucets, and ensure your bathroom and kitchen are well-ventilated. Check under sinks regularly — a slow drip under the cabinet is a prime ant habitat.
5 Trim trees and shrubs away from your home
Branches that touch or overhang your roofline act as highways for ants to enter your home without ever touching the ground. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back at least 30cm from your exterior walls and roof.
6 Remove wood and debris from around your foundation
Firewood stacked against the house, rotting lumber, leaf piles, and garden debris are perfect nesting spots for ants — especially carpenter ants. Store firewood at least 6 metres from your home and keep the area around your foundation clear and dry.
7 Take out the garbage regularly
Indoor garbage bins should be emptied daily in summer, especially in the kitchen. Use bins with tight-fitting lids and clean them regularly with soap and water. Outdoor bins should be kept away from your home's entrance and cleaned monthly.
8 Use natural deterrents
Several natural substances repel ants effectively. White vinegar wiped along baseboards and entry points disrupts their scent trails. Cinnamon, peppermint oil, and lemon juice near windowsills and doorways can also deter them. While not a permanent solution, these work well as a first line of defence alongside other measures.
9 Don't let standing water accumulate
Check your property for areas where water pools — clogged gutters, birdbaths, plant saucers, and low-lying areas in the yard. Standing water attracts not just ants but a range of other pests. Ensure gutters are clean and water drains away from your foundation.
10 Schedule a preventive inspection
The most effective thing you can do is have a professional assess your property before ant season peaks. A trained technician can identify vulnerabilities you might miss and apply a targeted perimeter treatment that creates a barrier around your home all season long.
If you spot a single ant inside, don't ignore it — that's a scout. Where there's one, there's a colony nearby. Act quickly and you'll save yourself a much bigger problem down the road.
When to Call a Professional
DIY prevention goes a long way, but some ant problems require professional treatment. You should call a pest control professional if:
- You're seeing ants consistently despite cleaning and sealing entry points
- You notice large black ants (carpenter ants) near wood structures — they can cause serious structural damage
- Ant trails are appearing in multiple rooms or on upper floors
- You've tried store-bought baits and sprays without success
- You're finding ant activity in your walls or under flooring
At Willard's Pest Control, we use targeted, eco-friendly treatments that eliminate the colony — not just the ants you can see. We also identify and seal entry points so the problem doesn't come back.
Dealing with ants right now?
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