Is Your Salt Lamp Leaking Water? Here’s What to Do
Concerned about a leaking salt lamp? Don't worry, it's not the end of the world - but it can be a hazard. Here's why your lamp is leaking.
Read MoreAlmost 70% of American households rely on automatic dishwashers. If you’re reading this article, you likely own a dishwasher and are experiencing ant infestation issues!
In this article we’re going to look at ways to get ants out of your dishwasher and living areas.
First of all, should you even be concerned about ants?
YES – and this is why:
WILL THE ANTS JUST GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN?
NO. For you to rid yourself of ants on a long term basis, you have to seal off their points of entry and remove their access to food and water sources.
We’ve put together a guide for you with easy ‘no more ants!’ solutions below:
CAUSE | SOLUTION |
♦ Food smells in the dishwasher | → Pour at least 1 cup of vinegar down the dishwasher’s drain. This will mask food odors and sanitize the drain |
♦ Food particles building up in the dishwasher | → After cleaning with vinegar, run the machine on an empty wash cycle, this will remove dead ants and food build – up |
♦ Ants have a nest nearby | → Lay down ant baits. The ants will take these back to the nest and poison the colony. |
♦ Food and crumbs left out | → Good hygiene around the dishwasher is a must. Put left overs away immediately. Mix 1 cup distilled vinegar + 1 cup water for a cost effective & antibacterial cleanser for wiping down kitchen surfaces |
♦ Cracks or holes in the dishwasher | → Get a sealant from your local hardware and seal up holes in pipes, door seals etc. |
♦ Dishes left in dishwasher and not washed immediately | → Either wash dishes immediately OR if leaving dirty dishes in the machine shut the machine door tightly and make sure all cracks/holes in the plumbing are sealed off and kept in good repair. |
♦ Ants are attracted by water pooling in the dishwasher after use | → Soak up puddles with an absorbent cloth and fix leaky piping. |
♦ Ants coming from behind the dishwasher | → This is highly problematic as this could be signs of an ant infestation elsewhere in the home! Lay down bait and ant traps or contact a pest control expert if the issue persists. |
A little known secret weapon in the war on ants is SCENT. There are some smells that ants simply hate, so use them to get rid of ants in your home.
Here’s a list of scents to try:
Besides being a nuisance, ants around the home can do significant damage, as we’ve covered so far. Here are some things you can try to get rid of them permanently.
AREA | SOLUTION | WHY IT WORKS |
• Interior or exterior of the home | * Diatomaceous Earth – Pest Control labelled, follow the package directions closely | ✓ D.E kills insects like ants through dehydration. |
• Exterior – place around ant nests | * Liquid ant baits | ✓ Taken back to the nest and queen ant, so kills all the ants at the source. |
• Interior or exterior of the home | * Ant sprays | ✓ Forms a barrier and disrupts ant trails into your home. |
• Exterior & garden | * Outdoor ant repellents | ✓ Creates a barrier that ants won’t want to cross. |
• Interior | * Regular vacuuming | ✓ Removes crumbs & food scraps that are attracting ants. |
• Interior or exterior of the home | * Sealing trash bins | ✓ Removes the source of the ant’s food. |
• Kitchen | * Well sealed food containers | ✓ Eliminates food odors that attract ants. |
• Exterior | * Cleaning roof gutters | ✓ Removes debris so that ants can’t build nests. |
• Exterior | * Removal of vegetation close to the home. | ✓ Stops ants building nests right on your doorstep. |
NB: many products on offer for dealing with ants are dangerous/poisonous to humans. Please take a quick look at these pointers and stay safe!
Hopefully this article has given you loads of tips and tricks for dealing with ants in the dishwasher and elsewhere. Please follow our safety precautions and enjoy ant – free living in your home!