How Do I Get Rid of Ants on My Kitchen Counter

Ants are the most common problem that we encounter in the kitchen. A lot of people have asked me how do I get rid of ants on my kitchen counter. Especially during Spring and Summer seasons when it’s hotter than the rest of the year. I decided to write this post to help other Mamas out there.

Ants are naturally attracted to food particles. They can also stay over because of still water, even if it’s just drippings from a wet dishrag. Ants are more common if you love baking, because of all the sugar and chocolate involved.

Get Rid Of Ants on My Kitchen Counter: My Tried and Tested Method Step by Step

First, find the source of the ants. Their nest is usually in your garden or if you have indoor plant pots. You can either pour boiling water directly into the nest or you can use chemical insecticides.

Then, check your pantry for damages. Inspect your stocks to see if ants have infested them, and if so, it’s best to throw the food away. Do not have exposed food in the kitchen, always keep them in air-tight containers. For canisters, jars, bottles, and other food containers, wipe them down. Make sure they don’t have ants or anything that would attract ants on them.

Next, is thoroughly cleaning your kitchen. And I don’t mean just simply wiping the kitchen counter with a damp cloth. Start off by cleaning your trash cans. This is where the ants start scouting because of the cocktail of food remains gathered in them. Regularly take the trash out and clean the garbage cans with soap and water to get rid of the stink as that can attract ants too. 

Then, wipe your counter with soap and water to get rid of tiny food particles and residue. Meticulously wipe every corner so as not to miss a spot. After wiping it, spray your kitchen counter with a water & vinegar solution. Simply pour 50% water and 50% white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it all over the counter. Ants hate the scent of vinegar and this will eliminate their pheromone trail.

Lastly, spray ant entry points like windows or door frames with a repellant. You can go natural by mixing peppermint or lavender oil and water. You’re getting rid of ants and your house will smell amazing too! Or you can use chemical solutions. Make sure to choose a product that has borax in it. It’s also best to set up traps in your kitchen. These can be found in pharmacies and hardware stores. You can also make your own by mixing 25% borax with a patch of peanut butter or jam. The sugar will attract them, and the borax will poison them. There’s also a high chance of them bringing a small piece of it back to their colony which will eventually terminate them.

Following these steps regularly have significantly helped my kitchen be ant-free. The key is maintaining a clean kitchen. If they don’t find any food source, they will have no reason to keep coming back. If after religiously doing all these steps and the ants still keep coming back, it’s time to call professionals for help.