How to Get Rid of Ants

Even though some pests have more of a reputation for spreading diseases, don’t be fooled into thinking that ants are just an annoyance, because they can carry and transmit nasty bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Clostridium, and Streptococcus.

So when they get into your premises and they crawl over your worktops, inside your cupboards, and in food storage areas, this is definitely a cause for concern, especially for food businesses and places where a sterile environment is vital, like hospitals or care homes.

Ants travel long distances in search of food, and they leave pheromone trails that attract more ants to the food source, and before you know it you, you’ve got an infestation.

Want to know how to deal with an ant problem before it gets out of hand? Here’s how to get rid of ants.

Why do you need to act fast to get rid of ants?

Ants are more than just a nuisance, they can cost you money and your reputation can suffer. An infestation of any kind can be disastrous in places that produce or handle food, or that need to be kept sterile. If your business is a pub, restaurant, hotel, hospital, or any other food or healthcare operation, failing to comply with strict hygiene regulations can land you in legal hot water too.

Not only that, if you don’t act fast to control your ant problem, you’ll most likely have to throw away contaminated products and you might have to deal with a PR nightmare if your customers find out about a pest problem on your premises.

How to get rid of ants

To deal with any pest problem, you have to know what type of pest you are dealing with. This might sound obvious, but you have to be sure that it is an ant problem you’re dealing with so that any attempts at treatment will be effective.

This is where getting a professional pest control service comes in. Trained and experienced pest control technicians will be able to identify the signs of an ant infestation and determine exactly what you’re dealing with, then recommend and carry out an effective treatment. This can potentially save you time and money, compared to trying different DIY options that might not work.

Why might DIY options not work?

Many DIY options will enable you to kill any ants you see, but this won’t have any effect on the ants that are in the nest. You have to destroy the nest and kill the ants in it to get rid of the problem.

Professional pest controllers often use a gel bait insecticide to get rid of ants. It won’t kill them overnight, but what happens is that the worker ants that are merrily crawling around your premises looking for food will take the bait back to the nest and feed it to the queen ant and any offspring, eliminating the nest and the infestation.

How can I prepare for a professional pest control service?

There are some steps you can take to prepare your premises before pest control technicians arrive including:

• Wiping down counters, sweeping floors, and cleaning up spillages to remove alternative food sources. You want the ants to take the bait!
• Making sure all food products are stored in airtight, pest-proof containers.
• Making sure your bins are emptied regularly.
• Being prepared to tell the pest control technicians exactly where in your premises you’ve seen ants.

How we can help

Professional pest control is the only way you can protect your business and deal with pest problems fast and effectively.

Our highly-trained and experienced technicians will survey your premises, recommend a bespoke ant control solution that meets your needs, and deal with the problem fast and effectively.

Need help now?