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The Ultimate Guide to Rodent Control
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In my work in pest control, ants are a top complaint each spring in Virginia and Maryland. Most homeowners first notice ants in the kitchen or bathroom. After a rainy spell, I’d get calls about a line of ants suddenly trailing across counters.
DIY tricks might kill ants you see, but they rarely rid your home of the whole colony. Professional ant control starts with inspection to ID each species of ants, locate nests, and seal entry points. With non-repellent products and focused ant bait, we help keep ants away for good.
Try home remedies for ants. Ants naturally avoid citrus peels. Ants hate white vinegar sprayed along trails. A mix of dish soap and water confuses their scent trails. Many of the ants avoid cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil. These solutions may only deter ants short-term.
You can find diatomaceous earth at Home Depot. It kills ants by drying them out. Borax mixed with sugar makes cheap ant bait that worker ants will carry back to the nest. Dish soap traps ants and kills them on contact.
Seal cracks and crevices to stop ants from coming inside. Keep counters clean and store pantry items in airtight containers. Remember, ants love sweet spills, so wipe up sugary messes right away. Vacuum ant trails and dead ants to remove scent of the food that ants use to find paths.
These steps help prevent ants in your home and keep ants in the house away from food.
Registered technicians follow steps no DIY can match. We inspect, confirm species, and write an integrated ant control plan. Then we use professional ant bait and non-repellent barriers tested in studies to cut foragers by over 98% in eight weeks (peer-reviewed research).
A detailed inspection uses moisture meters, a hand lens, and thermal imaging. We track worker ants to parent nests.
Identifying the species of ants is critical since carpenter ants, pavement ants, odorous house ants, pharaoh ants, and Argentine ants need different treatment. For help with species, see Kinds of Ants: Identifying Different Types in DC Metro or check Worker Ants 101: What They Are and How to Identify Them.
We place ant bait targeted to each species and apply a micro-encapsulated, non-repellent barrier around your home. This method drives ants away from your yard and keeps ants at bay for months. Store-bought sprays just repel ants temporarily.
Licensed technicians drill into voids and inject foam or borate dust into ant colonies. We repair moisture damage, replace decayed wood, and seal entry points. This stops ants in the walls, preventing future colony spread.
We return quarterly to retreat any new trails and refresh barriers. Keeping ants away is all about timing; most products last 90 days. Our free callbacks help maintain your ant-free home until you’re satisfied.
Virginia and Maryland’s humid summers and freeze-thaw winters encourage several pests. These include carpenter ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, and expanding Argentine ants.
For a quick visual guide, check our Ant Identification Chart: Types of Household Pests & Control.
Dense shrubs touching siding and heavy mulch may attract ants. Keep bark mulch and soil 6 inches from walls. Fix irrigation leaks and clear gutters. In order to keep ants away, reduce moisture and shade at your foundation. For tips specific to our area, see How to Prevent Ants in Virginia.
DIY kits might kill the ants you see, but miss hidden nests. Pro pest control uses restricted-use products and full structural fixes. This yields longer control and peace of mind at a comparable price when you factor time and callbacks.
Summer storms drive ants or even other pests inside for dry ground. Drought pushes them in for water. Crawl-space designs and brick veneer joints offer perfect entry. Ants are attracted to spilled soda or pet kibble outdoors. They can invade your living space.
If home remedies and store baits don’t stop ants within a week, your problem with ants may be a full infestation. Call a pro if you notice a line of ants returning or see ants in your home walls. We can help get rid of ants you didn’t even know about.
For reliable ant control, pro techniques protect your home and yard. Our licensed technicians ensure lasting results with targeted baiting, non-repellent barriers, and follow-ups. Don’t think the ants you see make up the entire colony. Let us help you get rid of ants in your home and avoid future ant infestations.
Call with any questions or for an estimate at 703-683-2000 or email us at [email protected]
Citrus peels, coffee grounds, cinnamon, and peppermint oil act as a natural repellent. White vinegar spray also breaks scent trails. These home remedies can deter ants, but they won’t reach hidden nests in walls.
Strong scents like peppermint, orange, and lemon confuse ants. White vinegar disrupts trails too. Many of the ants leave treated areas and avoid these smells for hours.
Non-repellent baits like indoxacarb gel and fipronil barriers offer top results. These products transfer through ant colonies for better control than contact sprays, which only kill the foragers.
One of the best ways to permanently get rid of ants is a full inspection, targeted ant bait, direct nest treatment, and a follow-up plan. DIY can help, but pro pest control ensures you permanently get rid of ants.
Seal cracks, fix leaks, store food in airtight containers, and keep counters free of crumbs. Regularly remove outdoor moisture sources to prevent ants in your home.
Diatomaceous earth can kill foraging ants by drying them out. However, it won’t reach nests deep in walls. It works best paired with pro treatments for full control.
Call when DIY stops ants only briefly or you see ants inside walls. Registered technicians can identify species, treat nests, and keep ants away long-term.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
