Discover the secrets to banishing ants under floorboards once and for all in this comprehensive guide.
We’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to tackle this common household dilemma and restore peace to your home.
Do You Have to Remove Wooden Floorboards to Get Rid of Ants?
No need to pull up your lovely wooden floors if you spot ants coming through floorboards! The ant bait commonly used actually turns the ants into helpers in getting rid of their own colony.
Ant bait stations placed above your floorboards draw ants in, and they carry the bait back to their nest, where they share it with the other ants.
This way, the ant-killing poison spreads throughout the whole colony, wiping out your ant issue in just a few days. So, your wooden floorboards can stay right where they are while the ant problem is sorted out underneath.
But watch out, the same method won’t work for termites. These pests spread and act differently, often needing more serious action.
Can Ants Harm Your Wooden Floors?
Many of us view ants as mere nuisances during picnics or as unwanted guests in our kitchens. However, certain types of ants can actually pose a real threat to our homes, such as the black carpenter ant.
These black ants can gnaw through wood, potentially causing structural damage to your abode. That’s why understanding their habits is crucial to prevent them from becoming a problem!
In terms of their capacity for destruction, carpenter ants are comparable to termites, so it’s crucial to address a black ant infestation promptly to avoid damage to your home.
Similarly, pavement ants can also harm your home’s foundation and exterior, so they too should be dealt with swiftly.
Are Ants Naturally Drawn to Wooden Floors?
Wood is indeed a material that attracts certain species of ants, but it’s not appealing to all of them. Some ant species may actually avoid wood because it’s difficult for them to burrow into its surface or find food in the crevices between boards.
More often than not, it’s not the wood itself that attracts ants, especially carpenter ants; it’s the condition of the wood. When wood becomes damp or starts to rot, it provides an ideal nesting spot for ants.
So, if you see a lot of ants on your floor, it might mean they’ve found a cozy spot to set up their home inside the wood.
But if you spot just a single ant wandering around like it’s lost, it could be a lone explorer that hitched a ride inside from your last trip outdoors.
Just keep an eye out to make sure it’s not part of a larger group!
How To Get Rid of Ants Under Floorboards?
It’s important to understand the movement of ants in your floorboards and nearby areas to figure out their exact locations. This will help you create a strategy tailored to the situation, taking into account the number of ants and their behavior.
Keep The Floor Clean by Regular Cleaning
To deter ants, it’s essential to maintain clean floorboards and their surroundings. Regular cleaning with appropriate floor cleaners that are effective in eliminating ants will prevent them from multiplying.
A clean floor also has other benefits, such as reducing germs. Make sure to remove any spilled food and crumbs promptly. By maintaining cleanliness, you can keep ants at bay.
Adding hydrogen peroxide to your floor cleaner will eliminate germs and pests, protecting your floorboards from ants and other harmful organisms. You may also consider using cleaning agents that combine green earth peroxide with hydrogen peroxide for enhanced efficacy.
Empty And Clean the Trash Bins
Regularly cleaning the trash bins near the floorboards is essential. Avoid placing liquid waste in them, as this attracts flies and ants. Use a separate bin for paper waste. Keeping your house dry and tidy will also deter ants.
Ants are attracted to trash, so managing your bins effectively can prevent an infestation. Clean utensils and dispose of trash promptly to keep ants away from the floorboards.
Proper planning and daily routines are essential in keeping ants away from your home.
Pay Attention to Gaps Between the Floorboards
Prevent ants from hiding in floorboard cracks by using them carefully to avoid damage. Fill any cracks with epoxy filler, a strong adhesive that matches the color of your floorboard. Alternatively, you can use natural fiber rope, white glue, or wood putty to fill the gaps. For persistent cracks, consider laminating the floorboard with high-quality material.
Opt For High-quality Floorboards
Investing in good-quality floorboards can prevent ant infestations, as they are well-laminated and resistant to cracks.
Store Leftover Food in the Refrigerator
You can use various sprays to eliminate ants. Silicon dioxide, for example, erodes their shells and stomachs. However, exercise caution, as some chemicals can be harmful to humans. Borax powder is another effective, albeit less harmful, option.
Silicon dioxide can also kill the queen ant, halting the colony’s growth. Tea tree oil, mixed with water, can repel and eliminate ants. Similarly, peppermint oil mixed with water can drive ants away.
Boric acid, a toxic chemical, can also be used to eliminate insects. Mix it with water and sugar to make it less harmful, using ten drops of boric acid, sugar, and two cups of warm water to create a solution for flies and ants.
Maintain Your Lawn with Regular Mowing
Proper food storage is key to keeping ants away. Cover leftovers and store them in the freezer. Don’t leave food outside or in empty spaces, as ants will contaminate it.
Use repellents or chemicals as necessary, but always follow the instructions carefully. Opt for mild chemicals to minimize any potential harm to humans.
Eliminate Ant Nests
Locate and destroy ant colonies in your area using poison tablets or sprays. Ensure the ants don’t relocate by using effective chemicals.
Get Rid of Ant Paths
Ants follow specific trails, and you can use various methods to erase these paths. When you disrupt their trails, be sure to address any new paths they create.
Seal Entry Points to Prevent Ants from Getting In
Identify and focus on the ants’ entry points to prevent them from entering your home. Place food with chemical spray on their paths to eliminate them, adjusting the chemical strength as necessary.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dealing with ants under floorboards can be managed effectively with a well-thought-out strategy and regular maintenance.
For more helpful information on managing pests, don’t forget to check out our other blogs here at Pestweek. Together, we can make our homes pest-free!
Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.
All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.