Finding ants crawling across your carpet can be annoying and disturbing. Getting rid of ants on the carpet quickly and safely is important to keep your home clean and prevent potential health risks.
This comprehensive guide will teach you how to eliminate ants from your carpets using natural, non-toxic methods. We’ll cover how to identify different ant species, locate and remove food sources, use natural repellents, and seal up entry points.
By following these steps, you can get rid of ants on your carpets effectively.
How to Get Rid of Ants on Carpet
Ants on your carpet can be frustrating and difficult to eliminate. But with some detective work and natural pest control methods, you can get rid of ants without using toxic chemicals. This guide will walk you through the steps to locate, remove, and prevent ants from invading your carpets.
Common Household Ant Species
There are a few common ant species that tend to find their way inside homes and onto carpets:
Carpenter Ants
- Large, black ants up to 1/2 inch long
- Nest in damp wood outdoors and chew tunnels inside
- Forage for food inside homes, especially sweet foods
Argentine Ants
- Tiny, light brown ants around 1/8 inch long
- Form large colonies of hundreds to thousands
- Attracted to sweets and proteins
Odorous House Ants
- Brown or black ants 1/8 to 1/4 inch long
- Give off a rotten coconut odor when crushed
- Feed on sugary foods and grease
Pavement Ants
- Black or brown ants 1/8 inch long
- Nest outdoors under stones, patio blocks, etc.
- Trail along the edges of carpets looking for food
Pharaoh Ants
- Yellow or light brown ants 1/16 inch long
- Prefer warm, humid spots indoors like bathrooms
- Scavenge for sweets and proteins
Knowing the species helps identify nest locations and food preferences, which is useful when implementing control methods.
Signs of an Ant Infestation
Watch for these common signs that ants have invaded your carpets:
- Ant trails or hills on the carpet: Long lines or piles of ants marching along the carpet edges or across open floors indicate active highways.
- Ants near food spills or crumbs: Ants congregating around crumbs, grease stains, or sugary spills show they’re feeding there.
- Winged ants flying indoors: Large numbers of winged ants emerging inside means a nest is nearby.
- The musty odor from ant pheromones: Crushed ants give off a rotten, musty odor from formic acid. This ant scent attracts nestmates.
Seeing any of these signs means it’s time to take action against ants on your carpet. The sooner you implement control measures, the faster you can get rid of them.
Removing Ants from Carpet Naturally
Getting rid of ants without commercial pesticides requires some diligent cleaning, exclusion, and natural ant deterrents. Focus on these three steps to kick ants off your carpet for good:
Locate and Eliminate Food Sources
Ants need food and water to survive. Cut off their food supply and they’ll have no reason to enter your home.
- Clean up spills and crumbs right away. Don’t give ants a chance to find scraps.
- Store human and pet food in sealed containers. Keep ants out of your pantry and away from pet bowls.
- Take out the garbage regularly. Eliminate trash that attracts ants.
- Fix leaky pipes and dry wet spots. Don’t allow moisture and mold that ants feed on.
- Keep counters and floors clean. Sweep and mop to remove food debris.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes overnight. Promptly wash dishes so ants can’t access leftovers.
- Clean up pet food. Don’t free feed pets – pick up uneaten food.
- Rinse recyclables. Remove sugary residue from bottles and cans.
By denying ants access to food and water inside your home, the ants on your carpet will eventually leave in search of better resources.
Use Natural Repellents
Certain natural ingredients deter ants or mask the pheromone trails they follow. Diatomaceous earth, essential oils, vinegar, and lemon juice can help repel ants from your carpets:
- Diatomaceous earth – This powder made from fossilized algae damages the waxy coating on insect exoskeletons and cuts into their bodies, causing dehydration. Spread a fine layer along baseboards, window sills, and ant trails. Wear a mask when applying.
- Essential oils – Strong odors from oils like peppermint, tea tree, lemongrass, and cinnamon repel ants. Soak cotton balls with the oils and place them along ant trails or mix 2-3 drops of oil with water in a spray bottle and spray ant trails.
- Vinegar – Wipe up ant trails with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. You can also soak cotton balls in vinegar and place them near ant trails. The acidic smell deters ants.
- Lemon juice – Squirt lemon juice directly on ant trails or soak cotton balls and place them around areas where ants enter. Citric acid destroys ant pheromones.
Use these natural repellents frequently to discourage ants from following trails into your home. They are safe and non-toxic methods for keeping ants off carpets.
Seal Up Entry Points
Finding and sealing cracks and openings that allow ants inside is key to reducing ant incursions.
- Caulk cracks and crevices – Seal openings around baseboards, windows, door frames, electrical outlets, pipes, vents, and any other cracks.
- Weatherstrip doors and windows – Replace worn weather stripping to block entry around doors and windows.
- Apply petroleum jelly – Coat electrical outlets with petroleum jelly so ants can’t enter around switches and plugs.
- Use expanding foam – Fill larger gaps around outdoor AC units, vents, pipes, and wiring holes with expanding foam.
- Repair water leaks – Fix any water leaks or moisture issues so ants aren’t attracted to damp areas.
By denying ants access, you remove their pathways into your home and carpet. Caulking and sealing keep new colonies from invading.
When to Call a Professional Exterminator
After trying these do-it-yourself control methods, if ants persist on your carpets, it may be time to call in a professional exterminator. Signs that expert help is needed:
- Large nests inside walls or floorboards – If you suspect there’s a massive ant colony living inside the walls, an exterminator may need to access the nest for full removal.
- Multiple colonies in several rooms – Having ants in multiple rooms likely means multiple nests. Professionals have the right tools to locate and eliminate them all.
- Ants return despite your best efforts – If you’ve tried these DIY methods thoroughly and ants keep coming back, an exterminator can prescribe stronger solutions like targeted baits or insecticide dust.
Professional exterminators have industrial-strength products not available to consumers that kill ant colonies at the source.
For severe infestations, experts can pinpoint nest locations and use long-lasting chemicals to eradicate ants and prevent their return.
Conclusion
If you discover ants marching across your carpets, don’t tolerate an infestation. Identifying the species, eliminating food sources, using natural repellents, and sealing up entry points can help rid your carpets of ants safely and effectively.
With diligence, you can kick ants off your carpets for good.
But if ants persist despite your best efforts, call a professional exterminator to eradicate large or stubborn infestations and prevent future ant problems.
