Life is Poppin'

I believe in sharing my life so I can save you time, money and a few headaches! Always learning from my screw-ups.

  • Drives With Girls
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • DIY
  • Kid Stuff
  • Reviews
    • Giveaways

DIY: How to Deal with Carpenter Ants

May 25 by 3 Comments

Carpenter-Ants

DIY: How to Deal with Carpenter Ants

Pest infestations can be very unpleasant, especially when the little intruders are coming directly into your home. The carpenter ants are only part of the different insects which could endanger the safety of your home and your family. The moment you notice even one of them in your home, you have to take measures immediately. It is important not to underestimate the carpenter ants because they could damage seriously the wood objects and parts of you home. It could be a real challenge to get rid of those large insects, mainly because simple things like spraying, for instance, are not very effective. There is no need to panic, though, because there is an easy solution to this problem.

Before you go to the shop to buy different kinds of expensive and toxic sprays and other products, better try to find a safer alternative. If you read the label of those products, you will see that they contain a lot of strong chemicals which can be extremely dangerous for your health. Another important thing you have to know is that the spraying will probably only kill part of the intruders, while the other ones will move the nest to another place. Those ants usually create one main nest and many other satellite nests, which makes the extermination harder.

  • Locating and removing of the main nest – The first thing you have to do is to find the location of the main nest with the queen. This may take a while, but the sooner you manage to do it the better. The carpenter ants usually prefer to settle in walls, walkways and near garage doors. You can also follow the insects when you see them and they will lead you to their nest. Once you find the main nest, vacuum as many intruders as possible and then get rid of both the nest and the vacuum bag. Do the same with the satellite nests as well.
  • Fixing of the damaged areas – The next things you have to do is to fix the damages caused by the carpenter ants. When they find a place they like, they start cutting galleries into the wood in order to make a nest. That’s why you will probably see a lot of shredded wood when you are removing the nests. Inspect the damaged areas carefully and fix whatever you can.
  • Applying of a special homemade repellent – It is important to apply a product which will prevent any future infestations. It is not necessary to buy an expensive repellent, when you can make one yourself. For the purpose you only need Boric acid. You can put a little of the product in a bottle or something else and spray the dangerous areas. For big flat areas, you can mix together one tablespoon of Boric acid, a teaspoon of sugar and water. This way you can create a barrier around you home, which will stop the carpenter ants from coming again.

carpenter ants

When you are done with the extermination the little intruders, it is a good idea to clean a little. The vacuum cleaner will help you erase all traces of the infestation and you can also use white vinegar and water for the cleaning of some of the areas in your property. You have to remember, though, that like all other insects the carpenter ants are also very persistent. That is why it is important to have Boric acid in your home all the time. This product is not expensive at all but it can be just as effective as the store-bought repellents. There is always a possibility of another infestation, so it is best to be prepared.

The article is presented by DomesticCleaners Putney

Related Posts

  • DIY Heat Protectant SprayDIY Heat Protectant Spray
  • DIY Non-Toxic Fruit & Veggie WashDIY Non-Toxic Fruit & Veggie Wash
  • Canning Pumpkin Craft DIYCanning Pumpkin Craft DIY
  • Make Your Own Dusting SprayMake Your Own Dusting Spray
  • 7 Fun Toddler Craft Ideas7 Fun Toddler Craft Ideas
  • No-Sew Fabric Basket: Perfect Nursery Storage DIYNo-Sew Fabric Basket: Perfect Nursery Storage DIY
  • 2015 Ford Edge – All of What you Need, None of What you Don’t2015 Ford Edge – All of What you Need, None of What you Don’t
  • WaterWipes + Target = Chemical Free BottomsWaterWipes + Target = Chemical Free Bottoms

Don’t Miss the Latest

Celebrating the New Year in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

We drive the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 to the Great White North, where we say goodbye to a rather tumultuous 2020. 2020 has been a year for most of us, huh? So happy to get rid of it and here’s to hoping 2021 is better in every way! Of course, we say this with the […]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Family Road Trip In the 2021 Chevy Tahoe

A large and rugged country requires a large and rugged vehicle. With COVID-19 shutting down most things around us or at least applying rigorous restrictions to help slow the spread of the virus, a lot of activities we would normally do with our family are off the table. Luckily, we’ve always loved family road trips, […]

Explore Chicago: The Four Seasons With Kids

We head to the Windy City in the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Once upon a time, we could get away as a couple whenever we wanted wherever we wanted. Early mornings, late nights, breakfast in bed, shows, clubs, parties—you name it, we enjoyed it. But for a while now, we’ve had to play by a […]

2020 Hyundai Sonata: A Tech-Packed, Versatile Sedan

Yes, it can drive forward and backward without a driver, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of this stylish sedan. Sedans are dying a slow death. No, it’s not just me being negative, but a factual representation of the automotive industry, which in turn, is a direct reflection of customer’s buying habits. People […]

Filed Under: DIY

Comments

  1. krystel says

    May 25, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    very great informative article especially for someone whos dealing with carpenter ants

  2. Mai T. says

    May 26, 2015 at 4:11 am

    These ants are a real pain. It’s not only making the house dirty but also cause itchiness sometimes. I really need some safe but strong repellent on them.

  3. Kamla L. says

    May 31, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    I have a friend who is invaded by these around this time every year and could benefit from these tips. Forwarding the link to her. Thanks!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

follow-me-on-pinterest

Get to know Drives with Girls!

Drives with girls, lifeispoppin.com

Gifts for Dads

Fox 59 Segment

drives-with-girls

Popular posts you will love:

Fairy in a Jar Night Lights

Fairy in a Jar Night-Lights

4C Spider

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

gala

Womens Daily contributor transTODAY.com Parenting Team FC Contributor

TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

Everywhere

This post may contain affiliate links

Copyright ©2023, Life is Poppin'. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs