Do you recall your last summer morning where you walked into the kitchen to prepare breakfast but saw a parade of tiny ants marching across the surfaces? An absolute abhorrence, isn’t it? The small critter army seemingly reigning over what was once untouchable before. I can relate! I vividly remember an entire summer stuck cleaning an endless parade of ants, utterly convinced they were sunbathing in my attic kitchen.
Warm days and outdoor barbecues are a dream come true… unless you love eating like an ant, in which case that tantalizing ,scent and adorable cramped nook is the holy grail for summer likeness.
While you go on what can only be described as a tiny expedition armed with nothing but a duster, don’t fret I’ve got your back. This eidetic dream for me only came after at least twenty benders of boundless productivity of scrubbing floors, Feng shui-ing the various cupboards, attempting to organize them, sleeves rolled all the way up to the elbows. After endless sleepless nights, I managed to gather the family secrets of keeping these wee intruders at bay, sans frantically shaving off our precious time during the day recklessly scrubbing floors.
Why Ants and Other Bugs Like Your Kitchen in Summer – And How to Stop Them
During the summer, your kitchen may be prone to pest infiltration. The warmth of the season along with certain human activities provide a paradise for ants and other pests. But, what exactly attracts bugs to your kitchen, even when you do your best to scrub things clean?
What Makes Your Kitchen So Appealing?
Ants and other bugs are attracted due to the following reasons:
- Food relics and grime stuck on floors or counters.
- Unsealed containers like sugar and flour.
- Standing water from leaky faucets or pet bowls.
- Windows, doors, and even small cracks.
Last Tuesday, I noticed a group of ants feasting on sugar around my pet’s bowl. It dawned on me that even the tiniest negligence can transform your home into a pest smorgasbord.
3 Steps to Keep Your Kitchen Bug Free This Summer
There was one very hot day in August when I discovered the first permanent kitchen safeguard, and it has helped me feel relaxed ever since. While the antagonizing invaders may have issued me a bug-chalet in my kitchen, implementing the steps I used to deal with them helped positioned that bug-chalet as an attention grabbing centerpiece. All summer long my kitchen remained spotless.
With ease, I felt assesing small but precise step strategies improved the overall well being of my kitchen.
Step 1: Clean Like Your Mean It
A flashlight revealed to me that the kitchen wasn’t as clean as I thought, as there were crumbs trapped in between the microwave and the stove and sticky patches on handle of cabinets. It felt as if I was doing a detective work as I was solving little mysteries.
To clean more systematically, doing the following steps could help:
- Spray surfaces with water and vinegar and wipe them using a cloth. It helps avoid ant infestation and also mitigates any dirt on surfaces.
- Take time to sweep and mop the floor, paying special attention to corners and spaces beneath machines.
- Do a thorough clean not less than once every week, checking behind small electronics and under carpets.
- Store food, especially sugar, cereal and flour, in tightly sealed containers.
Step 2: Block Their Entry Points
I was astonished about how a simple look around could help block so many gaps, cracks and areas behind and under cupboards. Your kitchen is more likely than not to contain myriad of holes that can function as entry points for insects, and they can capitalise that the most minute spaces to squeeze through.
Here’s what I’ve done:
- Apply silicone caulk seals on windows and doors.
- Examine window screens and mend any tears.
- Add door sweeps to stop bugs sneaking inside from below.
- Put fine mesh over vents and drains to stop small pests.
Step 3: Suggested Natural Preventatives
I don’t like to use chemical sprays, especially in the kitchen area so I looked and found some remedies which are more natural and they smell better too.
- Cinnamon cloves: sprinkle around entry points. Ants hate the strong scent.
- Spray with white vinegar: problem areas like windows and doors can be sprayed after wiping with equal parts of vinegar and water.
- Lemon peels: Leave near windows and doors, they help repel insects.
- Mint plants: Keep a mint plant in the kitchen and watch ants and flies steer clear.
What not to do: 5 mistakes I made so you don’t have to
I made several blunders while trying to reclaim my kitchen, and in trying to be efficient, I ended up causing more damage. Here is a list of blunders to avoid for a smoother kitchen reorganization process:
- Do not use strong chemical sprays within the vicinity of food prep areas. They might work, but are not worth the health risk they pose.
- Do not leave food out overnight, even single cookie crumbs.
- Neglecting trash collection: not taking out the trash often invites bugs in.
- Skipping clean up under appliances: Forgetting to clean these areas means inviting pests to hidden feasts.
- Irrationally overlooking minor leaks: slow drippy leaks can attract bugs.
Working Natural repellents table for bugs:
| Bug Type | Natural Repellent | How to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ants | Vinegar and water | Wipe down countertops and entry points. |
| Common Household Bugs | Plants such as Lemon and cloves | Set slices on windowsills and doorways |
| Roaches | Borax and sugar | Apply near the edge of baseboards |
| Fruit flies | Apple cider vinegar | Cover a jar with plastic wrap after adding vinegar to trap them |
| Spiders | Peppermint oil | Using a spray bottle, apply diluted oil to corners and window frames |
Business Conclusions: Kitchen Renovation To A Pest Free Area
In all honestly, as soon as I learned how to keep my kitchen free of bugs, it no longer felt like such a burden. Instead, it was about remaining consistent. Every summer morning used to feel dreadfully the same but now, I can savor my coffee without spotting ants.
If you were struggling with the same headache, allow me to tell you that it is all possible. Follow these recommendations, make these actions part of your daily routine, and you will be able to reclaim your kitchen as well.
Have any of these tricks been tried by you? What is the first method that you reach out to in attempt to maintain bug free environment in your home? Bookmark this post and add to your summer checklist. Don’t forget to comment with your recommendations!
