If your carpet has been infested with ants, you must be wondering what are the ways to get rid of ants in carpet? Various ways have been brought up regarding this matter, and they have seemed to work well enough.
Ants have always been a vicious abomination as they infest homes in groups and take advantage of the dark corners. Ants are a persistent source of tension, so they need a lot of attention. Ants can infest many places, but carpet infestations are particularly troublesome if the carpet is made of thick fur.
Ants can infest many other places, such as kitchens, corners, over dead insects, and more. But it can be quite troublesome if they find refuge in a carpet. The fur and the thick “skin” of the carpet prevent the ants from being visible, thus making it very obnoxious for the people using the carpet.
Why Do We Have Ants on Our Carpet?
Carpets are not usually a favorable option for ants. Carpets that are not made of thick wool or fur make the ants vulnerable to attacks as they are in plain sight.
Ants usually prefer dark and damp places, aloof from interacting with other species. The reason for such a behavior is to preserve the trace of their pheromones.
These pheromones play the main role in their communication and locomotion. They even gather food and build new colonies by communicating and moving in packs with the help of these pheromones.
But why do they still infest carpets, especially those made of thick fur? There are various reasons for such actions.
Leftover Food on the Carpets, the Main Problem
Ants will love the idea of having leftover food crumbs from the carpets. They will soon take up the opportunity and form a large group to gather all the food in no time.
In such cases, the ants might have a large group staying back in the carpets, which will gather all the food. Even spilled sweet drinks on the carpets will have the same effect and attract all the ants.
Damp Conditions in the House
If the house and its flooring have decayed due to damp conditions, they can be attractive for the ants. That is why we notice more ants during monsoon, as ants prefer a damp and dark environment. They can seep into the carpets through the floors and have a healthy time living there.
Dead Creatures on the Carpet
It is a very common source of temporary ant infestations. The creature can be any insect or a small worm. Ants usually prefer small, dead prey at home.
Groups of ants swarm around the creature and take away crumbs from the dead creature. This process is temporary as the ants will stay on the carpet till the dead creature disappears.
What are the ways to get rid of ants in carpet?
Ants are arguably one of the most common creatures in the entire world. Every person in this world must have witnessed these small pests. Due to their high numbers and tenacity, we must control them. We must find a way to get rid of them from places causing a problem.
Ants usually do not remain in carpets for a long time as they do not prefer the environment. Even so, they cause a problem for the people. Thus, there are various ways on how to get rid of ants in carpet.
Dry-Cleaning the Carpet
Dry cleaning the carpet every six to eight months is significant for having a healthy environment. The user should clean the carpet regularly without using any harmful chemicals. Users can even wash the carpets as per their wishes which is also a very good way to remove the ants.
There are various companies or organizations that offer carpet cleaning services. The user might contact a preferred company if they wish to have such a service. The user can even wash the carpets with their own hands, which will prove to be equally beneficial.
Dusting and Vacuuming the Carpet
Vacuuming the carpet on a regular basis helps to keep the present threat at bay. It also aids in the prevention of subsequent ant infestations. Vacuuming a carpet on a regular basis is an excellent method to keep it clean. In this situation, a powerful vacuum cleaner should be used.
The carpet and ants may both be cleaned with a powerful vacuum cleaner. You may use it to get rid of ants from carpets with remarkable success! Insects and other creatures are also exterminated. It removes any ants-attracting debris, such as insects and food crumbs.
After vacuuming, a thorough dusting of the carpet ensures that the surface is thoroughly cleaned. It aids in the removal of any stray, tiny particles from the work surface. A thorough clean-up is ensured when dusting and vacuuming are combined.
Using Essential Oils
Using essential oils to get rid of ants might be one of the most effective methods. Essential oils have a characteristic scent. It is great for masking their pheromone paths. It disrupts their communications. Essential oils have a lot of benefits, including aromatherapy, anti-inflammation, and insect prevention.
Ants hate the smell of essential oils, even if they act as an aromatic agent for humans. Ants usually flee from the presence of essential oils, but some essential oils can also kill them. For example, cedarwood essential oil kills ants by drying their body fluids. They also prevent future infestations by the ants.
It is advised to use them as a spray by diluting them in water and adding a little bit of alcohol to a bottle. Using essential oils without dilution might harm the carpet fabric, though it is not yet confirmed.
There are many essential oils to consider. A few examples could be – peppermint essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and lavender essential oil.
Using Disinfectants
Choosing the right disinfectant for cleaning a carpet is not very hard as many options are available on the market. But the user must make sure that they choose a disinfectant with no harmful chemicals. Harmful chemicals might destroy the carpet’s fabric, which is undesirable for any user.
We must ensure that we are not just using plain water for cleaning the carpet, as they will not clean the surface intricately. It might be subject to an even bigger ant infestation if not washed nicely. Thus, using disinfectants for washing the carpets is very important.
Using an Ant Bait at Home
Baiting the ants into a trap has been a traditional method for capturing ants. It is orthodox yet powerful. It functions by baiting the ants into a bait station and feeding the queen the bait.
The queen dies thus, destroying the harmony and accumulation of the colony. The colony dies with the queen too. An ant colony cannot survive without its queen, and the trap exploits this factor.
The user must place the bait near the carpet. The ants will take the bait and deliver it to their queen.
We can purchase ant baits at any store or online.
Can We Spray Ant Spray, Pesticides, or Insecticides on Carpet?
Using insecticides or ant sprays on the carpet surface is not advised. The liquids or the gases have a strong odor and might even leave an after effect.
Liquid insecticides can last for a long time, making it pretty dangerous for people to use the carpet. It is highly dangerous for pets to be on such carpets. They can consume such residues, and it might prove to be fatal.
Liquid insecticides or ant sprays are not preferred, but the user might try powder insecticides as they can be vacuumed or cleaned later.
How Do You Get Rid of House Ants in Your Carpet Naturally?
The use of chemicals and unnatural sources of ant repellents might be harmful to the carpets. People tend to prefer natural sources of ant repellents for their carpets, as they are harmless to the fabric. Natural sources like vinegar, cinnamon leaf spray, and diatomaceous earth are some of the most well-known remedies.
Using Vinegar Spray
Vinegar is a great natural ant repellent. It removes the existence of ants and their pheromones. We can use it by adding vinegar to an equal amount of water. The mixture is then poured into the bottle, and then it is used as a spray.
We can spray it on the carpet to eliminate the ants from the infested areas.
Using Cinnamon Leaf Spray
Cinnamon leaf sprays are made by taking 1/4 cup of water and a teaspoon full of cinnamon leaves. We have to mix it thoroughly and use it as a spray. Pet owners should not use this method, as cinnamon leaf sprays might be harmful to pets.
Using Borax and Baking Soda for Carpet Ants
This method is a sprinkling method. It is done by mixing one part of baking soda and one part of borax. We must sprinkle the mixture on the carpet. The mixture is to be vacuumed later, after a few hours.
Final Steps to Take to Prevent Ant Infestation in Carpets
In terms of prevention, the final measures are pretty straightforward. The consumption of food on the carpets must be avoided at all costs! The most common source of ant infestations is food crumbs from a meal. Keep our carpets free of dirt and debris. The best approach to prevent ants is to keep them clean and to check for any wet spots on a regular basis.
If infested, we must deal with them calmly and carefully. We should avoid the usage of liquid insecticides. We can use a variety of options as per our preferences. We can even consult an exterminator.
Conclusion
If we find ourselves infested, we must deal with the situation calmly and methodically. It is recommended that we avoid the use of liquid pesticides. Depending on our tastes, we may choose from a number of different possibilities. We can even hire an exterminator if necessary.
Natural approaches are preferred by a significant number of individuals because of the organic benefits they provide. Natural procedures do not cause any damage to the cloth.
We must also take careful care of the fabric because sustaining the quality and appearance of the carpet is a top concern. We are unable to risk the fabric in the process of eliminating the ants, so consumers should bear this in mind.