When I got in the car one morning to go to work and found my car absolutely infested with ants, I can honestly say it was one of the most horrific things I’d see in a long time.
It made me jump, for sure. There’s just something about ants, especially large numbers of them, which can make anyone squirm.
When you find ants in your car, the first thing you’re going to be thinking about is how to get rid of them as quickly as possible. In today’s guide, I’m going to talk you through everything you need to know when it comes to getting ants out of your car as fast as possible and keeping them out for good.
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Is It Worth Cleaning Ants Out?
Before we get into clearing your ants out, you may be wondering whether they’re actually a problem in the first place. To cut the long story short, yes. Ants can cause a severe amount of damage to your car.
While ants are small in size, ants can get into the mechanics of your car. They can then clog up pipes if they make nests inside. Some more aggressive ant species, like fire ants, can even munch through electrical wires. Considering there can be thousands of ants in a single colony, it’s easy to see why they can cause a heap of damage in a short space of time.
The worst part is that when different colonies of ants cross each other, they release pheromones and become very angry. This can make ants even more aggressive, thus causing more damage. If the ants get into your engine, they can block up your energy pipe and may block serious parts that can cost hundreds of dollars to repair.
This is why it’s vital to clean ants out as quickly as possible after noticing them. Here are some approaches you’re going to need to know about.
Clean Your Car Out
Like all insects and bugs, ants will only appear in places where there’s a food source. Look around your car, and it’s probably going to be clear why the ants are there. Maybe you’ve left some food or drink somewhere, and this is what’s drawing them in.
The best way to clean your car is to chuck all the rubbish away and then clean the floor and the seats with a vacuum. I love the ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner since it can help you get into all those hard to reach little places.
When you’ve cleaned up the main rubbish, you might want to go a bit deeper with any food or stains in your car. For example, if you’ve spilled fizzy drinks on the seat, this can attract ants by the bucket loads.
You can use any fabric cleaner, but make sure you’re choosing the right cleaner for your car. If you have leather seats, then you need to use a special leather seat cleaner. If you have traditional fabric seats, then a standard upholstery cleaner like the Woolite Cleaner is ideal.
Put Down Ant Traps
Just like you would in your house, one of the best ways to get rid of an ant infestation is to lay down ant traps. There are loads of ant traps on the market, so it’s all about finding which one works for you. However, most will work similarly.
I use the Terro T300 Bait Traps since you get six in a pack, and they’re ready to use straight out of the box.
Just simply put the traps down near your doors or where you see the ants and leave them for 12-24 hours. The liquid inside traps the ants, so they stick to it, and then you can just chuck the lure away.
Depending on how many ants you have, you may need to do this several times to get them all. If you’ve vacuumed your car, then they should leave pretty quickly.
Another trap product you can use is an ant fogger, like the Hot Shot No Mess Fogger. This is just a simple spray you point-and-push onto the ants to kill them within a few hours.
Preventing Ants Coming in the First Place
Once you’ve got rid of your ants, or even if you’re dealing with a currently ant-free car, the very best thing you can do is stop ants from getting into your vehicle at all. There are many ways you can do this.
First, stop bringing food and drink into your car. Just avoid eating in your car wherever possible, even if that means eating next to your car. If you drop crumbs and bits of food in your car, even if you can’t see the debris, this can attract ants.
If you can’t help but eat in your car, then make sure you’re as careful as possible if not dropping crumbs. Be as cautious as you can. When you’re done, brush down your seats and dashboard, and ensure you put all rubbish into the bin.
Secondly, you’ll want to check around the areas where you park most often. You could be at home, at work, or just looking around the area you park wherever it is you go. Look for ant hills by the side of your car and avoid any places you see ants.
Cleaning Up Your Driveway
If you have ant hills around your parking space, or have ants living in your driveway, then you’re going to increase your chances of getting ants in your car.
Whether at home or at work, I like to use Demon Max Insecticide 25.3% solution because you can just pour it on the ants, and it will clear up your ants within a few hours.
Like most of the options here, try to make sure you’re keeping your driveway clean from food and drink. You can also sweep it every now and then to ensure materials don’t build up that ants can use to build a nest quickly.
Treat Your Tires
The only way ants are going to get into your car is by climbing up your tires and then crawling through holes and spaces. If you treat your tires with anti-ant solutions, then you can stop ants from getting in and out of your car completely.
You can use any ant bait you want for this, but I recommend using the Advance Granular Ant Bait. Just sprinkle the powder onto your tires and let it sit for 24 hours, and it should do the trick. If ants start coming back again, just apply more bait on them!
Get a Professional ServiceÂ
If worse comes to worst and you can’t seem to get rid of your ant infestations yourself, then it’s time to call in the big guns. Do an online search to see what pest control services in your area deal with ants and how quickly they’ll be able to clear them out.
These services’ costs can change a lot depending on what they offer, so it’s always a good idea to shop around and get some quotes before deciding which pest control service is right for you.
It may take a day or two to clear the ants out altogether, but once they’re gone, you’ll have your car back to its working, clean self. Just don’t forget to clean out your rubbish to stop them from coming back again!