It is bad enough to find out that ants are invading your home and you need to call an ant control company. It is even worse to find out that they have taken over your appliances. Imagine waking up one morning to make a cup of coffee before work only to find that ants now call your coffee pot their new place of residence. How about discovering ants nesting in your microwave? Both scenes can and do happen.
People often find ants dwelling in their appliances, which can cause mixed emotions, including disgust, defeat, horror, and frustration. Fortunately, finding ants in your appliances does not mean you have to give up your coffee or even replace all of your appliances. There are ways you can deal with ants that you find hunkering down within your home’s appliances.
The Appliance
Start by taking care of the appliance. Unplug it from the wall and use a washcloth and warm, soapy water to wipe down the exterior of the appliance. The goal is to remove food residue. If you can access the inside of the appliance, like a microwave, then make sure you wipe down the inside, too. Remove all food residue to remove anything ants find tempting.
If you cannot clean the interior of the appliance, then you need to shake it out. Turn it upside down over a trash can and shake food particles out, such as crumbs. Also, if the appliance has a catch try, remove that, clean out food debris, and wipe it clean with warm, soapy water and a dishcloth.
Around the Appliance
Clean the area where your appliance once sat. For instance, wipe down the counter where you had your coffee pot. Remove crumbs, other bits of food, and any residue you might find. The goal is to make sure the appliance and the area surrounding the appliance is as clean as possible.
Turning it Off
When your appliances are not in use, unplug them, clean them, and put them away. Ants are often attracted to appliances because it keeps them warm. Also, the majority of your appliances are in the kitchen, which is the perfect spot for an ant. They have easy access to both food and water and can scurry back to the appliance to hide.
Turning off the appliance, cleaning it, and putting it away, however, means that it is not a warm, safe place to hide anymore. Always make sure you clean every crack and crevice as well as possible to ensure ants do not find the appliance attractive even once you put it away when not in use.
Calling for Help
Finally, the best way to deal with ants in your appliances is to call an exterminator. A trained technician can handle the problem for you and eliminate an entire colony of ants quickly and effectively. The only way to stop an ant infestation is to take out the whole colony, which includes the queen, and the pros are able to do that.