• Ants can become a serious problem indoors.ants image by Indigo Fish from Fotolia.com
  
  There are numerous varieties of ants found in North America. These include the carpenter ants, which hollow out wood, and fire ants, which inflict painful stings. Ants can become a serious problem in homes and various methods have been devised to destroy them or prevent them returning to sites where they were once active.
  
  

Sanitation and Housekeeping

• Preventing ants from gaining access to stored food items is a vital element of ant control. If ants are unable to harvest food and take it to their nest, they are far less likely to return to your kitchen or pantry. Food items that are kept in a fridge are normally safe, but ensure that the seal on the refrigerator is intact. For food that can not be placed in the refrigerator, use plastic containers with tight seals and snap on lids, wherever possible. Depending on the food type, glass jars with rubber gaskets and a clamp system, work well.
  
  

Clean Obsessively

• Ants do not easily return to areas that have little to offer by way of food. Keep all kitchen surfaces scrupulously clean. Develop the habit of wiping up food that has spilled and food residue, both during and after cooking. Wash dishes as soon after eating as possible and dry up any water that remain around the sink. Kitchen drains must also be flushed regularly by pouring boiling water into them. Baking soda can also be added to drains in order to clean them. Vacuum the house on a regular basis to ensure that food particles do not remain on furniture or on the carpet. By wiping down work surfaces, any pheromone trail that has been left from previous visits by ants, will also be removed.
  
  

Garbage Can Maintenance

• It is important to wash the garbage can on a regular basis. Used metal, plastic and glass containers that are to be disposed of, must be washed first to remove residue food. Food that is to be disposed of should be separated out from other garbage and placed in a bag or container that can be sealed.
  
  

Monitor Pet Food

• Food bowls for dogs and cats should be removed after the pet has stopped eating and left the bowl. If a companion animal requires food to be constantly available, the pet's food dish can be placed in a shallow tray containing water. This prevents the ants from reaching the food.
  
  

Zero Moisture

• Ants require and actively seek out moisture. Always have leaking taps and pipes repaired promptly and do routine checks to ensure that puddles of water are not accumulating in any area of the house.
  
  

Ant Baits

• Ant baits are a popular method of controlling these insects. Although the designs may differ, the principle behind this method of control is to place ant poison in a container that ants, but not other animals can gain access to. The poison, which is palatable to ants, is taken back to the colony, where all larvae and the queen eventually also feed on it.