The world is nothing short of species of all kinds. From the four-legged creatures that grace the grounds of the Earth to the ones that swim and flourish in the seas and the crawly critters. Most tiny creatures help nourish the soil and aid in the reproduction of plants; some, however, are considered pests.
Ant Control : How to Get Rid of Ants in the Car
In particular, ants can call your car, and even its engine their home. So, for this article, we will talk about how you can get rid of ants in your car. We’ll consider non-natural solutions, as well as some ways to get rid of ants in your car naturally.
Step #1: Move your car
Before doing anything else, consider moving your car. If you’re parking your vehicle outdoors, take note of its surroundings. If it's parked near a tree, or where a possible ant colony can be found (soil, gardens, potted plants), then you can park the car away from these things. Give it time, and the ants will move out of your car.
If you can’t move or park your car in another location, then read onwards.
In some cases, the ants in your car are just passing through
>>> Read more: Proven ways on how to keep pest away from cars.
Step #2: Keep the area clean
There is no better cure than prevention. To minimize the risks of being a hotspot for ants, always tidy up and clean after. Food spillage, crumbs, untended garbage for long periods especially on unkempt cars and spaces (like your garage), will attract these little critters.
If you have kids, or live with kids, chances are they will leave little spots of spilled sweet drink (soft drinks, juice, etc.) on your car’s fabrics. If these aren’t removable, consider having your car’s interior detailed. If they’re removable, then these can be washed.
To minimize the risks of being a hotspot for ants, always tidy up and clean after
Step #3: Erase ant trails
No doubt, when you see an ant walking around, it is expected that you’ll see another. According to science, ants leave a scented trail for their comrades to follow. This means that when an ant establishes a path, others will inevitably take on this journey and get food there too. Sweeping over your garage floor or vacuuming the car floor may not work effectively.
Ants leave a scented trail for their comrades to follow
You can go into your nearest hardware store and purchase ant traps and ant spray for an easy wipe-out. Just ask the salesperson when choosing one. They’ll guide you what’s the best option for your concern.
If you really have to spray insecticides inside your car to get rid of ants, then we advise using milder, water-based insecticides. Don’t forget to air out your car a day after bombing it with insecticides.
Step #4: Eliminate ant colonies
With the help of a toxic bait, you can now start the extermination process. This process is a "push comes to shove" kind of option mainly when you determine that ants aren't just passing by your vehicle.
Most of the time it's a black ant or the scouts that will bring the toxic food over to their colony and soon enough they’ll be swarming over to the source.
With the help of a toxic bait, you can now start the extermination process
>>> Note that: Eating behind the wheel: Bad driving habit you should quit doing.
Step #5: Look for the ant’s nest
If the bait doesn’t work and you still see a lot of ants in your garage, it might be best to look for its colony in the vicinity of your household and eliminate it.
You can always follow the ant trail or be an instant ant detective. Most of the time, they prefer damp and cold areas. Therefore, you can likely find them on roof leaks or areas where the water damage is visible.
You can likely find ant nests on roof leaks or areas where the water damage has been noticed
You can purchase insecticide that is specially formulated to eliminate them all at once.
But, be careful with using an insecticide for your vehicle. It might interfere with other fluids and disrupt the engine function. It might even harm you.
Do note also that some ant species are hyper-aggressive, and if given the chance, can kill you. One example is fire-ants, which are fairly common worldwide. If this is the case, then we highly suggest hiring an exterminator.
Step #6: Hire an exterminator
If all else fails and you can’t take the nuisance anymore, contact your local area exterminator for help. They are the ones equipped with the skills, knowledge, and tools to provide an immediate and long-term solution for unwanted animals in your garage and your vehicle.
Plus, they are experienced in dealing with the different levels of severity for each situation. Since you are dealing with insecticides and a lot of strange mixtures, doing it yourself might compromise your health. Not to mention the fact that DIY elimination of ants inside your car can be too much for you to handle.
Contact your local area exterminator for help
There are a lot of ways to eliminate ants in your vehicle and your garage, and the ones listed above are just the most common ones. In order to answer the question: "How to get rid of ants in car naturally", let's try salt mixture, spraying peppermint, cayenne pepper, and even “labuyo” peppers.
As with anything in life, prevention is better than a cure. So, when it comes to getting rid of ants in your car, remember the importance of fastidiously cleaning your car’s interior, your garage, and your surrounding areas.
>>> You might want to read: 3 easy tips every Pinoy driver should know to keep bugs away from the windshield.
What about ants in my car’s engine?
While ants can, and will make their way inside your car’s engine bay, they will have difficulty getting into the engine itself. Remember, an engine is sealed so as to maintain a certain amount of pressure.
Also, ants tend not to make nests in places subject to vibrations and extreme temperature changes.
Vacuuming up ants can work too
That said, however, how to get rid of ants in the car engine? Just make sure that your car’s oil cover and radiator cover are sealed tight. Also, periodically check your car’s air filter.
It is, after all, an accessible part to critters, and if blocked, will drastically affect your car’s performance. To address this, just give the filter a fair shake. If that doesn’t help, then it's time to get a new air filter.
And lastly, a car that was parked for long periods of time will have a greater chance of becoming an ant colony. So, if you haven’t started or used your vehicle for long periods of time, do check your engine bay.
For more useful maintenance tips and “how to” guides like this, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.
How to get rid of ants in your car: FAQ
1. Can ants live inside a car’s engine?
Answer: If the engine is in good condition then no. This is because a car’s engine is sealed. That said, ants can still get into the nooks and crannies of your engine bay, and even in specific parts like your air-filter.
2. Why do ants like my car’s interior?
Answer: Ants will like your car’s interior if it contains crumbs of food or stains for sweet beverages.
3. Who do I get rid of ants naturally?
Answer: If you prefer to use natural or organic means to get rid of ants, you can use a salt mixture, peppermint, cayenne pepper, or any spicy peppers.
4. Can I spray insecticide on my car?
Answer: If you really have to, then you can spray insecticide on your car’s interior, and even on the hood. Just make sure that you’re using water-based insecticides. Also, air out your car a day after spraying.
5. Can I vacuum the ants living in my car?
Answer: This is possible and it might even kill a fey. But if the ants are particularly aggressive, then they might just turn on you. Use a powerful vacuum.