Stop Ants Before
They Invade
Ants are persistent, but they are predictable. Follow our expert exclusion and sanitation strategies to keep your Victorian home ant-free.
Why Do Ants Enter Your Home?
Ants enter homes for three simple reasons: Food, Water, and Shelter. In Victoria, extreme weather (both heatwaves and heavy rain) drives colonies indoors. While you can't control the weather, you can control the attractants.
1 Sanitation
Scout ants leave invisible pheromone trails for others to follow. Even a few crumbs can trigger an invasion.
- Wipe down benches immediately after spills (especially juice/soft drink).
- Store sugar, cereal, and pet food in airtight plastic or glass containers.
- Empty indoor bins daily, or use bins with tight-sealing lids.
2 Exclusion
Ants can squeeze through cracks 1mm wide. Physically blocking their path forces them to look elsewhere.
- Apply silicone sealant to gaps around windows, doors, and skirting boards.
- Seal entry points around utility pipes (gas, water, electricity) entering the house.
- Repair torn flyscreens and install door sweeps.
3 Garden Defense
Your garden is the staging ground. Reduce the population outside to prevent them coming inside.
- Trim tree branches and shrubs so they don't touch the walls or roof (ant bridges).
- Keep mulch/soil at least 50mm below the weep holes of your brickwork.
- Control aphids on plants. Ants "farm" aphids for honeydew sugar.
4 Moisture Control
Ants dehydrate easily. They are constantly searching for water sources, especially in summer.
- Fix leaking taps, pipes, and air-conditioning overflow pipes.
- Check for water pooling near the foundation of the house.
- Ensure bathroom and kitchen areas are dry and well-ventilated.
Your Weekend "Ant-Proofing" Checklist
Take an hour this weekend to perform these simple checks. It could save you hundreds in pest control fees later.
- Pull out the fridge/dishwasher and sweep underneath.
- Inspect the perimeter foundation for ant trails.
- Clean out the pet food bowl area with soapy water.
- Check the pantry for open sugar/flour bags and seal them.
- Clear away any pile of leaves or wood near the house walls.
Prevention Failed? Don't Panic.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a colony is too established. Supermarket sprays can make it worse by causing the colony to split.
We use Termidor® and Arilon®
Our professional treatments are non-repellent. The ants don't know they are walking through it, so they take it back to the nest and eliminate the queen.