Finding ants in the kitchen is an unwelcome surprise for any homeowner. What can come as an even worse surprise is finding them in your dishwasher! Part of what makes the dishwasher such an unexpected home for ants is that you would probably imagine that the whole-flooding-with-hot-water thing would make it an undesirable spot for them to post up.
However, it turns out that the occasional flooding does not do much to dissuade ants from taking up residence in this particular kitchen appliance. Let’s talk about why ants love hanging out in the dishwasher so much!
Why are there ants in the dishwasher?
The main reason ants find their way into your dishwasher is that to them, it is basically a banquet hall! Every time you put a dish in there, it usually has at least some food residue on it. That makes it the ideal spot for ants to raid, especially since dishes usually sit in the dishwasher for a couple of days before you run a full load and empty it.
You may think it would be a dangerous and deadly meal for the ants since the dishwasher is flooded with hot water every time you use it. However, it is easy for ants to hide in cracks while the dishwasher is running, keeping them safe in between meals. The dishwasher is also fairly easy for ants to get into. It has lots of cracks and seams that allow the ants easy entry and exit to their new favorite dining spot.
How do I get rid of ants in my dishwasher?
Usually the first thought of homeowners looking to rid their dishwasher of ants is, “I’ll just run the water, kill them all!” This makes sense, but as we discussed above, ants are like professional escape artists when it comes to dodging a hot rinse in your dishwasher. They can easily hide in cracks and avoid the hot water entirely, leaving them free to feast next time you load the dishwasher up. Plus, even if you do manage to kill some of the ants currently in the dishwasher this will not kill the rest of the colony. Therefore, running a hot rinse is at most a temporary fix as it still leaves the rest of the colony free to return to the dishwasher at their leisure.
One common home remedy is to use a delayed ant lure. If you place it near the dishwasher, the ants may carry some of the poisoned bait back to their colony and share it. If they successfully poison the entire colony, you will have succeeded in freeing your kitchen from the infestation. At least, temporarily. If you have ants in your home, they likely found a way into your property from outside. This means that it is very possible that there is an entry for the ants into your home that you are unaware of. Not to worry though, we can help! If you have ants in your home, call your local pest control heroes at (888) MRCLEGG and let our team leap into action defending your property.
Need help with ants in your dishwasher or elsewhere? Call Clegg’s!
If you have ants in your home, call our Clegg’s Pest Control team! Our ant extermination experts are ready to leap into action protecting your home from those unwanted pests. With over 50 years of experience, we are your go-to pest control pros. Contact our team today at (888) MRCLEGG and let us get to work getting those ants out of your home for good!
