From Kitchen to Basement: How to Protect Your St. Louis Home from Ants

Ants may be small, but when they move into your home, they can cause big headaches. In St. Louis, our warm, humid summers and mild winters give ants the perfect conditions to stay active for most of the year. Once they find their way inside, they can contaminate food, cause property damage, and be tough to get rid of.

Whether you’ve seen them marching across your kitchen counter or hiding in a dark corner of your basement, the best defense is prevention. Let’s take a walk through your home, room by room, to see where ants are most likely to show up and how to keep them out.

Why Ants Target St. Louis Homes

Here in St. Louis, homeowners often run into a few common types of ants:

• Carpenter ants that can tunnel through wood and weaken structures

• Odorous house ants that give off a foul smell when crushed

• Pavement ants that slip in through cracks in the foundation or sidewalks

Ants are usually looking for one of three things: food, water, or shelter. Unfortunately, our homes can provide all three unless we take steps to make them less inviting.

The Kitchen: Ant Hotspot Number One

If ants are in your home, there is a good chance they started in the kitchen.

Why ants love kitchens:

• Crumbs and food spills that are easy to find

• Moisture from sinks, dishwashers, and refrigerators

• Plenty of storage areas that are easy to sneak into

How to keep them out:

1. Store pantry items in sealed containers

2. Wipe down counters, tables, and stovetops regularly

3. Sweep or vacuum to pick up crumbs

4. Repair any leaky pipes or faucets

5. Take out the trash often and clean your bins

Bathrooms and Laundry Rooms

Moisture is a big draw for ants, and these rooms usually have plenty of it.

Prevention tips:

• Seal any gaps or cracks around pipes

• Wipe sinks and tubs to remove standing water

• Keep drains clean and clear

• Use a dehumidifier in damp areas

Basements and Crawl Spaces

These spaces are quiet, dark, and often damp, which makes them perfect hiding spots for ants. Carpenter ants especially like these areas if they find damp or rotting wood.

Prevention tips:

• Keep firewood stored away from the home’s foundation

• Seal cracks in basement walls and floors

• Check for leaks or condensation on pipes

• Improve ventilation to lower humidity levels

Outdoor Prevention Starts at the Foundation

Stopping ants before they get inside is always easier than dealing with them later.

• Keep shrubs, bushes, and tree branches trimmed away from the house

• Avoid piling mulch directly against the foundation

• Seal gaps around windows, doors, and siding

• Bring in pet food and water bowls at night

When DIY Isn’t Enough

If you’ve sealed up entry points, cleaned up food sources, and still have ants, it’s time to call a professional.

Why choose STL Pest Control:

• We know the ant species that cause problems in St. Louis and how to deal with them

• We use safe, effective treatments that target the source of the problem

• We help you keep ants from coming back with proven prevention strategies

Final Thoughts

Keeping ants out is all about consistency. By making your home less appealing from the kitchen to the basement, you can stop most infestations before they start. But if ants have already moved in, don’t wait for them to get worse.

Call STL Pest Control today for an inspection or fast, effective ant control service. We have been helping St. Louis homeowners protect their homes since 1989, and we are ready to help you too.