For me, the holiday season is a magical time filled with festive decorations, the aroma of baked goods, and the joy of gathering with family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s also prime time for uninvited guests—ants. These tiny intruders seem to know exactly when the feast begins, showing up in swarms around cookie jars, countertops, and leftover crumbs from the holiday chaos.
If you’re anything like me, the last thing you want is for ants to crash your holiday celebrations. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tried-and-true strategies to keep ants at bay, and this year, I decided to share my secrets with you so your festivities can stay ant-free.
Why Ants Love the Holidays
Ants are particularly active during the holidays for one simple reason—food. With sugary treats, savory leftovers, and even spilled drinks around the house, the holiday table is a goldmine for them. Besides, they’re surprisingly good at finding even the tiniest crumbs or spills you might miss in the day’s hustle.
But here’s the thing to keep in mind. Ants don’t just show up because they’re greedy (although it seems that way). They’re part of a larger colony and act as hardworking scouts, searching for food and water to sustain their family. Knowing their goals made me rethink my approach to dealing with them. That’s when these strategies started making all the difference.
Step 1: Don’t Give Ants the Invite
The first line of defense is stopping ants before they even step foot in your home. Last year, I realized I was unwittingly rolling out the red carpet for them. Exterior cracks, open doors, and tiny crevices around windows became easy entry points.
Here’s what I did to “uninvite” them:
- Seal the Gaps: I used caulk to seal window frames and small cracks around my home. It took less than an hour, but it drastically reduced the number of ants coming inside.
- Check Utility Lines: If you’re like me, you may forget to check those less obvious entry points like where electrical wires and pipes come into your house. I used weather-stripping foam to seal those gaps.
Now, I know this may sound tedious, but trust me, it makes a huge difference. Even a small gap can become an ant’s main doorway.
Step 2: Clean Like You Mean It
Here’s where I learned the hard way—keeping the house sparkling clean during the holidays isn’t just about impressing guests. It’s key to keeping ants away. Ants are drawn to food residue and even sugary residues you don’t realize are there.
What made a difference for me was using a checklist:
- Wipe Everything Down: I now clean my surfaces daily with a mix of vinegar and water. (Pro tip—ants hate vinegar, so this doubles as a repellent!)
- Tackle Sticky Spots: It’s easy to miss sticky puddles or traces of syrup when you’re rushing to prepare your holiday treats. I made wiping spills promptly a habit.
- Vacuum Under the Table: It’s surprising how many crumbs gather under your dining table after a single meal. A quick vacuum took care of this.
A clean kitchen, I discovered, isn’t just pleasing to the eye—it makes your home far less interesting to ants.
Step 3: Store Food Like a Pro
When it comes to the holidays, there’s no shortage of cookies, cakes, and other goodies in my house. Unfortunately, ants love sugary treats as much as I do. Last year, before I wised up, I found ants inside my cookie jar—not fun when you’re trying to savor a gingerbread man.
Now, I’m extra cautious about food storage with these steps:
- Use Airtight Containers: Most of my pantry items, from flour to sugar, are now stored in airtight glass or plastic containers. These not only keep ants out but also make my pantry look Pinterest-worthy!
- Cover and Wrap: I cover baked goods immediately after cooling and use cling wrap or foil to protect anything left on the counter during a busy cooking day.
I also suggest double-checking pet food if you have pets—cleaning up their feeding areas often helps too!
Step 4: Natural DIY Ant Repellents
When I first started tackling the ant issue, I wasn’t excited about using strong chemicals in my home. My nieces and nephews are constantly running around during the holidays, and I wanted something safer. That’s where DIY repellents came to the rescue.
Here are my go-to remedies:
- Cinnamon Powder: I sprinkle it along window sills and near cracks. Not only do ants avoid it, but it also smells amazing—perfect for the season.
- Peppermint Oil: A few drops mixed with water in a spray bottle works wonders. I spray this around the kitchen and near doors. Bonus—it gives the house a fresh holiday aroma.
- Lemon Juice: I wipe lemon juice around areas ants frequent. It disrupts their scent trails and, thankfully, isn’t harmful to humans.
Using natural repellents doesn’t require major effort, and they blend seamlessly into my holiday routine.
Step 5: Call in the Professionals if Needed
If you’ve done everything but still notice a steady stream of ants, don’t hesitate to call in professionals. Trust me, it’s better to handle the issue sooner rather than waiting for it to grow larger. I learned this lesson a couple of holidays ago when I ignored the signs—and ended up with ants in my dining room during dinner.
Professional pest control teams can identify hidden entry points, locate colonies, and offer advanced, non-toxic solutions. It’s worth the investment for peace of mind.
Bring Back the Joy (Without the Pests!)
Keeping ants out of your home during the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated. A little prevention combined with mindful cleaning and natural repellents works wonders for me—and it can for you, too. Most importantly, it lets me focus on the joy of hosting family and friends instead of worrying about tiny invaders.
If you’re ready to make this holiday season ant-free, get started on my checklist today. Your peace of mind and crumb-free gingerbread men will thank you!
