Ant Infestation in Michigan kitchen here’s what to Do

Finding a trail of ants marching through the kitchen is infuriating. One day there’s nothing, and the next day there on your countertops, floors, and pantry, looking like the insect highway. If you live in Michigan, especially during the month, the infestations are common and stubborn.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get rid of ants in your Michigan kitchen and why they invade your kitchens, and how do I identify what kind of Ant you are dealing with? And what you actually can do or what works to get rid of them and keep them out without turning your home into a chemical war zone.

Why Ants love Michigan kitchens 

Ants always in the hunt for three things food, water, and shelter. Kitchens often offer all three and one cozy package. Get rid of ants in your Michigan kitchen now.

Cameron reasons ants target your kitchen:

• crumbs and food spills on the floor counters and under appliances
• Open food containers in pantry or drawers
• Standing water in the sink or under the fridge
• Moisture buildup from leaks or humidity
• Easy access through cracks, gaps, and baseboards

Once a single scout ant find a reliable food source, it leaves a pheromone trail that leads the whole colony straight back to the jackpot.

Identify the ant species

Before you go spraying every surface, you need to know what kind of ants you are dealing with. Different ant types require different strategies.

Most common kitchen invaders in Michigan

House ants also known as sugar ants

• tiny 1/8 inch dark, brown, or black
• Smell like rotten coconuts, one crushed
• Love, sweet foods and moisture
• Nests indoors, near water, pipes, baseboards, and wall voids

Pavement ants

• Small, black or brown
• often nest under slabs or inside walls
• Show up in the spring and summer
• Trail in from cracks and concrete or foundation gaps

Carpenter ants

• large 1/4 to 1/2 inch black or reddish black
• Hollow out wood to build nestlike termites
• Prefer moist, common rotten wood
• May nest in walls, cabinets, or under the sink

Identifying the ants helps you target the nest, choose the right bait, and prevent future infestations.

Cut off the food supply

The step is not negotiable. Answer motivated by survival and food is the main draw. If your kitchen is clean and sealed tight, they’ll move on.

Clean up checklist

• wipe down counters with vinegar or disinfect daily
• Sweep and mop the floors regularly
• Vacuum under the appliances and behind the trash bins
• Rinse dishes and don’t leave the dirty ones in the sink overnight
• Store pantry items, such as flour, cereal, sugar in an airtight container
• Take out the trash often, especially when there’s food scraps

Don’t forget: 

Even pet food bowls and crumbs can be a buffet. Keep dog and cat dishes, clean and raised if possible.

Track the Ant trail

you want to follow the ants not just because they are noisy, but they can lead the entry points and possibly a nest location.

Where are ants commonly entering?

• gaps around the doors and windows
• Check baseboards or grout
• Holes in the dry drywall
• Utility pipe openings
• Floor vent gaps
• Behind electrical outlets

Used painters, tape, or sticky notes

Mark the entry points for later ceiling and bait placement. Knowing where they come from, gives you the upper hand.

Choose the right bait – avoid the wrong stuff

Here’s the biggest mistake people make grabbing the aerosol or the spray and nuking the trail. That only kills the visible ants. It doesn’t touch the colony.

Why bait works better

• and bring back what you give them to the colony and feed their queens and workers
• It wiped out the colony at the source
• Long-term fix, not just a temporary solution

Best bait for Michigan ants

• Terro liquid app beats it’s borax based great for sugar ants
• Combat max Aunt beat gel good for cracks and wall crevices
• Advion ant gel professional grade, works on multiple species

How to use:

• place the bait stations near trails, not directly on them
• Don’t disturb the trail let them come and go
• Replace the bait every few days
• Be patient bait may take several days to knock out a colony

Avoid spraying your bait you’ll scare the ants off and ruin the progress.

Seal off entry points

Once you know where the answer are coming in close the door permanently

what to use?

• silicone cock for cracks and gaps
• Weatherstripping for doors
• Foam sealant for utility holes or foundation gaps
• Diatomaceous earth around the perimeter it’s a nontoxic powder that kills crawling insects

Pro tip: insects both inside and outside the home ants often start their trails outside, near mulch, trees, or pavement cracks that makes their way through the tiniest holes.

Try natural repellent

if you’re trying to avoid harsh chemicals or have pets and kids around, natural repellent can help once the colony is dealt with.

Natural ant deterrents

• White vinegar and water spray destroys the scent of trails
• Peppermint oil diluted with water the spray on entry point
• Cinnamon powder and pantry corners
• Lemon juice around the baseboard
• Diatomaceous earth around the base of cabinets and windows

They don’t kill ants like they, but they keep them from coming back.

Know when to call a pro

If you have been fighting ants for weeks and they keep showing up or if you suspect that you have carpenter ants nesting in your walls you need professional help

You need back up

• ants are coming in side from the walls and ceiling
• You’ve tried bait, but you still see a trail after 7 to 10 days
• You see winged ants inside
• You find sawdust soft wood around cabinets – this can be carpenter damage
• You have young kids, pets or health issues that can’t risk chemicals

Professional pest control companies in Michigan can: 

• identify the species
• Locate and destroy the nest
• Apply long-term residual treatment
• Seal and secure high risk entry points
• Offer ongoing monitoring if needed

Long-term prevention tips

Once they answer gone, keep them gone with a few key habits.

• clean the kitchen daily, especially during one months
• Don’t spill, or that crumb set
• Keep dry goods in the sealed container
• Seal off entry point, especially in the spring and fall
• Trim back brush or tree branches touching your house
• Check for leaks and moisture under your sinks and appliances – call a plumber if needed

The key is to be less attractive to ants than the house next-door. If you cut off the survival needs, they’ll find somewhere else they can crash.

Final thoughts

Ants in the kitchen are annoying, but the problem is also fixable. By identifying the species, cleaning thoroughly using the right bait and stealing off entry point, you could take control of the problem and keep your own pest free.

Don’t but a few sugar ants turn into a full blown infestation. The sooner you act, the easier is to win and if you ever feel overwhelmed or just want to handle it the right way the first time.