Having ants in dishwasher is a bad thing. They could come and invade your machine. Well, you need to know how to get rid of ants in dishwasher in safe ways!
Short answer: clean your dishwasher regularly. Do not let any leftovers in the machine because this is the main thing that will invite ants.
The dishwasher is an enormously useful device in both small households and large restaurant kitchens.
It can save you time, and it can wash dishes at a more efficient rate than you ever could by hand. However, there is usually a problem that comes with the dishwasher.
Ants like to get into the dishwasher to seek leftover food. These leftovers contain an odor that invites ants to come.
Of course, this is an uncomfortable experience. Let me show you how to get rid of ants in the dishwasher properly!
Contents
Why do ants come to the dishwasher?
1. Ants love the warmth from the machine
Ants are very smart creatures and highly tactical. They are nocturnal animals, so instead of relying on sunlight for warmth, they will use anything else that can take the edge off of the cold.
As we know, dishwashers tend to get warm in the course of a wash cycle.
This probably explains why ants love going into dishwashers and nesting inside them. Ants love warmth so they often come near dishwashers because it provides that warmth.
2. Ants look for the leftover
The ants are coming to the dishwasher because they are looking for food. They come to the dishwasher because they think that’s where they might find some leftover food.
They get attracted by food particles and therefore reach the dishwasher.
How to get rid of ants in dishwasher
1. Clean the dishwasher
One of the ways that you can get rid of ants in the kitchen is by dealing with things more directly.
When there are food residues in your dishwasher from washing dirty plates, it could invite ants to come and invade. If you let it for some time, you will undoubtedly encounter a few ants.
Cleaning your dishwasher every day after washing soiled dishes is a smart idea. You can limit the number of dishes and food particles that attract ants by cleaning the dishwasher on a regular basis.
2. Put some cloves near the dishwasher
If you want to get rid of ants in your dishwasher, put two cloves near the lid. Most everything hates the strong scent of cloves, so you can use this trick to keep them from invading your kitchen.
The smell of the cloves will repel the ants from entering their colonies behind the dishes inside the dishwasher.
Cloves are a natural repellent, so the ants will be discouraged to enter your dishwasher. Be sure to put most of the cloves close to the pump because that is usually where ants enter the dishwasher.
3. Sprinkle a few drops of pepper around the dishwasher
If you’re having problems with ants in your dishwasher, there are a few different things you can do.
Sprinkling pepper around the dishwasher will act as a deterrent for ants because pepper is irritating to them and ant colonies don’t want their home to be a big mess.
You should sprinkle a few drops of pepper around the dishwasher, or put a few drops between the rubber and the seal of the door. Sprinkling pepper around an ant infestation ensures that the ants will not attempt to nest there.
4. Put a few drops of lemon juice
If you have ants in your dishwasher, another thing you could do is pour a few drops of lemon juice into the dishwasher. Lemon juice has a smell that ants hate, and they will leave the dishwasher by themselves.
The strong smell and acidity of the lemon juice will cause the ants to flee your dishwasher, so you can enjoy clean, ant-free dishes.
5. Spray the interior of the door with vinegar
Vinegar is a great ant repellant. The smell of vinegar will keep the ants away. It’s such a great environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to keep ants from entering your home and from getting into your property.
The vinegar spray will be invisible to ants, but they won’t like the vinegar smell or the acetic acid. Make sure to use it when the dishwasher is empty.
A few sprays on the door and the ants are gone.
If you want to try extreme steps, running vinegar through a cycle or two can effectively kill off the pests without having to pay for an exterminator or calling some guy with a giant hose.
Simply pour vinegar into the top of the dishwasher and run it with no dishes inside for about 30 minutes.
Vinegar is also a good option to remove the urine smell in the bathroom or even clean your yellowed bathtub.
6. Clean up crumbs and spillages around your home
Ants usually get into the dishwasher when they smell food and crumbs inside of it. If you want to get rid of ants in the dishwasher, clean up crumbs and spillages around your home.
The ants will be looking for food, so if you don’t have any food or crumbs lying around in your kitchen or anywhere else in your home, then you should be able to get rid of them for good.
7. Keep your dishwasher dry
Ants in the dishwasher can be irritating pests because they can damage the equipment and make a big mess.
If you have ants in your dishwasher, the easiest way to dispose of them is to keep the dishwasher dry.
This is important because if there’s too much moisture inside the dishwasher, it can create nesting places for ants and spread mildew.
Can I use chemical ingredients to get rid of ants in the dishwasher?
Never use chemicals to get rid of ants in your dishwasher.
There are many different ways to eliminate ants from your dishwasher. Many people try dusting the ants or spraying the area with a repellant, but in reality, these things can be dangerous.
These products are usually highly toxic and if they get into the food while it’s drying they will contaminate the food, plate, or kitchen hardware that you serve to your guests.
When you mix your dishes with toxic and powerful chemicals, you may end up poisoning yourself.
Many people want to get rid of ants in the dishwasher as soon as possible, so they opt for using chemicals rather than doing it the natural way.
Some people assume that homemade remedies, like mint or vinegar, won’t really do much. They think using chemical ingredients will do a better job of getting rid of all their ant problems.
Nope, this is a serious problem.
It is best to use natural repellent to get rid of ants in the dishwasher.
Using natural ingredients for pest management may take a little bit longer than using chemicals, but it’s a more effective and safer option.
Natural ways to treat the problem can be considered safer for people who use the dishwasher regularly.
Conclusion
The dishwasher is a great invention, but when you discover ants in your dishwasher, it sure is a pain!
For anyone that has ants in their dishwasher, this article will be a lifesaver. This article is full of tips and tricks that you can use to get rid of irritating ants.
- Clean the dishwasher
- Put some cloves near the dishwasher
- Try sprinkling a few drops of pepper around the dishwasher
- Put a few drops of lemon juice
- Spray the interior of the door with vinegar
- Clean up crumbs and spillages around your home
- Keep your dishwasher dry
Read my other tips to remove the bat on the porch!
