Anyone who left a city even once risks facing ants in RV. These insects seem to be harmless, yet some spices can be dangerous, biting and spreading diseases. Moreover, they might also be a sign of poor sanitary or an indication of other kinds of pests that can lead to a number of other problems in the future. Repelling is the easiest way to avoid pests, yet distancing from insects is close to impossible if you travel around natural landscapes. This article is dedicated to protecting houses on wheels from infection, focusing on how to get rid of ants in RV.
- Unclutter your RV, and clean it inside out. Remove food leftovers and put the product in a closed container.
- Prepare a vinegar solution and spray it directly on the ants. Wipe dead ants with a towel.
- Scatter cayenne or black pepper around wheels to protect RV in the future.
Ants in RV: Harm, Killing and Prevention
Ways of fighting ants fall into two categories: natural and chemical. They have their own advantages and drawbacks, but both of them work best on clean premises. However, you can’t isolate your trailer from the environment; you can make it uncomfortable for pests to settle.
The harm ants bring indoors
No insects are welcome indoors for a reason. Any pests signal about lack of sanitary since they select places where they can find enough food, like overfilled trash bins or breadcrumbs over the bed. Ants are not associated with danger like spiders, but some species still can bite, spread diseases or damage your house.
There are a number of venomous ants like red, fire, army ants, etc. Their bites lead to different consequences, but they always cause skin irritation and itching. Unfortunately, the kind of ant campers harbor varies, so you usually learn if you deal with a poisonous ant only after it bites you.
What attracts ants?
Traveling outside the city increases the possibility of meeting pests inside your RV ― simple parking in high grass might lead to an infestation. The reasons why insects settle indoors tend to be much alike for most species since every individual searches for a spot to feed and mate. Ants enter trailers from the outdoors and stay there if the conditions promote safety.
- Easy access to food is the first thing that attracts ants. They feed on everything that contains even a bit of sugar. Thus, not only sweets and fruits are bait, but most manufactured food like bread or cereal.
- The other nourishing source for ants is dead bugs. Thus, if a trailer is already infested, its owners risk doubling their problems.
- Dark cluttered areas become the breeding ground of infestation often. They protect ants from being disturbed by people, so they are perfectly suited for nesting.
Natural ways to repel ants
Using means by hand to get rid of pests have a lot of advantages: the remedies are easy to prepare, they cost less than chemicals, and they are less likely to cause health issues like allergy, skin irritation, or asthma attack.
- Vinegar is probably the most popular product to handle household issues, from cleaning and unclogging to killing insects. Dilute vinegar with the same amount of water and spay it directly on these insects.
- Lemons also fit fighting ants. Add 3 parts of water to 1 part of lemon juice and spray it around your place. This solution can work as a repellent as well, and unlike vinegar, it can be used permanently.
- Ants hate any aggressive products. Thus, you can use pepper to destroy their nest. Put a handful of cayenne or black pepper on the source of the infestation to make it unsuitable for living, and then remove it.
Chemicals remedies
Pesticides are perceived as more effective and reliable against insects. They are elaborated specially for killing pests, providing expected results. However, chemicals might harm the trailer inhabitants, so they are mainly used by professionals. If you determine to use this kind of repellent on your own, stick to the following recommendations:
- Give your preference to enclosed bait traps over sprays since they are less likely to harm your airways and mucous.
- Apply these remedies in clean rooms to make them work from the first time and avoid unnecessary contact with chemicals.
- Read and follow the instructions, and make sure you’ve selected a suitable remedy before purchasing.
How to prevent ants
Prevention is the best way to keep insects away from your place since fighting nests and individuals takes much less time. The basic rules are universal. They work both for houses and trailers and prevent most species.
- Keep your place clean. Avoid cluttering and clean every nook and cranny regularly. These inspections will help you detect a problem early on and deprive ants of a safe space to settle.
- Never store food in open containers or even left on a plate. Available feed sources are the most important factor for ants to settle.
- Check your trailer for cracks and gaps and close them, so insects can’t find their way inside.
- Protect the wheels with substances that deter ants so they can’t crumble up. Scatter chalk, pepper, or cinnamon around any detail of the trailer that touches the ground.
FAQ on How to Get Rid of Ants in a Camper
Here are the most popular questions on how to keep ants out of RV and kill them if the prevention doesn’t help.
How do you get rid of ants permanently inside?
The first rule is to declutter your space and make it an uncomfortable environment for ants. Then you can select a natural or synthetic way to kill them. The most effective self-prepared remedies should contain vinegar, lemon juice, or pepper.
What keeps ants out of RV?
Physical barriers work best for repelling ants. Protect the wheels with scatter chalk, pepper, or cinnamon so they don’t even approach the trailer. Scatter these powders around any detail that can serve as a bridge to enter the trailer.
Why are there ants in my trailer?
Ants can crawl indoors at any stop, especially if you pass bushy landscapes. These insects are a sign of poor sanitation since they settle in places that provide enough food. They also can signal your RV has some gaps that allow them to enter.
Journey Without RV Ants
Cleanness is crucial for preventing and fighting ants in camper. However, most insects are attracted by a similar environment. The main condition for ants to settle is accessible feed sources like leftovers in open boxes. To not let ants indoors, close all gaps in the trailer and scatter pepper around the wheels. Unfortunately, these methods don’t give a 100% guarantee, so if they manage to get inside, consider preparing remedies with vinegar, lemon, or pepper and spreading it on the ants. The other way is using pesticides.
Which method do you trust more? Please share your suggestions.
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