Nothing ruins a car ride faster than finding a colony of ants in the vehicle. Although harmless, these pesky critters can still be an unwelcome surprise.
The discomfort, and potential mess they bring, can make for an unpleasant experience.
Fortunately, getting rid of the ants doesn't have to be a hassle.
You don't even need to hire an exterminator or buy expensive chemicals.
You can quickly and safely eradicate these uninvited visitors from your car with a few simple steps.
In this guide, we'll go over seven steps to get rid of ants in the car and provide some tips and tricks on how to keep them away in the future.
Let's get started!
Where Do Ants in Your Car Come From?
Ants in your car may originate from a nearby colony or nest. They're highly social insects and are known to establish and maintain complex colonies.
You can find these colonies under trees, cracks, and crevices in the concrete or even in logs or walls.
Identifying the source can help you target and eliminate the ant infestation in your car. Once you locate the source, you can proceed with other steps.
Why Are There Ants in My Car When There Is No Food?
It's common for ants to find their way into cars, even when you have no food. There are a few possible reasons for this:
- Moisture presence: Ants may be attracted to a moisture source in your car, such as a leak or dampness from condensation.
- A transportation corridor: If you park your vehicle near a trash bin or other outdoor food source, these pests may use your car as a shortcut to reach the food.
- Following a pheromone trail: If ants were previously present in the car, they might have left a scent trail that will attract more.
- Seeking shelter: If the weather is hot or cold, ants may seek shelter in your car to regulate their body temperature.
- Other insects: Ants may be attracted to insects, such as aphids in your car, which produce a sweet substance called honeydew that ants like to eat.
Will Ants in Your Car Go Away on Their Own?
Ants in your car may go away on their own if they don't find food or a water source.
However, this isn't a reliable solution, and it'll require you to take the necessary measures to get rid of the ants and prevent re-infestation.
We've outlined these steps below, so read on to learn how to go about it safely and effectively.
And if you're unable to do it yourself or the infestation is severe, hire a professional exterminator.
They have the expertise and tools to assess the situation and recommend the best action.
What Types of Ants Are Found in Cars?
The most common types of ants found in cars include the following:
Odorous House Ant
They have small brown or black bodies with a rotten coconut-like odor and feed on sugary substances and dead insects.
While most are common in kitchens, you can find them inside your car, searching for food.
Argentine Ant
You can identify Argentine ants by their light brown color, and they measure about 1.6 mm long.
They're known to travel long distances following food trails, and they're particularly attracted to sweet substances. T
hey can easily invade your car when there are food sources inside.
Sugar Ant
As their names suggest, these ants feed on sweet substances.
They're small (about 1.65mm long), have orange bodies for females and black ones for males, and are mostly found near moist areas.
Pharaoh's Ant
Mostly associated with humid conditions such as bathrooms or laundry rooms, pharaoh's ants are yellow-brown and slightly bigger than other ants, measuring up to 2mm long.
Finding them inside your car indicates a higher humidity level or a food source.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants are bigger than the other ants and measure up to 6.5mm long. They're black or red-black and prefer damp wood as their nesting area.
While they don't feed on wood, they may burrow your car's upholstery looking for food sources.
How To Get Rid of Ants in the Car
Contrary to popular belief, getting rid of ants in your car doesn't have to be a hassle. It's as easy as following these steps:
1. Change the Parking Area
If you often park your car near ant nests or under trees, move it elsewhere before taking further steps.
Ants will always find a way to get into your vehicle through cracks or open doors and windows. Find a different parking spot away from ant hills.
Inspect the new spot for ant activity, including potential trails. Pay close attention to the cracks in your garage floor, driveway, or other surfaces. If you find any, try sealing them or spraying ant-killing products around the area.
2. Get Rid of the Food and Water Source
Ants will go wherever they can find food or water. Remove the coffee cups, food wrappers, fliers, napkins, or any trash that might attract these pests and discard them. Remember to empty the cup holders, glove compartments, and door pockets of crumbs or candy.
3. Vacuum Your Car Thoroughly
Go for a portable vacuum cleaner or air compressor with an extension hose to reach all corners and crevices.
Ensure to vacuum the carpets, upholstery, armrests, dashboard, seat cracks, center console, and other surfaces infested with ants.
If necessary, remove the car mats, and vacuum underneath.
If you don't have a vacuum cleaner, visit your local car wash or car service center.
4. Wipe Down the Interior
Once you're done vacuuming, wipe down the car's interior with a soft, damp cloth dipped in an all-purpose cleaner. You want to remove all the remaining dirt, crumbs, and food particles that could attract ants.
Focus on hard-to-reach areas such as cup holders, gear shifts, door handles, seat belts, and dashboard crevices. Remember to clean the window frames and door panels too.
Leave the doors open for a few hours, preferably outside in direct sunlight, to allow the car to air dry.
5. Spray the Tires
The tires are the primary entry points for ants into your car, and you block their access by spraying them with a pesticide.
Before you begin, wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself. Close the windows and doors to prevent the toxic vapors from getting inside the car.
Spray the tire walls, rims, and sides of the wheels generously and wait for about 1 hour before opening the windows and doors. Repeat this once a week, and you'll get rid of ants inside your car for good.
6. Use Ant Traps
Terro Liquid Ant Traps
Place ant traps around the car in the parking lot, driveway, and entry points. Check them regularly and replace them as needed.
If the ants persist, it's time to deploy a more aggressive approach. Ant traps or bait stations contain a sweet substance that attracts ants and poisons them once they feed on it.
Place ant traps around the car in the parking lot, driveway, and entry points. Check them regularly and replace them as needed.
Editor Tip: Avoid placing the traps inside the car, as this may attract more ants, exacerbating the problem. Instead, set them along the established trails around your vehicle.
7. Use Chemicals
If none of the other methods work, use chemicals such as borax, insecticides, or peppermint oil.
Read the package instructions carefully before using these products, and wear gloves and a mask for safety.
Like the other steps, pay special attention to the door and window apertures, under the car seats, and other hard-to-reach areas.
Allow the chemicals to sit for a few hours before vacuuming the dead ants and other debris. Afterward, rinse the car with a damp cloth and air dry.
Can Ants Cause Damage to a Car?
Although most ants don't bite, they can still cause damage to your car.
- They can chew through electrical wiring, damaging your car's systems and potentially leading to costly repairs
- Their waste can stain fabric or paint, leaving permanent marks that are difficult to remove
- The nest can block airflow into the car, leading to potential mechanical issues or mold growth
However, all these instances are relatively rare and can be avoided by regularly checking for and removing any ant nests that may be present in or around the car.
Bottom Line
Ants can be a bothersome and persistent pest in your vehicle. They can be challenging to eradicate and, if not dealt with properly, can spread rapidly.
Fortunately, by taking the steps outlined above, you can effectively control the ant population and avoid future infestations.
If the situation worsens, seek the assistance of a pest control professional or an experienced exterminator.
Growing up I was a carefree male going about life like there was no tomorrow. Naturally, I ‘grew’ up, settled down and started a family.
Going from an independent carefree male to a family man was somewhat of a U-turn and required a lot of learning. Luckily for me, my wife works in education and has always been the shining light always ahead of me on all factors kids related.
Initially, my wife didn’t have a driving license (luckily this has now changed and it does make life easier), and all things car related were my task. Child locks were the obvious starting point which lead me down a rabbit hole.
So far we have personally tested dozens of convertible car seats and have owned five despite neither of our kids having reached the age of 5! Simply put, a car seat can be great on paper, work great on trying out but can fail on you in real life.
This is why I have put together this website – to help inform and educate you!
Of course, as I mentioned above, at the end of the day your experience will be the best test so I’d love to hear your experiences and feedback in the comments.
To contact me personally, please do so through my contact page.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Peter
P.S. If you click a link on my site and end up buying a car seat on Amazon, I’ll get paid a small commission (or as the Amazon lawyers put it: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”)
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