A general rule of thumb is to avoid eating in your car if you can help it. However, if you often ride with your kids in the backseat, there is a chance that they spill chip crumbs and juices in the car with all the snacks they eat! This means you’ll have to deal with ants. You might discover a rail of ants under the seat or near the dashboard. It is okay to panic as anyone would.

However, rather than worrying about why ants are in your car, it’s better to look for ways to get rid of them.

When removing the ants, it’s best to focus on ensuring that they don’t come back again; you shouldn’t be surprised to find ants in the car as these pests are easily available everywhere. In your house, garden, and almost anywhere. However, these can be harmful when they move into your vehicle. For example, the sugar ants in the car can chew the cables in your dashboard, while the black ants can crawl on your hands and legs.

You cannot ignore their incredible sense of smell. They can easily reach anywhere when they detect the smell of sweets and food. So, getting rid of ants in the car can be easy. However, making sure that they don’t come again will be a big challenge.

Ants don’t only cause an itchy nuisance on the skin but also affect technology in cars. Thus, you cannot ignore the presence of ants in your vehicle. However, if you aren’t sure how to get rid of ants in your car, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find how to deal with ants inside the car.

How to Get Rid of Ants in your Car?

The red ants in the car are not only a potential distraction, but these deliver painful bites too. If you see ants crawling in your car, first check if there’s any food item in the car. Next, check if you have parked your car on an anthill. In some cases, the black ants in the car randomly enter to find something to eat.

Here are some easy ways to answer how to get rid of ants in your car:

1.    Change the Parking Spot

If you find sugar ants in the car, there is a possibility that your vehicle is parked in the wrong spot. For example, you might have parked on an anthill. Or maybe the surrounding areas are infested with ants. So, look for another parking spot if possible.

However, you must know that ants leave trails of chemicals as they move, which direct others from their colony to find the food sources. Hence, make sure that your vehicle is parked far from the ant’s range when you’re moving.

2.    Clean Your Car

Always keep your vehicles clean, no matter what. Not only the interior but the exterior too requires your attention.

Start the cleaning by vacuuming the upholstery and trunk of your car thoroughly. Clean the floorboard too. Don’t only look for the food particles or crumbs; also clean the mud. Sometimes the black ants in the car are only because of the dirt.

Ants are very small. They can easily enter and hide in any part of the car. If there are any cracks or dents, it provides extra space for the ants to hide. Hence, when cleaning, make sure you pay attention to every area. Then, discard all the wrappers and empty food containers and clean up all the food stains. It will help in getting rid of the ants inside the car.

Additionally, clean the exterior too. For this, you can take some professional help or opt for the self-serve car wash. You can also buy car cleaning agents from the nearby shops and clean it yourself at home. Throughout, it’s best to make sure you clean every part of the car. Or else, you might miss the hiding spots of ants.

Once you have cleaned the car, here are some ways to deal with the invaders:

• Treat the tires with insecticides as ants easily take place on the wheels.
• Spray insecticide inside the car and don’t open it for a few hours. Always avoid using the car after spraying, or else it can be harmful.
• A gel bait can also help eliminate the spread of ants in the car.

3.    Ant Sprays and Traps

Experts say the best way to get rid of ants in the car is to kill them. For this, you can use certain pesticides. Spray them in your car or set traps that offer the best results. Also, for best results, spray it on the tires too. It will help in stopping the ants from penetrating inside the car.

Moreover, you can visit the nearby hardware stores or check online stores for ant traps. These are effective enough. Buy these traps and place them in your car. Once the traps are filled, replace them. It will help kill the ant colony around and keep your car protected.

4.    Temperature Controls

If you find ants inside your car, start parking it in the sun. The higher temperature is good for killing the ants during the summers in shorter periods.

Additionally, you can use the car heater. Once you start the car, let the heater run for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Then, any ants hidden in your car, even in the engine compartment or behind the seats, will die.

Different Types of Ants in the Car

Now that you’re worried about how to get rid of ants in your car, it’s best to know that there are different types of ants. You can have:

• Sugar ants in the car
• Black ants in the car
• Red ants in the car

Once you have eliminated the ants from your car, ensure they don’t reappear. For this, follow the following rules:

• Don’t eat anything inside your car. If you do, avoid leaving any crumbs or wrappers. Or, wrap the food items completely and eat carefully.
• Secondly, make sure that you take out the trash regularly. Don’t leave any wrappers as these easily attract pests like ants and bugs. Instead, you can use a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth.
• Thirdly, always check the area before you park your car. Finally, if you have a garage, keep it clean.
• Clean the interior now and then. Please don’t wait for long periods as it helps maintain a hygienic environment and keeps the ants away.

Still, if things don’t work well for you, see ants in the car, contact pest control professionals. They have the tools and medicines to treat the ant infestation and help you eliminate the unwelcome guests from the car. It’s one of the easiest and best ways. However, it would be great to check the available professionals and their rates before booking anyone.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that ants can be annoying in cars, so it’s best to start looking for ideas on how to get rid of ants in your car if you face this problem. These can be living in your door frame, floor mat, vent, lights, or any cracks or dents in your car. Hence, you cannot ignore the presence of ants inside the car. It doesn’t matter if you find sugar ants in the car or red ants in the car. Take immediate action.

These tiny creatures form colonies and also leave trails for others. They can easily cause discomfort and pain for the driver and passengers. Some also get allergic reactions due to ants. So, you can follow any of the methods mentioned above to get rid of ants. Once done, make sure you keep your car clean in the future and don’t leave any food items or wrappers in your car.