Getting into your car and noticing that there are ants crawling everywhere can be an unpleasant surprise. Driving with this infestation on drink holders, carpets and seats will make you feel uncomfortable in your own vehicle. To get rid of ants in your car, first clean it from top to bottom. Then you can kill them with ant traps. Keeping your car clean and food-free will help prevent them from re-entering again in the future.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Clean your car
Step 1. Remove trash from your car
Remove food wrappers, scraps of paper, flyers, and napkins from your car and throw them in the trash. Get in your car and remove all the trash from the floors, seats, and dash, as well as trash from the glove compartment, cup holders, and trunk.
If you have a small bag that you use as a makeshift trash can in your car, empty it or swap it out for a new bag
Step 2. Vacuum the interior of the car
Use a small handheld vacuum or one with an extension head to remove crumbs, dirt, and other substances that might be attracting ants. Vacuum the floors, seats, and armrests to make sure all surface debris is removed.
- If you find ants while vacuuming, kill them by sucking them up with the vacuum cleaner.
- You may need to remove the carpets from the car and vacuum them individually to thoroughly remove food and grime.
- If you don't have a vacuum, you can go to a car wash to use one.
Step 3. Clean the windows and doors of the car
Dampen a soft cloth and use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the inside of your car windows and doors. Make sure to remove dirt and debris in the grooves of the doors and windows. Use a glass cleaner to clean the inside of the window and remove the marks from the glass.
Also clean the seat belts, cup holders and glove compartment
Method 2 of 3: Using Ant Traps and Spray
Step 1. Purchase ant traps online or at a local hardware store
Look for traps that contain poison that attracts them and kills them. The traps should be small enough to fit in your car. Look for odorless ant traps so they don't leave you smelling bad. Get 2-3 ant traps to spread around the car to kill the ants and keep them away.
Step 2. Place ant traps on the floor of the car
Put them on the floor under the seats of your car so they attract ants in and kill them. You could also put an ant trap in the trunk and glove compartment.
- Most ant traps attract and kill ants immediately. You may need to replace them once they fill with ants to keep them working effectively.
- Make sure to keep your children and pets away from traps in your car so they don't get exposed to chemicals.
Step 3. Spray your car with ant spray
To prevent ants from climbing up the wheels and into your car, spray pesticide on them. Look for a pesticide spray at your local hardware store or online.
Avoid using pesticides or ant spray inside the car because they can leave a bad smell. Applying 1-2 coats of spray to your tires once a week should be enough to keep ants out
Step 4. Set traps in your garage to eliminate ant colonies in the area
If your car is completely infested with ants, there must be a colony or ant hill near it. Look to see if there is a colony in your garage or in the parking spot you use frequently. Place traps nearby to eliminate it and stop the ants from entering your car.
- Keep children and pets away from traps so they are not exposed to chemicals.
- You can park your car in a different place until the ant colony is eliminated so that they do not re-enter your car.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Ants From Entering Your Car
Step 1. Get the food out of your car
Try not to eat inside as food attracts ants. Tell your passengers not to eat in the car so they don't leave crumbs or pieces of food that attract ants.
If you eat in your car anyway, keep the food in a wrapper and try not to spread crumbs or pieces of food around it
Step 2. Remove trash from your car frequently
Place wrappers, papers, and flyers in a designated trash can indoors. Then empty it at the end of the day so it doesn't stay in your car overnight and attract ants. Get in the habit of taking the trash out of your car at the end of the day so the ants aren't attracted to it.
Step 3. Look for anthills in the area where you are going to park before doing so
Inspect parking lots and garages for anthills or ant colonies. Avoid parking in areas that have them, as this will increase the likelihood of ants entering your car.
Keeping your garage clean and protected with ant traps will ensure that it is a safe place to park your car
Step 4. Clean the interior of your car thoroughly every few weeks
Vacuuming and cleaning the interior will help remove food and debris that tend to attract ants. Get into the habit of cleaning your car after a few weeks so that ants are less likely to start living there.