Kitchen appliances like microwaves, induction ovens, refrigerators, etc. are the common and favorite hangouts of ants. Ants are attracted to microwaves as there are often food spills left in them. As soon as you spot an ant in the microwave, you need to take action before the whole colony of ants moves in.
It is a little tricky to get rid of ants in the microwave as you cannot use pesticides since they can be harmful to you and your family.
Below is the step by step approach by which you can get rid of ants in the microwave:
1. Remove the power source
Before cleaning any electrical appliance, it is essential to unplug it so that you do not come in contact with the electricity and get shocked. Also, cleaning may require working with water which is not good if the microwave is plugged in.
2. Clean the microwave
Ants come in the microwave mainly due to the smell and sight of food. So, it is essential to keep the microwave clean and free from any food residue.
For this, wipe the interior and exterior of the microwave with a damp cloth to remove all food residue. Even the area around the appliance should be cleaned nicely. Do this once a week to prevent food build-up as this only attracts the ants.
3. Spray with spices
The best way to kill ants without causing any harm to you and your family is to spray either cinnamon powder or peppermint spray in the microwave.
This will kill the ants. Also, you can spray cinnamon oil as it is an effective way to kill them. Even spraying water-vinegar solution can be effective in killing ants.
After spraying with liquid material, keep the microwave as it is for 1-2 hours and then clean with a dry cloth.
4. Prevent the further entry of ants
Once ants inside the microwave are killed, it is essential to prevent further entry of more ants into the appliance.
For this, sprinkle borax powder, apply chalk, or crushed coffee around the exterior of the microwave that is around the base of the microwave or on the counter or table around it.
5. Use of ant baits
Being an effective method to get rid of ant infestation, ant baits like greasy baits, protein-based, fat-based, or sugary baits are available readily in the market that helps in eliminating ant colonies.
Once the microwave is cleaned, these baits can be used in the kitchen to kill the ant colonies. These baits should also be kept near the entrance of the microwave.
6. Natural ant baits
To lure the insects and eradicate them, some natural ant baits can be prepared at home itself. For this, mix 1 tablespoon of boric acid in 1 cup of sugar and sprinkle it inside and out of the microwave to lure ants.
Honey ant bait can also be prepared by mixing 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 0.5 teaspoon of borax, and 2 tablespoons of honey. This bait helps in getting rid of ants from the electric boxes of the microwave.
Can ants survive in a microwave?
Yes, ants can survive in a microwave easily and it is interesting to know that even if food gets cooked within seconds in a microwave, ants do not get burned and survive well. This is because-
- Ants are too small and microwaves are not able to impact them as their wavelengths are very large.
- Microwaves affect the things that have water in it as it has the affinity for water and fat molecules and food gets heated by agitating water molecules in it. Since ants contain very little water, they remain unaffected by microwaves.
- Ants have exoskeleton material known as chitin that resists microwaves.
- They have large body surface areas to volume ratios which helps them to cool fast. So, if an ant is caught in a high-energy zone in the microwave, it cools down quickly while moving to a zone with low energy. This helps them to survive intense environments.
Microwave beams are standing waves and remain in a constant position. These are passed at a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz through the food placed inside the microwave.
Therefore, there are places within a microwave where energy density is very high while in other places it is low. Ants are very small creatures and so they can position themselves between these waves easily and remain unharmed.
Ants coming from behind microwave, how to Stop?
You can find ants easily wherever there are food particles and microwaves are their most favorite spot in the kitchen. They may enter the microwave from anywhere, from the front, side, or back of the appliance.
If you see ants coming from behind the microwave, you have to stop it. For this, clean the inside and outside of the microwave with a damp cloth to remove all the food residue.
Once done, draw a line of chalk outside of the microwave especially on the back and around the door of the microwave. Ants will not cross the chalk as the scent in it will draw the ants back to the colony.
Once ants are removed from inside, it becomes essential to find the source and colony of ants. For this, do the honey and peanut butter test to attract the ants to one spot and see where the trails of ants come from and then you can decide what kind of bait would be useful.
For honey and peanut butter test-
- Place a saucer near the area where the ants are coming from.
- On one end of the saucer, place ½ teaspoon of honey, and on another end, place ½ teaspoon of peanut butter.
- Leave it as it is until the ants start trailing.
- This will help to know the nesting area of the ants. Once, it is known, use honey or boric acid bait to kill them.
Ant spray in microwave
Ants often find shelter in places where there is source of food and microwave being one of these, is often infested by these tiny creatures. If you find ants in the microwave, it becomes essential to take some measures to control them.
One of the easy methods to kill ants is to use ant spray in the microwave. However, it is advised to avoid using a spray that contains chemicals. Instead, you can make it at home using things that are readily available.
For this, take a spray bottle, add 2 cups of vinegar, 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons table salt, and 3 tablespoons of dishwasher liquid. Shake the liquid well and your cheap and homemade ant spray is ready to use.
When this ant spray is used in the microwave, ants die quickly. After this, wipe the area with a paper towel.
Conclusion
Ants love to find shelter in the microwave as it is a source of food for them. To ensure that ants do not find a way in the microwave, it is essential to keep it clean always.
For this, ensure that after every use, you clean the microwave with a clean damp cloth first and then with a dry paper towel. This will prevent food build-up and thus, ants would not enter it.
But in case you find ants in the microwave, you can spray water-vinegar solution in it and then clean with a dry paper towel. Regular use of this can prevent the entry of ants into the microwave.
I hope this article is helpful to you.