Do you know how to Get Ants Out of your Car? You may think that ants are harmless, but these little fellas can be quite annoying once they get into your stuff. Ants not only live in your garden, though they should. Somehow, they manage to get to places you never thought possible, including your kitchen counters, your desk, your dog’s food, and even inside your car! Today, we’ll be sharing with you how to get ants out of your car.
If you thought you were the only one that dealt with having ants in your car, you are not alone. Though we are sure ants exist for whatever reason and are probably important for the ecosystem and keeping the balance in nature, we are also certain these fellas do not belong inside a car.
Ants crawling all over your arms and legs while driving can be painful and potentially dangerous as they represent a distraction that you could easily avoid. Even worse, an infestation of ants can ultimately damage your ride. So, if you’ve been struggling with ants in your car for a while, continue reading and learn effective methods on how to get ants out of your car.
Table of Contents
How to Get Ants Out of your Car
How to Get Ants Out of your Car in a simpler task when you use any of these four methods, pick the one that best suits your needs.
Method 1: Ants traps + Spray
- Look for ant traps containing poison that attract and kill the ants.
- Position the ant traps under the seats of your car on the floor so they can draw the ants in and kill them. You may also put an ant trap in your trunk and your glove compartment.
- Spray your car tires with ant spray.
- Set traps in your garage to kill ant colonies in the area—set traps next to the colony to kill it, so the ants stop getting into your car.
Recommended Product
Raid Ant Killer Baits
Features:
- Indoor and outdoor solution
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
This Raid ant killer bait offers to kill ants where they hide for up to 3 months.
After ants feed on the bait, they return to the colony and transfer the bait to the queen and the others, killing the entire colony.
Use indoors in corners, along walls, and near entry points.
Method 2: Vinegar
Ants also don’t like the smell of vinegar, so this can be an effective deterrent and may even cover up their pheromone trails.
- Spot-test different surfaces in a less visible area to make sure it doesn’t damage them.
Try spraying a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water on the vehicle’s surfaces. Vinegar is very acidic, so this is still a decently strong solution. - Take care of the different surfaces of the car
- Avoid this solution on the exterior paint
Recommended Product
Natural Distilled White Vinegar
Features:
- Multi-purpose
- Kosher Certification
- Durable design
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
From cleaning to cooking, Lucy’s 5% Distilled White Vinegar is simply the right choice!
With this Vinegar, you can expect the absence of preservatives, a durable bottle design, a secure seal, and Kosher Certification.
Whether it’s simply to dress up a vinaigrette, enhance pastries, or clean the restaurant counters, you’ll stand amazed at the usefulness and enjoyment that Lucy’s White Vinegar brings each time.
Method 3: Dish soap
How to Get Ants Out of your Car using the agents that degrease dishes it’s also super-effective when it comes to wiping out an ant infestation.
- Mix two cups of water and three tablespoons of dishwashing liquid
- Add three tablespoons of table salt
- Mix it gently to prevent too much lather from forming
- Could you put it in a spray bottle?
- Spray the ants directly, and clean the car interior.
Recommended Product
Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Features:
- Original scent
- 50 percent Less Scrubbing
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Get your ultimate clean and be the kitchen hero with the Grease Cleaning power of Dawn dish soap.
Dawn Ultra has 3X MORE Grease Cleaning Power per drop so that you can get through more dishes with less.
Method 4: Orange oil
Properties in orange oil have proven to kill on contact for many insect types, including ants.
- Mix one and a half ounces of concentrated orange oil with three ounces of dish soap and a gallon of water.
- Could you put it in a spray bottle?
- Just spray it on surfaces and allow it to dry
Recommended Product
Cold Pressed Orange Oil Concentrate
Features:
- Versatile
- D-Limonene
- Powerful natural solvent
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Green Gobbler Cold-Pressed Orange Oil is a practically perfect all-purpose cleaner! Our orange oil contains 80-95% D-Limonene, a naturally occurring and non-toxic solvent and degreaser with thousands of practical uses. It also contains a non-ionic coconut surfactant to make it miscible.
Orange oil is an extremely versatile & powerful natural solvent. Use Orange oil to remove dirt, grease, oil, food, odors, ink, glue, crayon, soap scum, etc.
Use on practically any surface to remove stains and soils. Use Orange Oil to clean metal, glass, granite, porcelain, tile, brick, concrete, stucco, rubber, and more.
Common Questions Regarding How to Get Ants Out of your Car
Can I bomb my car for ants?
There is actually a thing called Ant Fogger, also known as a bug bomb, which is a chemical that thoroughly reaches every crevice of the car to kill those ants and even kill ants that enter the car for a couple of months. They are very effective in treating ant infestations.
This solution is often the last resort, as the chemicals are unhealthy to humans and obviously last longer in the interior. It’s critical to read the instructions carefully before use and ventilate well after use, including running the air circulation system to clean out the vents.
Why are ants attracted to my car?
In addition to being driven by food or bits of food left in the car by your little ones, ants can also be attracted to the structure of a vehicle due to its weatherproofing and plethora of wires and insulation. Once a vehicle is a site for an extended time, ants will begin to use the car’s structure and foam insulation to build a nest.
Can ants damage a car?
Sad but true, common ant species, such as fire ants, can also damage your car, potentially infesting its electrical system. Relays, switches, and wiring insulation may be attractive to some ants. Unfortunately, repairing damage to these components of your automobile can be quite bad for your pockets.
Can I spray Raid in my car for ants?
Yes and no; Raid Ant and Roach Killer can be sprayed directly on ants to kill them. While this may help “spot treat” your ant issues, when used alone, it is not likely to be successful in removing the ant infestation from your car and keeping it from coming back.
How to prevent ants from coming back into your car?
- Keep your car clean. It is crucial not to leave anything lying around that the ants will return for. If you have floor mats in your car, it is worth taking them out for a thorough vacuum and scrub. Once the big stuff is gone, you can wipe down the dash, doors, and seats using a citrus spray.
- Vacuum thoroughly. Once your car is empty, tidy, and pheromone-free, be sure to vacuum it throughout, front to back.
- Get rid of nearby nests. The ants in your ride must have come from somewhere else. A nearby nest will mean they have entered via the wheels and arches where the car meets the ground. Your job is to locate nests and destroy them.
- It May help to change parking spots. If this is an option for you, try parking your car in a different place away from where you first encountered the ants.
Additional Facts on How to Get Ants Out of your Car
- The easiest way How to Get Ants Out of your Car is to have a tidy-up by removing all traces of trash, and hoovering up crumbs.
- The traps or bombs should be small enough to fit in your car. Go for odorless ant traps, so they do not make your car smell bad. Get 2-3 ant traps so you can spread them out in your car to kill the ants and keep them away.
- Most ant traps work right away to attract and kill the ants. You may need to replace the ant traps once they become full of ants to continue to work effectively.
- Make sure you keep children and pets away from the traps in your car, so they are not exposed to the chemicals.
- Prevent ants from crawling up your tires and getting into your car by spraying pesticide on your tires. Look for pesticides in spray form at your local hardware store or online.
