How to Get Rid of Ants in Car Vents {5 Easy Steps}

Are you seeing ants in your car? Are they crawling in and out of the car vents? Do you need to know how to get rid of ants in car vents?

Should you spray ant killer in your vents? Why are they in your car vents in the first place? What are some natural ways to get rid of these ants?

In this article, we will discuss how to get rid of ants in car vents in 5 easy steps.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Car Vents

Getting rid of ants in car vents involves cleaning the car immediately. Inspect the ants carefully and follow them. Find out where the ants are going. Try to locate their nest.

Dispose of their nest as soon as possible. Continue to run the air vents at max power to force the ants out of them. It is now time to deep clean the interior of your car.

You can purchase ant traps and liquid bait treatments that can attach to car vents or leave them on the dashboard.

5 Steps To Get Rid Of Ants In Car Vents

Getting rid of ants in your car sounds like a frustrating task. Believe me, we’ve been there. These five steps below will help you get rid of ants in your car vent.

  • Step 1: Inspection
  • Step 2 Removal
  • Step 3: Max power
  • Step 4: Deep cleaning
  • Step 5: Bait traps

Step 1: Inspection

First of all, you must follow these ants to see where they came from and where they are going. You should also take note of their size and color. Find out where their colonies are nesting.

They could be running through the vents and into the hood of your car. They may also be nesting inside the glove compartment or anywhere under the dashboard.

Step 2: Removal

Once you have found the ant nest, it’s time to dispose of them. Ants expel oleic acid when they die. This will attract more ants to arrive to the same location. Find the source location for these ants in your car.

You can spray them with vinegar, apply baking soda, salt, dish soap, ant killer, or scoop them up. Dispose of the ants as far away from your car as possible.

Bonus tip: do not park your car in areas near brush, shrubs, trees or garbage cans.

Step 3: Max Power

It is now time to run your car vents for a while at maximum power. Use the air conditioning setting, fan or heat. Run it as powerful as possible.

This will drive all the ants out of the vents. You can now install sticky traps near the vents as well to catch the ants who are running out.

Step 4: Deep Cleaning

Ants are not just in your car vents. They are also in other areas of your car. They probably arrived when they found traces of food in your car.

Remove all crumbs and remnants of food including eating ware and containers. Are there any damp areas in your car?

Ants are also attracted to humidity and moisture. Deep clean and dry out the car as thoroughly as possible.

Step 5: Bait Traps

There are ant traps that you can attach the directly onto the car vents. You can also apply pesticides to your seats and hidden areas where ants could be hiding.

Enclosed liquid bait traps are harmless for your children and pets. Ants find their way into these bait traps and liquify inside them.

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Should I Spray Pesticide in my Car Vents?

Never spray pesticides directly into the vents of your car. If you do so, toxic fumes will be expelled through them. You will end up inhaling them as you are driving.

Instead of doing this, use peppermint or cinnamon oil. You can also purchase artificial peppermint and cinnamon scenting car fresheners.

Ants can’t stand these smells and they are safer for you to inhale rather than pesticides.

Why Do I Have Ants in My Car Vents?

Ants are looking to find their way into your car because they are attracted to food, water and moisture. Once they find a suitable location like the interior of your car, they will forage for food and bring it back to this area.

If ants find food in your car, they may look to remain there as long as possible. Ants are looking to find places that are quality hiding areas that allow them to go unnoticed. Some may crawl into the vents of your car because they are safe areas where we cannot access.

Little do they know, that when we turn these vents on to cold or hot settings, setting them to max power will drive them out or kill them. If they don’t die, we can set sticky traps near the vents to catch them.

How Can I Get Ants Out of My Car Vents Naturally?

Your first step is to turn the vents on and run them at full power.

  • Pour 2 cups of water and drop 3 tablespoons of dish soap inside a spray bottle.
  • Also add 3 tablespoons of salt.
  • Mix all the contents together in a spray bottle.
  • Spray the ants directly.

You can also spray inside your vents because this solution is non-toxic. For an additional bonus,  you can add a squirt of lemon. Ants despise the scent of citrus.

Conclusion

You will be able to prevent ants from infesting your car vents and the interior by keeping the area clean. Ants can also find their way into your car if you are parked in locations that are near moisture, shade and humidity.

If you are a park near grassy areas or forests, ants will be drawn to the vehicle if they can find any sources of food there. Once ants locate a safe place in your car, they will determine the location of their nest. This could be in the vents of your car.

Running air vents at full power forces them out. Set bait traps next to the vent or around your dashboard to kill off ants. Find the source nest and remove it as soon as you can. Spray it with water, dish soap and salt and say goodbye to these little pests.

 

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Jason Barrett

Hello, I'm Jason. I have 11 years of experience in dealing with pests. I try to provide you the best information that'll help you to make the pest control process easy & affordable