Finding ants in your car can be frustrating and unhygienic, making every drive uncomfortable. Explore simple and effective ways to eliminate them for good.
How do I get rid of ants in my car?
There’s nothing worse than sharing your car with an infestation of ants. Not only does the presence of ants in your vehicle make for an unpleasant driving experience, but they can also damage your car interior and distract you while driving.
But how do you get rid of ants in your car? In this guide, we share our expert tips for dealing with ants in your car, from spotting the signs of an infestation to how to deal with ants in your car and prevent them from coming back.
Why are there ants in my car?
If you’ve noticed tiny black friends accompanying you on your daily commute, you may be wondering why ants have chosen to take up residence in your car. The answer is simple – easily accessible food or drink.
Just think about it – how many times have you spilled a drink, dropped crumbs, or left unwanted snacks in your car?
Ants are tiny, so often, it only takes a minuscule amount of food or drink to draw one ant into your vehicle. This ant then leaves a pheromone trail for others in the colony to follow them. If there is plenty of food available, they may even decide to set up home, nesting in your car interior where it is safe and warm and food is readily available.
And even when you’ve thoroughly cleaned your vehicle of any food or drink, ants may keep coming back. This can be because they identify it as a previously bountiful food source, they simply want to explore or they need shelter from harsh weather conditions.
Whatever the reason for their presence, it’s essential you deal with any infestation quickly and efficiently.
Most common ants found in cars across New Zealand
Ants in cars are a relatively common occurrence in New Zealand, so it can be helpful to know what kind of critters you’re dealing with.
The three most common types of ants found in cars in New Zealand are:
- Argentine ants – known for their large nests, these ants are often found in gardens, under rocks, and in vehicles. They are attracted to sugary foods and can contaminate food sources in cars if they gain access.
- Black Garden ants – although they tend to nest in soil, they will sometimes venture into vehicles, especially if sugary food sources are present.
- Black House ants – often nest in tiny cracks and crevices and can quickly infest a vehicle if not dealt with promptly.
The good news is that with proper car care and maintenance, all three can be dealt with effectively.
Identify the source of infestation
The first step to successfully removing ants from your vehicle is to identify the source of infestation.
Assess your car carefully, looking for signs of crumbs or leftover food and drink that might be luring ants in. You should also check entry points, paying particular attention to the integrity of door and window seals and air vents where ants may enter.
This initial assessment into how and why ants have chosen to make your car their new home will give you a good idea on the next steps you need to take to eliminate them from your car.
How do you get rid of ants in your car? Effective methods for eliminating ants
Exactly how to deal with ants in cars will depend on how bad the infestation is and the state of your vehicle, but will generally involve one or more of the below steps:
Clean out the interior
Often, the first step to effectively eliminating ants from your vehicle is to thoroughly clean the interior to ensure it is free from any potential food or drink sources.
Start by removing any trash, wrappers or leftover food from your car before thoroughly vacuuming the entire interior.
Ants only need minuscule amounts of food to entice them, so make sure you pay attention to hard-to-reach areas, like down the side of your seat, where crumbs can easily get trapped.
Top tip: Use the different attachment heads on your vacuum to ensure you can get into all the nooks and crannies in your car. Or seek the support of professional car grooming services on offer at Espresso Car Wash.
Wash your car
Once the interior is fully clean, it’s a good idea to give your car exterior a thorough wash. This can help to remove any sticky food or drink residue that may be enticing ants to your car in the first place, and can also disrupt the pheromone trail ants leave to get others to follow them.
Top tip: Pay close attention to the undercarriage of your car and around your tyres, as these are areas where ants will often try to find a way into your vehicle. Or, for the best results, head to your local Espresso Car Wash and let our expert hand car wash specialists get to work.
Move your car
If you park your car near an anthill or under trees, then one of the most effective ways to deal with ants in your car can be to simply move your vehicle. This can help to disrupt the pheromone trail left by ants and prevent more from joining any ants who’ve already taken up residence in your car.
Use traps and sprays
If the above steps haven’t helped with your ant infestation, it may be necessary to use ant traps or sprays to eliminate them.
When using ant traps it is best to place them under seats or in areas where you have noticed the most ant activity. Remember you’ll need to keep checking and replacing baits or traps until the infestation is fully resolved.
When using ant spray in your car, you must make sure it is suitable for use in vehicles to prevent staining to your car upholstery or console.
Top tip: Make sure you use a child and pet-friendly ant spray if you regularly have children on pets travelling in your car.
Natural repellants
If you’d prefer to avoid using chemical traps or sprays, you can try wiping your car surfaces with a citrus-based solution, which can deter ants as they don’t like the scent.
Peppermint or tea tree oil can also be used as a natural repellent when applied to entry points. Just make sure you dilute the oil as per the guidelines before using.
Eliminate nearby nests
If you have noticed an ant nest near your driveway or where you regularly park, one of the most effective ways to stop them from getting into your car is to deal with them at the source. You can try DIY ant nest removal methods or seek professional help from a pest control expert.
How to prevent ant infestations in your car
Arguably, one of the best ways to get rid of ants from your car is to prevent them from accessing your vehicle in the first place. To do this you can try:
- Avoiding eating or drinking in your car – this will help prevent crumbs or drinks from being spilt in your vehicle and enticing ants in.
- Regularly cleaning your car interior – keeping your car interior clean and free from rubbish, waste wrappers and crumbs can also help prevent ants from being attracted to your car. But it’s also important to wash the exterior regularly, as sweet sap residue from nearby trees or tiny splashes of spilled liquids on your car exterior can also entice ants to your car. If this sounds like just another chore to add to your list, why not take advantage of our loyalty scheme, which offers discounts to people who schedule regular car wash and grooming services.
- Checking and maintaining any seals – this can help minimise potential entry points, preventing ants from getting into your car.
- Closing air vents to the outside – can help prevent any bugs, not just ants, from entering your vehicle.
When to seek professional help
If you’ve tried all the above methods without success or are dealing with a significant ant infestation, the best way to get rid of ants in your car may be to seek professional help.
A professional pest control expert will be able to safely and effectively deal with the infestation and even treat any nearby nests that may be adding to your problem.
Book car detailing services now
Hopefully, you now have a good understanding of how to get rid of ants in your car and keep them out by avoiding eating and drinking in your car and cleaning it regularly.
We know that regularly washing and cleaning your car can sometimes feel like a chore, which is why we’re here to help. As New Zealand’s leading professional car hand wash and car grooming services provider, we can take care of your beloved car for you, ensuring it is cleaned to the highest standard inside and out.
To learn more about how our team of professional car detailers can deliver a fully personalised service that ensures your beloved vehicle looks its best, take a look at our full range of services.
