Do you have ANTS where you shouldn't? Organic & non-toxic alternatives to keeping your home ant-free!

Our rainy season seems like it will never end!  Along with the wet footprints on our floors, some of us unfortunates also have those pesky ant invaders to contend with as well.  Here are some helpful tips to keep ants at bay, without harsh toxic chemicals:

• Take an inventory of the herbs and spices in your cabinet.  Black or red pepper may be the only thing you need to put ants on the run.  Black peppercorns are easiest to spread around but are not as repulsive to ants as the crushed variety.
• Find the entrance areas of ants and sprinkle herbs and spices there and around the exterior of your home to keep the ants from coming in. 
• Cinnamon sticks placed in cabinets do a good job of deterring ants from cabinets.
• Sprigs of tansy hung upside down and tied together to dry not only repel ants, but also serve as a decoration with their attractive yellow flowers.
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  Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber.  Bitter cucumbers work best. 
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   Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem most active.  Dry, crushed mint leaves or cloves also work as ant deterrents.

Have they already made it in?  Try this sweet-smelling alternative to commercial ant-spray:

Pour 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap into a spray bottle and fill the remainder of the bottle with water.  Add three  drops of peppermint essential oil (you can find this in any good natural food store).  Shake well to mix the solution.  Spray ants directly with the soapy mixture to kill them.  Apply the soap insecticide around baseboards, doorways, windowsills and any other area where ants have been spotted.

Spray outdoor play areas or even the blanket your baby plays on when outside.  Aside from the soap killing the ants, the peppermint oil repels them from coming around in the first place!

• Trace the ant column back to their point of entry.  Set any of the following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.
• Sprinkle these herbs alone or in combination around plants that ants are bothering. Ants do not like marigolds, so planting border marigolds may help keep ants from treasured plants. Keep in mind that each time it rains you will have to replace the deterrent.
• Sprinkle cornmeal around and directly on the nests that you find in your yard.  Ants love its sweet taste but can't digest it, which eventually kills them.  Replace the cornmeal often, especially after a rain.  Routinely make the rounds of your yard to seek out their nests and give them a sprinkle. This is an inexpensive way to combat an entire nest, which keeps them from seeking out goodies from your home and garden.

Good Luck!

•Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal in 10 Easy Steps!•

Ah, Spring... With its glorious weather and spirit of renewal, it is a chance to ramp up your home's curb appeal.  We here at AJAX have compiled a list of the 10 easiest, low-budget ways to spruce up key elements of your home's exterior.

1. Landscaping 101.
Now is the time to take inventory of your home's landscaping.  Visually inspect the areas needing maintenance (it should need some after all the winter storms).  Prune overgrown shrubs, bushes, trees and plants.  It's time to weed flower beds, add fresh mulch and plant flowers to add the vibrancy of color!  Dave Vandervort's Home Tips site (http://www.hometips.com/) suggests using tall shrubs to accent and frame interesting features of your house and yard.

Even those lacking a green thumb can buy a ready-made pot garden at a supermarket or gardening section of your favourite major retailer.  You can also use hanging planters to add interest and dimension to an entryway.

2. Lawn check.

Reviving your lawn's lush green grass will instantly boost curb appeal.  Get rid of weeds sprouting in the sidewalk.  Are elements from your yard obstructing the view to your house?  Removing a tree that is blocking the view can make just as much of a difference as adding one to liven up a barren landscape.

3. Mailbox makeover

A dingy, rusted or beat-up mailbox is cheap to replace and makes a big difference in setting the tone for your house's exterior.  Make sure the style of the mailbox complements the style of your home.  If the mailbox is mounted on a wooden post, consider applying a fresh coat of paint to freshen its appearance.

4. Squeaky clean siding

The elements take a toll on a house's siding, and it may require a power wash to clean stained or dirty siding. Do-it-yourselfers can get on a ladder, sweep away dirt and hose down the walls (or rent a power washer from a home improvement or rental store).

5. Perfect for paint

It may be too ambitious and time-consuming to paint the entire exterior of your house, but a new coat of paint on smaller areas can make a dramatic difference.  How about painting the trim or wooden shutters?  Other areas that would benefit from a paint makeover include the framing around windows, the porch and garage door.  This is a easy way to make your home look fresh without committing to hours of painting.

6. Pay attention to details

It may seem minor, but little touches like new numbers on a house or a new light above the door improve the overall aesthetic of your home.  Try and look at you home as a passerby might.  Sometimes a homeowner will visually tune out established fixtures, but something as simple as replacing dirty old garbage cans will make a big difference!

7. Spring cleaning

Unfortunately, spring cleaning is not limited to a home's interior.  If there's a baby tree sprouting from your rain gutters, it can be a little distracting from the overall appeal of the house.  It's time to clean out the gutters and wash the windows.

8. Welcoming walkway

Brick or stone can create an elegant walkway leading up to your home.  Better Homes and Gardens suggests applying a colored concrete resurfacer to an old walkway, then edging with brick or stone pavers.  The bhg.com site also suggests using symmetry at the entrance as a simple and effective way to improve curb appeal.

9. Light it up

Lighting at night is a way to add security, as well as highlight the architectural elements of your home.   Landscape lighting or solar fixtures can provide path lighting along a walkway, while porch lights should illuminate the main entrance.  You can also install accent lighting to add dimension or enhance a particular point of interest, like up-lights under a palm tree or behind a fountain.

10. Do the door right

The door is an important focal point of the home, and it's easy to neglect.  If it has become worn, consider refinishing, painting or replacing an old door.  New hardware to replace rusted door handles or an outdated lock set also makes an impact!

The outside of your home is the first thing to greet visitors and offer an impression of what may be inside.  If it fails to inspire from the outset, it lowers expectations for the inside.  Good luck to you, and have fun!

• AJAX is now an EXCLUSIVE ADT Security Vendor!•

Great news!

Ask your AJAX Inspector how through our

exclusive affiliation with ADT Security Services,

you can receive:   

♦FREE*  STANDARD INSTALLATION -worth $350

♦FREE* Activation - of a non-ADT Security system already installed in your home!

 ADT always there tm

 

 

 *See here for more details, or call 

AJAXHomeInspections at 916-932-6631