How to handle ants in your car

It’s normal to find bugs in your car from time to time – after all, we live in Florida. Seeing a random moth flutter out or a spider trying to sneak its way in your window is pretty typical, especially if you park outside. However, sometimes bugs can become a serious issue for your vehicle… namely, ants. Ants in your car can seem like a minor nuisance but quickly develop into something much larger and more expensive to deal with. That’s why we’ve rounded up some tips on how to handle ants in your car from the experts at Toyota of Clermont’s service center.

It’s more common than you think to get an ant infestation in a car. While ants build nests to serve as a home base, they go out to forage for food and water to bring home. And if they like where they find the food and water enough, they may just build their home base there. If your car has trash, crumbs, or anything else that might serve as an all-you-can-eat buffet, ants may decide to call it home. And even worse, they leave scent trails so all of their ant friends know where the party’s at. All of these ants can chew through upholstery, wood, foam, and wires, not to mention bite you and your fellow passengers.

So how can you get rid of ants in your car? Here are our top tips on evicting these pests from your Clermont Toyota.

Five ways to get rid of ants in your car

#1: Detail your car. 

First things first – you need to detail your car from bumper to bumper. We’re talking every nook and cranny – in between seats, under seats, under car seats, beneath floor mats, and in all storage areas, including your trunk, center console, cupholders, and glovebox. Get rid of ANYTHING that might attract them, like food crumbs, wrappers, empty bottles, etc., and make sure all the trash has been emptied out. Vacuum and wipe all surfaces, and if you have any sticky stains on carpet or upholstery, clean them.

#2: Try to find the nest.

Do a little detective work to see where the ants are coming from. If you can find their nest, destroy it so they have to move on to establish a new home base.

#3: Move your parking spot.

Find a new place to park. You’ll be able to go back to your old spot eventually, especially if you can locate the nest and destroy it, but for now, you want to confuse the ants and throw off their scent trails so they can no longer find your car.

#4: Try an at-home solution.

Once you’ve cleaned your car and moved it to a new location away from the ants, it’s time to take care of the infestation. You can try an at-home remedy to start. Mix up two cups of water, three tablespoons of Dawn soap, and three tablespoons of salt in a spray bottle. Spray the ants directly with it to kill them; you can also use it to clean your car.

Additionally, ants HATE citrus. Mix orange oil into your Dawn soap concoction for maximum deterrent power, or use a citrus-based cleaner when you clean your car. Hopefully, the scent will deter them from wanting to come back and will encourage the tenants to vacate.

#5: Go big.

If nothing else works for the ants in your car, go big. Hit Lowe’s or Home Depot for ant spray to kill the ones you can find, and ant bait or traps to kill the ones that are hiding. Just be careful, especially if you routinely have kids or pets in the car with you.

Let Toyota of Clermont help you with your pest problem!

Need help getting rid of ants in the car? Call us! Toyota of Clermont is open and waiting seven days a week. We’re conveniently located just off the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50 and you can reach our Clermont Toyota service center at (352) 404-7001.

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