Securing Your RV From Pests Vol. 1: Ants

The Ants Go Marching One by One…Out of the RV!

Almost every RV owner has had to deal with some kind of pest or insect before. Some of the most common culprits are ants, and it’s no big surprise as to why. Not only are they attracted to the environment (and the food) of your home on wheels, but it’s incredibly easy for them to get inside!

Thankfully, there are a few tried and true ways you can safely get rid of these little critters. The best part? You don’t have to spend a lot of money or worry about using harsh chemicals in the process. Ants aren’t necessarily harmful, but let’s be honest - they don’t make great passengers! So, let’s take a look at a few ways you can keep them out of your RV throughout your travels.

Keep Your Food Secure

The biggest reason ants are getting into your RV in the first place is because they want to snack on your food! If you keep it unattainable for them, not only will they not have a reason to sneak in, but they likely won’t stick around.

It can be difficult to keep all your food secure, but it’s not impossible. The best thing to do is to put everything that could be attractive to ants (chips, cereal, etc.) in airtight containers. Make sure everything is properly sealed.

It’s also important to clean up after yourself whenever food is involved. Don’t keep dirty dishes in the sink or spills on the counter. By keeping your food as unattainable as possible, you’re less likely to have an ant infestation throughout your mobile home.

Just the Essentials

Instead of letting off a bomb of harmful chemicals in your RV (gross), why not try a natural approach to getting rid of/preventing ants? Essential oils are a tried and true method for keeping ants away.

One of the best essential oils for keeping ants from sticking around is peppermint oil. The little insects absolutely hate the stuff! You can either add a few drops of pure peppermint oil into a diffuser, or actually sprinkle a couple drops around the RV. Just be careful when using essential oils. Sometimes, they may need to be diluted or they can irritate your skin.

Keep in mind that the scent of peppermint oil will also be very strong if you’re adding droplets of it around your RV. The smell should fade after a while, but make sure everyone riding along is okay with it!

Spray Down Your RV

Another great natural way to keep ants from getting into your camper is to spray down the exterior with a solution made of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar. Simply mix the two into a spray bottle and have at it on your wheels, jacks, sides of the rig, etc. The solutions are a deterrent to the pesky little insects and will keep them from even wanting to come inside.

There are many ways to keep ants at bay whether you’re camping in the wilderness or taking a family road trip. We hope these simple tips make it easier to keep your camper free from these critters this summer, and for years to come.