How can you prevent Patio Ants from being a problem this summer?

If patio ants are a problem in your home, there are a few simple tricks you can try using simple household objects that can keep the little buggers away.
One effective method of dealing with ants is to use white vinegar. Add equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray down your kitchen counters, floors, and any points of entry that you think ants are using to get into your home. You can also pour some vinegar on their ant hills to speed up the process of getting rid of ants. Ants hate the smell of vinegar, and will most likely leave your property as they assume none of the tasty treats they are searching for are around when all they smell is vinegar.
If you are not a fan of vinegar yourself, lemons can be an equally effective method of driving away ants. Mix lemon juice and water in a spray bottle and spray along the points of entry to your home. Then put out a few lemon wedges in strategic places where ants may enter to further discourage them from entering your home. Not only will you drive ants away, but you will also make your home smell lemony fresh!
Borax is a common household cleaner that can also do the trick. Lay a line of Borax in cracks in the pavement and between pavers in your yard, and along entry points to keep ants from ever entering your home. Borax can kill grass, though, so be careful where you put it.
If ants are a problem every time you want to enjoy a picnic in your backyard, plastic containers can actually help. To keep ants from crawling up the legs of your table, put a small plastic container under each leg so that it is cupping the leg. Then fill the container with water. This will act as a mini moat, and keep bugs from crawling up the legs of your table to get at your food. Of course, constant water in these containers can cause rust on a metal table and rot on a wooden table, so only use this trick when you are actually planning your meal outside. The ants will have nowhere to crawl if every leg is completely surrounded by even the smallest amount of water.
These tricks work great for some home owners keeping the ants away, but if after trying some of these tricks the bugs are still getting in, call your local pest control professional. They will help you isolate the problem, and rid your home of ants once and for all.