Question about that 1/4 inch gap I found under my baseboard trim

I was swapping out an outlet cover in my kitchen yesterday and noticed a 1/4 inch gap between the baseboard and the subfloor where the old caulk had cracked open. Turns out there was a tiny ant highway running through it - has anyone else found random critter paths hiding behind their trim work?

2 comments

2 Comments

john_murphy13d ago

Had the same issue in my own kitchen a couple years back. Found a trail of small black ants coming up through a gap just like that behind the baseboard by the sink. What worked for me was sealing it up with some good quality silicone caulk after cleaning out all the old stuff and wiping the area down with vinegar to kill the scent trail. I also put down some diatomaceous earth along the baseboard behind the fridge and stove where they seemed to be coming from. That stuff is harmless to people and pets but dries bugs right out. Took about a week before I stopped seeing any stragglers, but no issues since then. Just make sure you're not just filling the hole without dealing with what's inside the wall first.

zarapalmer12d ago

John, when you used the vinegar, did you just wipe it or actually spray a bunch along the trail? I tried the same thing but I think I didn't use enough because they just rerouted around it. Also, how thick did you lay the diatomaceous earth down - like a dusting or a visible line? Trying to figure out if I went too light with mine.