10 Effective Tips on How to Get Rid of Ants in the House

Key Highlights

• Ant species like carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and fire ants require tailored pest control approaches for effective elimination.
• Sealing entry points such as door frames and cracks reduces ant invasions significantly.
• Natural remedies, including vinegar and lemon juice, disrupt ant trails and deter their activity.
• Using ant baits helps eradicate the queen ant and the rest of the colony efficiently.
• Cleaning kitchen countertops and storing food in airtight containers removes potential food sources for ants.
• For severe infestations, professional pest control services offer reliable solutions.

Ant problems are a real hassle for many homes. These small bugs get in by finding entry points like cracks, small holes, or gaps.

They come inside to look for food, and you might see trails in your kitchen or pantry. That is why it is important to use pest control in your home.

To get rid of these unwanted ants, you need to find out where the ants are coming from. You should also try to block their access the best you can.

In this blog, you will learn ten easy ways to take back your home and keep away ant infestations for good.

1: Identify the Type of Ants in Your Home

Knowing the species of ants that get into your home is the first step in good pest control. There are many types, like carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and fire ants. These ants do not all act the same when it comes to where they nest or get food. Carpenter ants make tunnels in wet wood. This can lead to structural damage in your house. Odorous house ants go after items with sugar in them and they smell funny when you crush them. Fire ants, on the other hand, can sting and are known to be aggressive.

If you learn more about how these ants live, it will help you pick the right pest control steps. Sometimes, you may need a tool to see their body parts better so you can tell what kind they are. You can also reach out to local experts or professional pest control companies for help. Knowing which ant species you have means you can pick good ways to get rid of them, like using ant baits or sealing up entry points. This makes your time and money work best against the ants in your home.

2: Seal Entry Points to Prevent Ant Access

Stopping ants from getting into your home starts with fixing where they come in. Look at door frames, windows, and vents. Check for cracks or small gaps. The ants can use these spots to get inside. Sometimes, they use trees or wires near your house like bridges.

To block their way, close up any holes you see. Use caulk to seal openings you find. You can put petroleum jelly on smaller gaps too. These steps help seal entry points and keep ants from coming through.

If the holes or damage are big, it’s a good idea to ask for professional help. Pest control experts know how to find hidden entry points and seal them. When you cut off entry points, you stop them from reaching their colony and coming back.

After you do this, your next step is to remove things inside that attract ants, like food or water. This helps keep ants and other pests away for a long time.

3: Maintain Clean Kitchen Surfaces

Keeping your kitchen clean is key to stopping ant activity. Ants look for food on pantry shelves and kitchen countertops. They will find crumbs and sugary liquids if you let them pile up. Wipe surfaces, sweep floors, and throw out scraps often. Doing so gives ants less to find in your home.

You should also keep all food tightly sealed. If you leave sugary liquids or leftovers out, they will quickly draw ants in. To stop ant invasions, keep your kitchen in good shape at all times. Ants follow scent trails left by worker ants to hunt for food. Clean well to get rid of these trails. This will make it harder for them to return and can lower their visits. It also makes it easier to try other ways to get rid of ants, like natural remedies or baits.

4: Use Natural Ant Repellents Like Vinegar or Lemon Juice

Natural remedies like vinegar and lemon juice give you an eco-friendly way to deal with ants. These things mess up the scent trails left by worker ants. When you break these trails, it is harder for the group of ants to move around or find food. If you use lemon juice or vinegar on kitchen countertops or door frames, it can stop a lot of ant activity.

These natural things are also safe for families with pets or children. To use them, put equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Use it at entry points or where you see the most ants. For small problems, this mix will work. You need to keep watching for scent trails and use the spray again if you see ants. For minor issues, natural remedies work well. If you find a lot of ants or big colonies, you might need to use ant baits or even call a pro for help.

5: Opt for Ant Baits to Tackle the Colony

Ant baits are a smart way to get rid of ants in your home. They work by drawing in worker ants with a slow poison. The ants then carry this poison back to the nest. After it gets shared with the queen ant and the rest of the colony, it kills all of the ants in the group, including new ones.

When you pick ant baits, look for well-known brands like Terro, Raid, or Hot Shot. For bigger problems, place bait stations along baseboards and near places where you store food to get more ants. You need to be patient with this method. It can take a few days or even weeks to see results. Don’t move the bait stations during this time, but do keep wiping away ant trails so more ants don’t come in. By keeping an eye on the problem and using ant baits the right way, you will have a good chance of stopping ants from taking over your space again.

6: Keep Pet Food Sealed and Out of Reach

Ant activity often starts when pet food is left out and not covered. It is important to store pet food in airtight containers to stop ants from coming in. Ants always look for foods with sugar and protein, so spilled kibble or open dishes can bring them right into your house. When you seal pet food all the way, you help remove what the ants are after.

You should also clean the pet feeding areas on a regular basis. Pick up stray pieces of kibble at once and put food bowls away after your pets are done eating. If you use raised pet feeders, these can help keep ants away by lifting the dishes up and out of reach. Doing these simple things will greatly cut down on ant problems. Your pets will be safer and less likely to get into ant poison or anything dirty.

7: Regularly Dispose of Garbage and Rotten Foods

Garbage disposal is a key part of pest control, especially when you want to stop ant infestations. When you leave rotten foods and trash bins unattended, these things become good food sources for ants. Take out your garbage quickly, mostly in the kitchen where ants go to look for food. Make sure to throw out food scraps or containers before they have time to attract ants or other pests.

It is also important to keep garbage bins clean. Wash the bins often. This will help get rid of any sticky stuff or leftover liquids from what you throw away. By cleaning your bins and taking out the trash often, you can stop ants from finding ways to get inside. If you also seal up food properly and keep bin lids tight, you make it hard for ants to get in. All of these steps help make a solid and long-lasting pest control plan, blocking entry points and cutting down on ant infestations.

8: Fix Leaky Pipes and Eliminate Damp Areas

Ant activity is often found in damp places like where there are leaky pipes or water from damage. Kitchens, basements, and bathrooms that stay wet are places where ants go to find water. If you fix leaky pipes and keep these areas dry, you can stop this major thing that brings ants inside.

Check windows, showers, and pipes for any leaks in the house. Use dehumidifiers so you can keep the air less damp, which makes it hard for ants to build their nests. Look at damp wood areas like decks often. If you find wood that is bad, replace it right away. Doing something about these water problems now will help stop even more ant activity and will protect your home from carpenter ants. This helps stop structural damage and keeps many kinds of ants that love damp places away.

9: Store Food in Airtight Containers

Proper food storage plays a big part in pest control. Airtight containers help stop ants from getting to sugary liquids or crumbs. When you use clear containers, you can see if you have closed them right. The locking lids keep ants out and help lessen ant activity.

Do not leave bags or boxes of food in open cabinets or out on the counters. Every crumb gives ants a reason to come into your kitchen. Sugary items like cereals and syrups are extra tempting for them, so make sure those are closed tight. When you follow this easy step, you make it hard for ants to get in your food storage areas. You also keep things clean, and that helps you with all your pest control.

10: Consider Professional Pest Control for Severe Infestations

For big ant problems, it is smart to use professional pest control. Large infestations often show that there are big colonies in the home. These can also mean there are ongoing entry points for the ants or some kind of structural damage. Professional pest control workers use special tools that help them find where ants are hiding. They can also pick the best treatment, which depends on the ant species causing issues.

DIY ways to handle ants might help for a short time. But if you have a larger ant problem, you might need help from experts. These professionals clear out the current ants and set up steps to stop more ants from coming back. If the usual steps do not fix your ant problem, it is a good idea to call in experienced pest control providers.

Conclusion

To sum up, getting rid of ants in your house takes some different steps. First, you have to know what type of ant species you have and what is going on in your home.

You should start by sealing up all entry points. Be sure to keep your place clean. Using some natural things to keep ants away is also a good idea.

Each tip can help you keep ants out. If there are just too many ants and it is hard to deal with the problem, you should think about calling a professional pest control service.

The key is to be proactive and use these ideas to make your home better and get the ants out. If you want advice just for your place, you can ask for a consultation about pest control anytime!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Attracts Ants Inside the House?

Ants come into homes because they find food, like crumbs or sugary liquids. They use scent trails to find their way, and worker ants show other ants where the entry points are. Floods, droughts, or too much rain make house ants look for shelter and food in your home.

Are Ants Harmful to Health?

Most ants do not cause much harm to people. But carpenter ants can do a lot of damage to your home by hurting the wood. Pharaoh ants can spread bad germs, and ant poison will be unsafe if you do not use it right. If you use pest control quickly, you can stop these problems and keep the ants from doing more harm or making things dirty.

How Can I Prevent Future Ant Infestations?

To stop ant problems, you need to seal entry points in your home. Clean often to take away what the ants want. You can also put out ant bait stations as a way to stop them from coming in. Cleaning and checking your home blocks food, so the ants cannot build a strong group there. If you still see a lot of ants, it is good news that pest control experts can come help you. They know how to keep your home safe and free from ants.

Can Ants Cause Structural Damage to My Home?

Yes, some ant species, like carpenter ants, can cause structural damage. They go into damp wood that is often found in windows or doors, and this can make your home less stable. If you want to get rid of this risk, regular pest control and good home care are the best things to do.

How Long Does It Take to Completely Get Rid of Ants?

The period of time to get rid of ants can last a few days or sometimes weeks. It depends on how many there are. Professional pest control helps you see results much faster. They use the right treatments to target the queen ant and the whole group. To get rid of all of them, you need to be patient and stay on top of things.

Last update on 2025-05-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API