How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House ASAP and Keep Them From Returning

No one wants to see a line of ants marching across their kitchen counter or slipping in under the back door. The most common times for an indoor ant infestation is March to October when the ants are most active and seeking food, water, and shelter which is why they are most often seen in kitchens and pantries.

Fortunately, most common indoor ants do not do much real damage. Learn how to get rid of ants with four easy-to-use methods.

Using Ant Behavior to Remove Pests

Ants are social creatures that form colonies with a queen and thousands of worker ants. The worker ants roam outside the nest to retrieve food for the queen and young ants. These worker ants form and follow trails to lead them back to the nest once they discover a food source in your home.

Killing the worker ants won't solve the problem. You must identify the trails, find the nest, and identify and target the queen ant. Use the worker ants' behavior to get rid of ants by sending them back to the nest with some form of poisoned food (ant bait).

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4 Ways to Get Rid of Ants 

Avoid the temptation to simply use ant-killing pesticides to spray visible ants marching along trails inside your home. Pesticide sprays can eliminate a few visible ants, but more will quickly replace them, and you'll never make real progress to eliminating the infestation. Learn four ways to get rid of ants.

Use an Indoor Commercial Ant Bait

Ant baits are usually sugary (to attract ants) and are mixed with a product like boric acid which is toxic to ants. The baits should be placed close to visible ant trails but outside the reach of pets and children.

The worker ants will carry the pesticide bait back to the nest. It can take several days to eliminate the colony but you will gradually see an end to the infestation.

Use Natural Methods

If you want to avoid synthetic chemicals of any kind, there are a variety of natural controls you can try for eliminating or repelling ants.

• Vinegar: Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the ant-infested area where the vinegar odor will block the ant pheromones used to create trails. This is only effective for as long as the scent lingers. When the solution dries up, reapply to keep ants away.
• Borax: Mix 3/4 teaspoon of borax with 1/4 cup of sugar then place the mixture where the ants will find it. 
• Herbs and spices: Sprinkle powdered cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or cloves along ant trails. The strong scent will deter ants.
• Coffee grounds: Place leftover coffee grounds along infested areas to deter ants. Repeat often as the odor fades.
• Citrus peels: Citrus rinds kill ants because they contain an acidic oil called D-limonene that is toxic to ants. Place the rinds along the trail of the ants. Sprinkle with sugar for added ant attention.
  

Use Outdoor Spray Pesticides

If you can identify an outdoor nest that is sending workers inside your home, drench it with an approved insecticide spray (following all label directions).

Keep Things Clean

Sanitation is critical for controlling ants inside the house. Keep foods sealed, pet bowls empty, floors swept, and all surfaces clean. Once you notice ants, don't clean away the ant trails until you have eliminated the infestation so the ants find the bait and carry it back to the nest.

How to Prevent Ants in the Home

• Get rid of cracks and crevices. Seal around windows, doors, cables, wires, and pipe entry points. Regularly inspect foundations for cracks where ants can gain entry to your home.
• Update landscaping. Leave three feet between your home and any vegetation. Ants use plants as bridges into your home, so maintain foundation plants.
• Repair leaks. Ants are looking for moisture as well as food. Take care of small leaks and spills before they become a larger problem.
• Store food correctly. Keep foods in covered containers to eliminate food for the ants.

Ants vs. Carpenter Ants vs. Termites

Common Ants

The species commonly seen inside the home are pavement ants, odorous house ants, or pharaoh ants (also known as sugar ants). These species feed heavily on sugars and greases commonly found in kitchens. They can be dark brown, black, or light yellowish-brown in color, and while very annoying they do not pose serious risk.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.), may burrow through structural wood in the home and cause serious damage. These relatively large ants (up to 5/8 inch) are reddish-orange to black and have wings. A clear sign of infestation is residual wood dust and debris around the foundation and sill plate of the home. Consulting with a professional exterminator is a good step to controlling these ants.

Termites

Termites (Isoptera spp.) are not ants but can look much the same in color and size. A termite's body will not have the narrow "waist" and clearly segmented body found on carpenter ants. If you see termites, consider bringing in an exterminator as they can cause substantial structural damage if not controlled.