How to Get Rid of Ants at Home

Watch the ants for a few minutes so you can see where they are entering and what they are feeding on. Correct identification matters because different ants nest and feed differently, and the University of Minnesota Extension notes that species affects the best control method. Once you know the route, you can treat the real problem instead of only wiping random spots.

Put sugar, cereal, pet food, honey, and snacks into hard sealed containers, then clean sticky spills, grease, crumbs, and trash bins. Ants are often drawn indoors by food and water, and the EPA recommends controlling pests first by removing food, water, and shelter. Fix dripping faucets, dry wet counters, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.

Use a sponge or cloth with soapy water to wipe the trail from the food source back toward the entry point. This removes the scent path ants use to guide other workers, a step recommended by both NPIC ant control guidance and university IPM programs. Vacuum clusters if needed, then empty the vacuum outdoors promptly.

Caulk cracks around baseboards, windows, doors, pipes, and foundation gaps after you identify the entry route. The UC Statewide IPM Program recommends caulking openings, keeping vegetation and mulch away from foundations, and fixing leaks to make buildings less attractive to ants. Trim branches or shrubs that touch the house so ants have fewer bridges indoors.

Set enclosed bait stations or labeled gel bait close to active trails, entry points, or outdoor nest openings, but keep them away from children and pets. Ant baits work because workers carry slow-acting bait back to the nest, where it can reach more of the colony, according to UC IPM bait guidance. If ants ignore one bait, move it slightly or try a different labeled bait type.

Do not spray insecticide on ants that are feeding from bait or along the trail leading to it. Sprays can kill foragers before they share bait with the nest, and University of Minnesota Extension warns that spraying foraging workers is not effective for hidden nests such as carpenter ants. Give bait several days to work and replace it when empty, following the product label.

Read the full label before buying or using any ant pesticide, and use it only in the places listed on that label. NPIC advises trying lower-toxicity options first and following all label instructions for ant products. Never use unlabeled powders, farm pesticides, or insecticide chalk indoors.

Call a pest management professional if you see large black ants, winged ants indoors, sawdust-like material near wood, stinging ants, or trails that keep returning after cleaning, sealing, and baiting. Carpenter ants can damage wood by tunneling for nests, and Extension guidance on carpenter ants says control is often best handled by professionals because nests are hidden and may require targeted treatment. A professional can identify the ant and treat the nest without unnecessary whole-house spraying.