How to Get Rid of Ants in the House
A line of ants marching across the counter? Spraying the ones you see won't stop them. Here's the approach university pest experts recommend: find out which ant it is, then let them carry bait back to the nest.
The ants you see are only the foragers
Most of the colony, including the queens, stays hidden in the nest, often outdoors or inside a wall. Spraying kills the few workers on your counter, and more simply replace them. Baits work differently: workers carry the slow-acting bait home and share it, so it reaches the queens.
- Don't spray where you put bait. Sprays kill or scare off the ants that would carry it home.
- Be patient. You'll usually see fewer ants in about 5 to 10 days, but wiping out a colony can take several weeks.
TOOLWhich ant do you have?
Different ants want different baits, and a few need special handling. Pick what you see. Look closely; a phone camera zoomed in helps.
A rough guide, not a lab test. Ant ID can be tricky. For a sure answer, your county's cooperative extension office can identify a sample for you, often free.
FIXGet rid of ants
Do them in order.
Use the identifier above. Note the size, color and what they're eating. Two answers change everything:
- Big black or red-and-black ants near damp wood or sawdust may be carpenter ants, which damage wood. Jump to step 7.
- Tiny yellowish ants in a warm room may be pharaoh ants. Never spray these. Sprays can make the colony split into many new ones.
- Don't wipe the trail yet. Watch where the ants go: one end leads to food, the other to where they come in.
- Look for the entry point along baseboards, window frames, door thresholds, and where pipes or wires come through walls.
- Check outside too. Trails often start at a nest under mulch, a pavement crack, or plants touching the house.
- Note each spot. These are where your baits will go.
- Wipe the trail with soapy water on a sponge. This removes the scent the ants follow. Vacuuming or a spray of window cleaner works too.
- Put sugar, honey, cereal, syrup and pet food in sealed containers or the fridge.
- Wipe up crumbs, spills and grease, rinse recyclables, and take out the trash.
- Fix dripping faucets and wipe up standing water. Ants need water as well as food.
Leave one spot untouched if you're about to bait: put the bait right where the trail was, so ants find it fast.
- Buy enclosed bait stations for your ant type. Sweet (sugar) baits suit most kitchen ants; protein or grease baits suit ants eating meat and grease. Not sure? Set out one of each and see which they choose.
- Place stations right on or next to the trail, and at the entry points you found. Outside, put them near nests and trails along the foundation.
- Don't spray or clean near the baits. You want lots of ants visiting.
- Replace stations when they're empty. If ants ignore them after a day or two, move them or try a different bait type.
Homemade borax baits: University of California experts say liquid baits work best at a low strength, about 0.5% to 1% borate in sugar water. Stronger mixes kill the workers before they share the bait with the colony. Store-bought stations are easier to get right and safer around kids and pets.
Kids and pets: boric acid is low in toxicity in small amounts, but it can poison children and pets who eat it. Use enclosed stations, put them where kids and pets can't reach, follow the label, and if someone swallows bait, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
- Expect more ants around the bait at first. That's good: they're taking it back to the nest.
- You should see fewer ants in about 5 to 10 days. Full control of a big colony can take several weeks.
- Keep the kitchen clean meanwhile, so the bait is the best food around.
- Use the bait checklist below to track what you've done.
- Once the ants are gone, caulk cracks and gaps around windows, baseboards, and where pipes and wires enter the house.
- Replace worn door sweeps and weatherstripping.
- Outside, trim plants so they don't touch the walls, and keep mulch a few inches back from the foundation.
- Fix leaks and damp spots. Moist wood attracts carpenter ants.
Call a licensed pest control company if:
- You find carpenter ants indoors, especially with piles of sawdust-like debris. The nest may be in damp or damaged wood that needs repair.
- You have fire ants in a yard where kids or pets play. Their stings hurt and can cause serious allergic reactions.
- You suspect pharaoh ants in an apartment building, hospital or other shared building. They need careful, building-wide baiting.
- Baits haven't worked after 3 to 4 weeks of steady use.
Try a different bait type (sweet vs. protein), move stations right onto the trail, and look for a second entry point. If you've baited for a month with no change, or you see sawdust or swarms of winged ants indoors, call a licensed pest professional.
LISTBait placement checklist
FAQCommon questions
Why are there more ants after I put out bait?
That means it's working. Workers recruit others to the food, and they all carry it back to the nest. Leave the bait alone and the numbers should drop within about 5 to 10 days.
Do vinegar, cinnamon or peppermint keep ants away?
Wiping with soapy water or vinegar removes the scent trail, so ants lose their way for a while. But home repellents don't reach the nest, so the ants usually come back. Use them for cleanup, and baits for control.
Is it safe to use ant bait with pets and kids?
Enclosed, store-bought bait stations are considered quite safe when they're kept out of reach. Avoid loose powders and open homemade baits where kids or pets can get them, and call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) if anyone eats bait.
Why do ants come inside after rain?
Heavy rain floods outdoor nests, and hot, dry weather sends ants looking for water. That's why invasions often happen suddenly. Baits and sealing gaps still work.
What about winged ants?
Winged ants are swarmers looking to start new colonies. A few outdoors is normal. Swarms indoors, especially in late winter or spring, can mean a nest inside the house; call a pro to check (and to rule out termites, which look similar).