How to Get Rid of Ants: Proven Methods for a Pest-Free Home

Break scent trails, seal cracks, and use natural treatments to keep unwanted invaders away.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 25, 2025

Break scent trails, seal cracks, and use natural treatments to keep unwanted invaders away.

Ants are some of the most common household pests, creeping onto countertops and floors in search of food, water, and shelter. While a few stray ants might seem harmless, an uncontrolled infestation can quickly become a nuisance. Tackling ants effectively requires a combination of cleaning, strategic baiting, and ongoing prevention. This comprehensive guide distills expert advice and practical tips into actionable steps for eliminating ants from your home—and keeping them out for good.

Why Are Ants Invading Your Home?

Ants enter homes primarily in pursuit of food and water. Kitchens, pantries, garbage areas, and sinks are hot spots for activity. The following factors make your house attractive to ants:

Accessible food sources: Uncovered snacks, crumbs, fruits, or pet food left out.
Moisture: Leaky faucets, wet sponges, or standing water.
Entry points: Cracks, gaps, and poorly sealed doors or windows.

How to Get Rid of Ants Effectively

Eradicating ants requires a multi-step approach, starting with cleaning, followed by disrupting their communication trails, and using ant baits or traps. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Give Your House a Thorough Cleaning

Before resorting to potent baits or sprays, begin by cleaning thoroughly:

Find what’s attracting ants: Inspect your kitchen, trash bins, pantry, and food storage areas. Look for exposed food scraps, fruit bowls, or dirty garbage disposals.
Eliminate sources: Remove spilled food, clean under appliances, sweep floors, and wipe countertops. Also tidy up areas where pets eat and clean their bowls regularly.
Remove standing water: Fix leaky plumbing, dry sinks, and wring out wet sponges or cloths.

2. Disrupt Ant Communication Trails

Ants leave behind pheromone trails, which guide other ants to food sources. Interrupting these invisible chemical trails can help stem the invasion:

Use general household cleaners: Regularly wipe surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner, paying attention to areas where you’ve seen ants.
Consider vinegar solutions: A mix of water and vinegar can break up scent trails and remove residues that attract ants.
Essential oils: Peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil can temporarily mask ant pheromones but may only provide short-term relief.

Pro Tip: Simply masking the scent does not solve the underlying problem. Consistently eliminating food sources and cleaning trails is crucial.

3. Set Out Ant Baits

Ant baits are one of the most effective weapons for long-term ant control. Here’s how they work:

Bait stations: These contain a mixture of attractive food and slow-acting toxins such as boric acid, avermectins, hydramethylnon, or fipronil. Worker ants consume the bait and carry it back to the nest, spreading the poison among the colony—including the queen.
Placement matters: Position bait stations along ant trails, near food sources, and close to entry points.
Safety first: Do not place baits where children or pets might access them.

Type	Main Ingredient	Best Use	Safety Tips
TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Bait	Boric Acid	General household use on trails	Keep away from pets/children
Granular Ant Bait	Professional-grade toxins	Outdoor perimeter	Use protective gloves

4. Try Ant Traps

Ant traps work by luring the bugs and trapping them inside a sticky base. These may be helpful for isolated sightings but are less effective for large infestations:

Sticky traps: Attract ants with scents like peanut butter; ants get stuck and can’t escape.
Chemical-free traps: Usually do not contain toxins; ideal for homes with pets or kids.

Natural Remedies for Ant Control

Many homeowners prefer non-toxic, eco-friendly ways to deal with ants. Some popular methods include:

Cinnamon: Sprinkle ground cinnamon at entry points or directly on ant trails.
Essential oils: Peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender diluted in water and sprayed on problem areas.
Whole cloves: Scatter them where ants congregate.
Chalk or baby powder: Draw a line or dust around windows and doors; supposedly disrupts scent trails.
Dish soap & water solution: Spray directly on visible ants to kill them instantly.

While these methods may reduce ant sightings, they usually only work as short-term solutions and do not address colony-level infestations.

Proactive Steps for Long-Term Ant Prevention

To guarantee your home stays ant-free, practice ongoing ant prevention. Key strategies include:

Seal entry points: Inspect for cracks and gaps around windows, doors, pipes, and baseboards. Seal with silicone caulk and install weather stripping.
Store food properly: Use airtight containers for pantry items like sugar, flour, cereal, and pet food.
Keep fruit in the fridge: Avoid leaving fruit bowls on countertops.
Clean surfaces daily: Wipe kitchen surfaces and sweep floors frequently, focusing on hard-to-reach areas.
Remove moisture sources: Repair leaks, dry dishes, and avoid leaving wet rags in the sink.

Best Products for Ant Control

If DIY strategies aren’t enough, consider these products:

Boric acid-based baits: Like Terro Liquid Ant Bait, effective indoors.
Residual insecticide sprays: For cracks and baseboards (professional-grade only; follow safety guidelines).
Granular baits: For outdoor perimeters.
Ant trap kits: Homemade traps using sugar, borax, and small containers.
Silicone caulk: For physical barrier sealing.

When to Call a Professional Pest Control Service

If your efforts don’t stem the infestation or you’re dealing with stubborn ant types (like carpenter ants), professional intervention may be needed. Pest control experts have access to industrial-grade products and techniques for tackling serious outbreaks and can give advice on prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I find where ants are coming from?

Track their movement to locate entry points or food sources. Common entry locations are cracks in windows, doors, or baseboards.

Are ant baits safe for children and pets?

Most ant baits contain toxic compounds, so safety is crucial. Always place them out of reach and read label instructions.

Are natural repellents effective against ants?

Some, like cinnamon and peppermint oil, can repel ants temporarily. However, they rarely address the source and colony, so results are typically short-lived.

How long does it take for ant baits to work?

Baits work slowly: Expect results in several days to a week as workers bring poison back to the colony.

Why do ants keep coming back even after cleaning?

Ants can return if pheromone trails aren’t fully removed, food or water sources remain, or entry points aren’t sealed.

Summary: Your Anti-Ant Action Plan

Clean and declutter to remove food and water attractions.
Break pheromone trails with regular cleaning.
Use ant baits and traps for colony elimination.
Try natural remedies for temporary relief.
Seal entry points and maintain home hygiene for long-term protection.

Combining these strategies will make your home a less appealing environment for ants and help keep these persistent pests at bay.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete