Ants, ants, everywhere! Those pesky insects have a way of finding every little crack and opening into your home. When Spring comes around I see scout ants here and there and I want to get in before they take over my life (and my kitchen counter).
Every spring I start getting questions about how to get rid of ants in the house, especially when they appear quickly and seem to multiply overnight. Sometimes they are small and invisible. Sometimes they are small black ants that march in a perfect line. Sometimes they even have wings.
Since small children and pets spend a lot of time on the ground, I don’t want to spray pesticides around my house that could put them at risk.
But the ants…
Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of ants without endangering your family. I have already said natural pest control; But today I will focus specifically on ants. How to get rid of ants in the kitchen, how to get rid of ants permanently, and even how to get rid of carpenter ants (if you suspect a large infestation).
How do ants come home?
Ant colonies send out scouts to find food sources. Those little worms zig and zag and probe their way until they find food to take back to their colony, leaving a trail of pheromones behind them. Other ants follow the trail by leaving their own pheromones, which makes the trail stronger. Eventually all the little stewards are moving together, back and forth, bringing all your goodies back home.
Fascinating and frustrating at the same time.
Have you ever wondered why one ant suddenly appears in dozens, here’s why. That single scout found something interesting on your desk, under the stove, or behind a plant on the windowsill. Soon, all the workers will be walking into your house as you decide to enter.
And it is not always clear what to follow. Sugar ants are often blamed for infesting our honey jars or maple syrup. They go with crumbs on the carpet, sticky spots on the floor, pet food bowls, and even leftovers left in the bathroom. I’ve found them more than once near toothpaste drops and wet spots.
Understanding how they work is the first step to learning how to get rid of ants in your home for good.
How to get rid of ants (naturally, of course!)
There are many ways to get rid of ants naturally. First block them from coming into your home, then monitor and destroy them once they enter. Finally, kill them at their source.
If you are dealing with larger species such as carpenter ants (which can damage wood in bedroom walls or other structural areas), your strategy should be more aggressive. I’ll explore more specifically how to get rid of carpenter ants below. For most common indoor ants, however, prevention is the best place to start.
How to get rid of ants
The first step is to make sure that any sweets in your house are tightly closed. Clean the drips down the side A jar of honey And make sure your maple syrup lid is on tight. It is also recommended that floors be swept and all counters free of any food or drips, but this is often not practical or possible in a busy home like mine. Just do the best you can with this.
Focusing on how to get rid of ants in the kitchen, I pay special attention to:
- The debris under the device
- Adhesive cabinet handles
- Pet food
- The garbage dump
- Any cooking areas on the table
Even a small smear can attract tiny visitors. Some ants are attracted to oils or proteins, so pay attention to all foods, not just sugar. Here are some more ideas to prevent ants from coming into your home.
Create an eclipse
Most people have had luck creating obstacles that ants generally don’t like or cross. Some examples are drawing a chalk line or sprinkling cinnamon. Cayenne pepperor coffee grounds in common entrance areas.
This works especially well on door sills, window sills and baseboards. If you notice ants coming from the yard or cracks leading outside, treat those areas first.
- Citrus Peels – Ants are repelled by citrus (also smells great!). Oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc. contain D-limonene, which is effective in killing ants. I like to preserve and dry orange or lemon peel. I then pulse them in the food processor to make a powder and sprinkle this on access points around the house. You can also sprinkle these around your garden or near outdoor plants.
- Essential oils – I’ve had great results with a spray of essential oil under a screen door that repels ants that are desperate to get in. Fill a small spray bottle with water and add about 20 drops of peppermint oil. Shake well and spray on doors and windowsills. It removes the ants and covers the smell of any food and pheromones.
- Cotton balls – You can also put several drops of peppermint, orange or lemon oil on a cotton ball to keep ants away from looking for food in the cabinet. This is one of my go-to tricks when I want to deal with a problem quickly, especially if I notice them walking across the kitchen floor.
- Vinegar – Spraying vinegar on door and window sills is another option. This has the same effect as peppermint oil spray. Mix vinegar 50/50 in a spray bottle with water. Add peppermint oil or lemon oil to make it more effective. Also, soak citrus peels in vinegar for a few weeks, strain, then use this vinegar to spray. Vinegar specifically helps destroy pheromone trails so other black ants or sugar ants cannot follow the same path.
What if ants live in your house?
The ants are in, now what?
First, know where they’re coming from and where they’re going so you can figure out the best way to deal with their removal. Something has attracted them and needs to be cleaned. Then find their entry point so you can use one of the tips above.
If you are trying to find out how to get rid of ants at home, this investigation is important. Are they in the kitchen? The bathroom? Are you crawling with baseboards in the bedroom? At one point I found a trail that disappeared behind a bookcase in the living room, and sure enough, a small gap leading outside was being trimmed.
After finding point A and point B, proceed to clear. You need to remove the ants from your desk, floor, cabinet or wherever you are. You can wipe them with a cloth (or a paper towel if you don’t want to try to remove them on your cloth).
It is very important to remove the pheromone trail. You can use soapy water, a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar, or an essential oil spray. If you don’t clear the trail, other ants can find the same food source.
How to Get Rid of Ants Permanently (Targeting the Colony)
I don’t know about you, but my first instinct is to kill any bug I see in my house (or call my adventurous daughter to do it for me). However, this may not always be the most effective way to rid your home of ants in the long run.
If you really want to know how to get rid of ants permanently, you need to think more than just a few crawling on the floor. The real goal is to eliminate colonization. Although some reports say that if an ant smells another shriveled ant, they will warn the colony of danger and avoid it.
The most effective way is to prepare an ant poison that they take to their colony and feed it to all their friends. It takes a little patience but it pays off in the end.
Option 1: Borax Ant Trap
This will not immediately remove the ants from your kitchen, but it will work well in the long run. It may seem more interesting at first, this is actually a good thing here Borax helps Eliminate the entire colony And it’s not just ants that enter your home.
Mix Equal parts Borax and corn syrup and spread it on an index card. The ants are attracted to the corn syrup and return to their nest. All the ants that feed on the corn syrup mixture are killed by the borax. I keep this in a place away from curious pets and children. (I cover Safety of using Borax over here.)
If you are looking for how to get rid of carpenter ants, this method can be useful, although carpenter ants sometimes want to find their nests in wooden structures and treat them.
Option 2: Baking soda
If you are uncomfortable with borax, you can try baking soda. Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar and put it in a container where you think the ants will go. Powdered sugar is attractive to them, but they can’t tell the difference between sugar and sugar. Baking sodaThey carry both of them back to their nest.
When ants eat baking soda, it reacts with the acidic substances in their bodies and is fatal to them. Again, it’s not a quick fix, but it’s very beneficial in the long run.
Other ant killing tips to try
Castile soap It destroys the wax coating that protects the ants. Sprinkle with 1 quart water and 1/4 cup liquid castile soap. Spray on door and window sills and where you see ants coming in. Repeat several times a day until the problem is resolved.
Diatomaceous earth
Food grade diatomaceous earth It is more effective in getting rid of ants and other pests than flies. This includes most of the black ants and other small domestic species, although the flying ant scout is common to the ground.
DE is a fine powder made from fossil fuels, which is a type of algae. Because it is so good, it is and is perfectly safe for humans and animals. Really useful to eat. Ants, however, become dehydrated when they come in contact with DE because the waxy coating is damaged, killing them. They won’t bring it back to their colony, but it will stop them from making any progress towards your home.
DE spray doors and window sills and other entry points in the trash and on cabinets and baseboards. I sprinkle it liberally on my carpet during a particularly bad ant infestation. After a few days the ants were gone and I vacuumed the DE.
If using this outdoors, use extreme caution and avoid areas where honeybees may be present. DE clings to their feet and eats them while they are beautiful. DE is sharp and kills even small insects. We want to kill ants and fleas, but They are not honey bees!
A quick note on flying ants and wings
If you notice winged ants congregating near windows or light fixtures, you may be seeing breeding ants. These can sometimes hit termites. If you’re not sure, it may be worth having professionals identify them, especially if you suspect structural damage.
In most cases, however, recolonization and removal of the entire colony will solve the problem (see methods above).
Resist more than an ant?
If you have other pests, there are others. Natural pest control Alternatives and some organic ideas for your home For your garden And a yard.
Ants are persistent, but not invincible. With a little patience, you can learn how to get rid of ants in your home and kitchen and how to get rid of ants permanently without harming your family’s health. If you are experiencing ants popping up in your home, these tried and true methods will really make a difference.
How do you deal with ants? Did I miss effective tips that worked for you? Leave a comment and let us know!
