Free Guide to Getting Ants Out of Your House

Understanding How Ants Enter Your Home

Ants are among the most common household pests in the United States, with an estimated 20 quadrillion ants living on Earth at any given time. Understanding how these insects get into your home is the first step toward keeping them out. Ants typically enter through small cracks and crevices in your foundation, walls, windows, and doors. They can squeeze through openings as small as 1/16 of an inch — smaller than the head of a pin.

Learn About Yard House Restaurant and Menu Options →

Ants leave behind chemical trails called pheromones that act like a roadmap for other ants in the colony. When one ant finds a food source in your kitchen or dining area, it marks a trail back to the nest. This is why you'll often see ants marching in a line — they're following the pheromone trail left by scout ants. This behavior explains why an ant problem can escalate rapidly. A single ant discovering food crumbs can trigger hundreds of its nestmates to invade within hours.

Different ant species have different preferences for entry points. Carpenter ants, which are larger and can damage wood, often enter through damaged wood or moisture-prone areas. Pavement ants, the most common type found in homes, squeeze through foundation cracks and gaps around baseboards. Pharaoh ants, which are tiny and persistent, can navigate almost any opening in your home's exterior.

Seasonal factors also play a role. Ants are most active during warm months from spring through fall. In cooler climates, ant activity increases significantly from May through September. However, in warmer regions, ants may remain active year-round. Humidity is another factor — ants need moisture to survive, so they're often attracted to areas with water leaks, condensation, or high humidity levels.

Practical takeaway: Walk around your home's exterior and note any visible cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, or damaged areas in wood trim. These are your primary vulnerability points. Photograph or mark these locations so you can address them systematically.

Identifying What Attracts Ants to Your House

Ants enter homes for one primary reason: food. However, what qualifies as food to an ant is far broader than you might realize. Beyond obvious items like sugar and sweets, ants are attracted to protein sources, fats, oils, and carbohydrates. They'll forage on bread crumbs, pet food, grease splatters on stovetops, and even dead insects. A single crumb that would be invisible to human eyes represents a significant meal to an ant.

Get Your Free First-Time Homeowner Guide →

Water sources are equally important. Ants need water to survive and reproduce. A leaky pipe under the sink, condensation around air conditioning units, or even the moisture in a poorly sealed container can attract entire colonies. This is why kitchens and bathrooms are common problem areas. Many people eliminate obvious food sources but overlook moisture issues, allowing ants to remain active in their homes.

Pet food is a particularly attractive nuisance for ants. If you have dogs or cats, their food bowls represent an ongoing buffet for foraging ants. Similarly, the crumbs that accumulate under and around pet feeding areas often go unnoticed by homeowners but are highly attractive to ant colonies. Garbage cans and compost bins, whether inside or outside the home, emit odors that draw ants from considerable distances.

Outdoor trash areas are often overlooked when people think about ant control. Ants nesting in landscape beds or under outdoor structures may initially forage outside but gradually move indoors as they discover food sources. The presence of outdoor ant nests increases the likelihood that ants will eventually find their way inside. Grease buildup on outdoor grills, fallen fruit from trees, and mulch piles all serve as attractants that establish ant colonies near your home.

It's also worth noting that certain plants and landscaping can attract specific ant species. Some ants farm aphids on plants for their sweet secretions, and these ants may then move indoors. Understanding what's attracting ants to your property — whether it's food, water, or nearby nesting habitat — helps you address the root cause rather than just treating symptoms.

Practical takeaway: Conduct an inventory of potential attractants in your kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor areas. Make a list of: standing water sources, accessible pet food, exposed garbage areas, and outdoor food sources like grills or compost bins. This list will guide your prevention efforts.

Non-Chemical Methods for Removing Ants

Before using chemical treatments, many people find success with non-chemical approaches that eliminate the conditions ants need to thrive. The first and most important step is removing the pheromone trails that guide ants through your home. You can accomplish this by thoroughly cleaning affected areas with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water, or with a solution of dish soap and water. The key is covering all surfaces where you've seen ant activity, as pheromones can linger and continue attracting ants even after the visible insects are gone.

Learn How to Make Beef Stew at Home →

Eliminating food sources requires vigilance and attention to detail. Store all food in airtight containers, including pantry items, cereals, flours, and sugars. Clean up spills immediately and sweep floors regularly, paying special attention to areas under and around appliances where crumbs accumulate. Wipe down countertops and stovetops daily, and don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. These practices seem basic, but they're remarkably effective because they remove the primary motivation for ants to enter and remain in your home.

Addressing moisture issues is equally important. Fix leaky pipes under sinks and around water heaters. Ensure that air conditioning condensation drains properly and doesn't pool near your home's foundation. Reduce humidity in bathrooms and basements using ventilation fans or dehumidifiers. Eliminate standing water in plant saucers, pet water bowls left out overnight, and any areas where water tends to collect. By removing water sources, you make your home significantly less attractive to ants, even if food sources exist.

Sealing entry points prevents new ants from entering while you're addressing the problem. Use caulk to seal cracks in foundation walls, gaps around baseboards, and spaces where pipes or electrical lines enter your home. Weather stripping around doors and windows reduces entry opportunities. These preventive measures take time to apply but provide long-term benefits. Focus first on areas where you've observed ant activity, then gradually seal other potential entry points.

Some people report success using barriers and deterrents. Diatomaceous earth (food-grade only) can be applied as a dust around ant entry points. This substance damages the waxy coating on ant exoskeletons, causing dehydration. However, it must remain dry to be effective and requires reapplication after rain or moisture exposure. Similarly, cinnamon, peppermint oil, and citrus-based repellents may discourage some ant species, though their effectiveness is inconsistent and they don't address the underlying problem.

Practical takeaway: Begin with a deep clean using vinegar solution, eliminate all visible food sources, and check your home for moisture problems. These three actions alone will reduce ant activity noticeably within one to two weeks for many households.

Using Ant Baits and Treatments Effectively

When non-chemical methods don't fully resolve an ant problem, ant baits offer an effective alternative to broad pesticide spraying. Ant baits work through a delayed-action mechanism. Ants consume the bait and return to their nest, where they share the poison with other colony members, including the queen. This approach targets the source of the problem rather than just eliminating visible ants. The delay is actually beneficial because it allows ants to spread the bait throughout the colony before dying.

Free Guide to Resetting Your Home Appliances →

Gel baits and liquid baits are among the most popular forms. These products are typically placed in small stations or directly on surfaces where ants are active. Many gel baits contain borax or fipronil as active ingredients. Liquid baits often use similar compounds suspended in a sweet liquid that attracts ants. Placement is crucial for effectiveness. Position baits along ant trails, near entry points, and in areas where you've observed the most activity. Do not place baits randomly throughout your home.

Granular baits are another option, particularly for outdoor use or severe indoor infestations. These products are spread around problem areas and work when ants collect the granules and transport them back to the