You spot one ant on your kitchen counter. Then three more near the trash can. By evening, there’s a steady parade marching across your floor. Finding ants in your house feels like an invasion you can’t control, especially when you have pets or small kids and worry about harsh chemicals. You need a solution that works fast without putting your family at risk.
This guide walks you through seven practical methods to eliminate ants and keep them from coming back. You’ll learn how to get rid of ants in the house using both professional services and DIY approaches that are safe around pets and children. We’ll show you how to track down entry points, remove what attracts ants, seal gaps they squeeze through, and use pet safe baits that actually destroy entire colonies. You’ll also discover when natural sprays work and when it’s time to call in expert help. By the end, you’ll have a clear action plan to reclaim your home from these persistent pests.
1. Call Redi Pest Control for fast, safe help
Sometimes DIY methods fall short when you’re dealing with a full ant infestation. You might wipe out the ants you see, but the colony keeps sending more from a nest you can’t locate. That’s when professional help makes the difference. Redi Pest Control specializes in safe, effective ant elimination that targets the source of your problem, not just the symptoms.
When to call Redi Pest Control
You should contact Redi Pest Control when you notice ants appearing in multiple rooms, coming back despite your cleaning efforts, or showing up in large numbers daily. Carpenter ants that tunnel through wood require immediate professional attention because they cause structural damage. If you have young children or pets at home and feel unsure about using chemicals safely, a professional service removes that worry entirely.
What to expect from a professional ant treatment
A Redi technician arrives and inspects your home to identify the ant species and locate entry points. They apply targeted treatments to baseboards, cracks, and outdoor nests while using products designed to eliminate entire colonies. The technician explains every step and answers your questions about how to get rid of ants in the house for good.
Professional ant treatments eliminate the colony at its source, not just the foragers you see on your counters.
How Redi keeps kids and pets safe
Redi uses EPA approved products applied in precise amounts to areas where children and pets don’t play or eat. Technicians follow strict safety protocols and provide clear instructions about when your family can safely return to treated areas. You get effective results without exposing your loved ones to unnecessary risks.
Questions to ask during your service visit
Ask your technician about the specific ant species in your home and how long treatment takes to work. Find out what prevention steps you should take after the visit and whether Redi offers follow-up services if ants return.
2. Follow ant trails and find where they get in
You can’t eliminate ants permanently if you only kill the ones you see. The real solution involves tracking them back to their entry points and cutting off access to your home. Ants leave invisible chemical trails that guide thousands of nestmates straight to your food, so finding where they enter gives you control over the entire infestation.
Spot the first scout ants
Scout ants appear alone or in small groups before a full invasion begins. You’ll notice them wandering across counters or floors in seemingly random patterns as they search for food and water. These scouts report back to their colony, so eliminating them quickly prevents larger problems. Pay attention when you see even one or two ants because they signal that thousands more might follow soon.
Follow the trail back to entry points
Watch where ants go after they find food. Worker ants create visible lines that lead directly to cracks, gaps, or holes they use to enter your home. Track these trails during peak activity times in early morning or evening when ants move most actively. You’ll often find entry points around window frames, door thresholds, or baseboards where walls meet floors.
Check common ant hotspots around the house
Ants squeeze through gaps smaller than a credit card. Inspect areas where pipes and wires enter through walls, underneath sinks, and around bathroom fixtures where moisture attracts them. Check window sills, especially in rooms where you store food, and examine the foundation where it meets your home’s exterior walls.
Erase pheromone trails without spreading ants
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and wipe down the entire trail path. The vinegar destroys the chemical markers ants leave for their colony. Avoid squashing ants on the trail because crushed bodies release alarm pheromones that scatter the colony, making how to get rid of ants in the house much harder.
Erasing pheromone trails breaks the communication system that guides thousands of ants into your home.
3. Clean up food and water that attract ants
Ants invade homes for two simple reasons: food and water. Even the smallest crumb or drop of moisture sends signals that your kitchen offers an easy meal. You might think your counters look clean, but microscopic food particles invisible to your eyes create a feast for hungry ants. Eliminating these attractants makes learning how to get rid of ants in the house far easier because you remove their primary motivation for entering.
Remove crumbs, grease, and sticky residue
Wipe down all kitchen surfaces daily with hot, soapy water that dissolves sticky spills and grease buildup. Pay special attention to areas around your stove, toaster, and coffee maker where food residue accumulates. Sweep or vacuum floors after meals, focusing on corners and under appliances where crumbs hide. Clean inside your microwave and behind small appliances that trap food particles ants detect from surprising distances.
Store food in sealed, ant resistant containers
Transfer open packages of flour, sugar, cereal, and pet treats into hard plastic or glass containers with tight fitting lids. Keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator instead of on counters where the scent attracts foraging ants. Store bread in sealed bags or breadboxes, and never leave food sitting out overnight, even if covered loosely.
Handle pet food and water bowls the right way
Feed your pets at scheduled meal times rather than leaving food available all day. Pick up bowls when your pet finishes eating and wash them thoroughly. Place pet bowls on shallow trays filled with soapy water that creates a barrier ants can’t cross without drowning.
Ants can survive on just a few crumbs per day, so daily cleaning becomes your first line of defense.
Fix indoor moisture issues ants love
Repair dripping faucets, leaky pipes, and condensation around air conditioning units that provide water sources. Wipe down sinks and tubs after use to eliminate standing water. Use a dehumidifier in damp basements where moisture attracts certain ant species.
4. Seal entry points to block ants for good
Cleaning and removing food sources only solves half the problem. Ants still know exactly where to enter your home because they’ve marked those paths hundreds of times. Sealing these entry points creates physical barriers that stop new ants from getting inside while trapping existing foragers where you can eliminate them. This step transforms your efforts from temporary relief into lasting protection.
Find gaps in walls, baseboards, and cabinets
Start your inspection at floor level where walls meet baseboards because ants prefer traveling along edges. Look for tiny cracks, holes around pipes, and spaces where cables enter through walls. Check inside cabinets where plumbing connects and examine corners where two walls join. Use a flashlight in dark areas to spot gaps you’d otherwise miss. Mark each opening you find with painter’s tape so you remember every location during repairs.
Tighten up doors, windows, and screens
Examine the bottom sweep on exterior doors by closing the door and checking for light gaps underneath. Inspect window frames for cracks in caulking and test screens for tears or loose edges where ants squeeze through. Replace damaged weatherstripping around doors that no longer seals tightly.
Sealing entry points prevents thousands of future ants from discovering the food sources inside your home.
Use caulk, foam, and weatherstripping safely
Apply silicone caulk to small cracks in baseboards and around window frames after cleaning the surface with rubbing alcohol. Use expanding foam for larger gaps around pipes, but avoid overfilling because it expands significantly. Install new weatherstripping on doors by cutting it to exact length and pressing the adhesive strip firmly into place.
Know when you need minor repairs or a contractor
You can handle basic caulking and weatherstripping yourself with supplies from any hardware store. Call a contractor when you discover foundation cracks, extensive wood rot, or major gaps that require structural repairs beyond simple sealing.
5. Use pet safe baits to wipe out the colony
Baits offer the most effective approach for learning how to get rid of ants in the house because they target the entire colony, not just the ants you see. Worker ants carry poison back to the nest where they feed it to the queen and larvae, eventually killing every member. Pet safe baits contain active ingredients in concentrations low enough that they won’t harm curious dogs or cats, yet remain lethal to ants that consume much smaller amounts.
Choose the right bait for your ant species
Different ant species prefer different food types depending on their nutritional needs during specific seasons. Sugar based baits attract sweet loving ants like odorous house ants and Argentine ants, especially during spring and summer. Protein or grease based baits work better for carpenter ants and species that shift preferences in fall. Buy gel baits for indoor use because they stay fresh longer and you can apply them in precise locations ants frequent.
Place baits where ants travel but pets do not
Position bait stations along ant trails you’ve identified, focusing on areas behind appliances, under sinks, and along baseboards where pets don’t explore. Never place baits on countertops or floors where curious pets might reach them. Use enclosed bait stations that prevent direct contact while allowing ants easy access through small entry holes.
Baits eliminate the colony at its source by turning foraging ants into delivery systems for slow acting poison.
Avoid spraying near bait and other common mistakes
Resist the urge to spray repellent insecticides near bait stations because these chemicals drive ants away before they can carry poison home. Keep baits in place for at least two weeks without moving them, even when you see fewer ants. Replace baits only when they dry out completely or ants stop visiting them.
Understand how long baits take to work
Expect to wait one to three weeks for baits to destroy an entire colony because the poison works slowly to avoid alerting ants to danger. You’ll actually see more ants initially as workers rush to collect the bait, which signals the treatment is working correctly.
6. Try natural sprays and barriers indoors
Natural methods appeal to homeowners who want to avoid chemical pesticides while still learning how to get rid of ants in the house effectively. These solutions use ingredients you likely keep in your pantry or cleaning closet, making them convenient and affordable alternatives. While natural approaches work well for small infestations or as preventive measures, they rarely eliminate large colonies on their own because they don’t destroy the nest at its source.
Make a simple vinegar or soapy water spray
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it directly to ants and their trails. The vinegar kills ants on contact and erases the pheromone markers they leave behind. Alternatively, combine one tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of water for a spray that suffocates ants instantly. Both solutions work best when applied multiple times daily along entry points and active trails.
Use essential oils, cinnamon, or cayenne as deterrents
Add 10 drops of peppermint or tea tree oil to a cup of water and spray around baseboards and windowsills where ants enter. Sprinkle ground cinnamon or cayenne pepper along doorways and cracks to create barriers ants avoid crossing. These natural repellents smell pleasant to humans but overwhelm ant sensory organs.
Apply diatomaceous earth and baking soda safely
Dust food grade diatomaceous earth in thin layers along ant paths because the microscopic particles cut through their exoskeletons and cause dehydration. Mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar to create bait ants carry back to their colony, where the baking soda disrupts their digestive system.
Natural solutions provide temporary relief but rarely eliminate entire colonies hiding in walls or underground nests.
Know when natural methods are not enough
Switch to professional treatment or commercial baits when you see ants returning after repeated natural applications or when infestations spread to multiple rooms.
Keep your home ant free
You now have seven proven strategies for how to get rid of ants in the house using both professional services and DIY methods that protect your family. Start by identifying where ants enter and what attracts them, then seal those entry points while removing food and water sources. Combine multiple approaches for the best results: clean daily, use pet safe baits, and create physical barriers that block future invasions. Natural sprays work well as supplementary defenses, but remember that eliminating the colony requires targeting the nest itself.
Professional help delivers the fastest, most thorough solution when ants keep returning despite your efforts. Redi Pest Control uses safe, effective treatments that destroy entire colonies while protecting your pets and children. Our technicians identify the exact ant species in your home and apply targeted solutions that prevent future infestations. Contact us today for a free inspection and reclaim your home from persistent ant invasions.