The common house ant (about 3 mm long) is a nuisance insect that can be exterminated by squeezing or spraying it. However, to eradicate the entire colony you will have to use poison baits and let the worker ants destroy the nest themselves. If you have carpenter ants in your home (which are about 6–12 mm long and nest in damp or rotting wood), you should eradicate the colony immediately. Dig up the affected area, destroy the nest using insecticide, then repair the damage. You can also hire a professional service to do it.
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Method 1 of 3: Getting Rid of Some Ants
Step 1. Kill any ants you come across with a tissue or shoe
This was an extermination technique without the use of technology, but it could actually kill him! However, even if you encounter only one ant, you should always assume that there are many other ants in the house.
Scouting ants will leave scent trails for other ants to follow. So, an ant attack cannot be prevented by simply killing every ant it encounters. To stop them, you'll need to find ant nests and destroy them with insecticide, or install poison baits in your house for scout ants to take to their nests
Step 2. Spray soapy water on the ants if you don't like squeezing them by hand
Put a small amount of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water, then shake the mixture before you use it. When exposed to this mixed spray, the ants will disrupt their respiratory system and cause them to suffocate (usually within a minute or so). In the same way, you can also use vinegar.
Place the spray bottle in an easy-to-reach area, as you'll likely see more ants if the nest hasn't been exterminated. Always shake the bottle before use
Step 3. Use an ant-killing product if it's OK for you to use chemicals
An insect repellent spray that kills ants on contact will usually irritate their respiratory system. This means that this product works in the same way as soapy water or vinegar. Insect repellents can kill ants more quickly, but they contain chemicals so you have to be careful when using them indoors.
If you have children or pets, or ants you want to get rid of in the kitchen, it's a good idea to use soapy water or shoes to kill them
Step 4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth to get rid of ants swarming in an area
If you see some ants walking along the baseboard (a wooden trim that sits between the wall and the floor) or near a gap, sprinkle food-safe diatomaceous earth in the area. Diatomaceous earth can kill ants walking on it, and usually kills ants that eat it.
- Diatomaceous earth is made from the exoskeletons of tiny aquatic organisms that have been fossilized and ground. Its jagged texture can cause fatal injuries to ants walking on it, and tear the inside of the ant's body if swallowed.
- Diatomaceous earth is considered safe for humans and pets. However, do not inhale the fine particles as they can irritate the respiratory tract.
Method 2 of 3: Getting Rid of House Ant Colonies
Step 1. Place several types of food to find out what the ants prefer
Many ants (including house ants) prefer other foods at different times. To find out what the ant colony likes to eat, place a few drops of honey, a spoonful of peanut butter, and 1-2 slices of potato chips on a cardboard. Place this carton in an area frequented by ants, then wait a day or two, and check what food the ants eat.
For example, if an ant eats honey, it means that at this time the ant prefers sweet food. Use these preferences to purchase a suitable bait station
Step 2. Purchase a bait kit that matches the food the ants prefer at this point
Some baiting kits use generic baits that may be suitable for you, but other products provide special baits, such as "for sweet food ants" or "for fat-loving ants." If there is a store that sells these special bait sets, buy a product with a bait containing the type of food the ants prefer at this time.
- Each brand has a different product design, but usually the bait kit is a small plastic igloo (Eskimo house) with four doors, attached to a plastic or cardboard box measuring approximately 5 cm square.
- Alternatively, you can make your own bait by mixing 350 ml of water, 120 grams of sugar, and 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of borax and stirring until it forms a paste. Next, spread the paste in several small pieces of cardboard. Remember, borax is toxic when ingested. So, borax is not safe if there are children or pets in the house.
Step 3. Place the bait device in an area where ants are frequent
Scouting ants leave scent trails for their companions to follow, so the ants tend to use the same path over and over again. Look for some areas that are frequented by ants and place bait there. Next, let the ants take over your job of exterminating their own colony!
- Worker ants will take the liquid, solid, or gel venom present in the bait device (which is considered a delicacy), and transport it into the nest to share with their friends. From there, the poison will spread rapidly and destroy the colony.
- Baiting sets can usually be used safely around pets and children, as long as the "igloo" is not tampered with. Follow the directions on the package if the poison bait is swallowed by children or pets, or call emergency services.
Step 4. Leave the bait device in place until there is no more ant activity there
Leave the bait there until you see no ants for 2-3 days. Depending on the type of device, you may need to replace the bait within a certain period of time, for example a week or two. If so, always replace the bait with a new one within the allotted time until there are no more ants hanging around.
To be more reassuring, we recommend that you continue to leave the bait device in place for a longer period of time. You have to make sure that every ant in the colony has eaten the poison and died from it. If only a few ants die, the colony can grow back
Step 5. Take some simple actions to prevent future ant infestations
If you always keep your house clean, store food in sealed containers, and block ant passages, then you are doing a better job of getting rid of ants. Try doing some of the things below:
- After each meal, clean all crumbs and food debris.
- Take the trash outside every day, and don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- Tightly cover containers for storing food.
- Seal any cracks or gaps in walls, window trim, door posts, etc. with putty.
- Sprinkle coffee grounds, cinnamon, or chili powder at the entry points where ants often use it.
Method 3 of 3: Finding and Getting Rid of a Carpenter Ant Colony
Step 1. Check for damp or rotting wood near areas where ants are congregating
Carpenter ants like to build nests in wood that becomes soft from damp and rotting. Look near the area where the ants are swarming and check for dripping pipes, broken windows, or other areas where wet wood is present in the house.
- Focus your search around doors, windows, and plumbing as this area contains a lot of wet wood which carpenter ants love.
- Carpenter ants generally make nests outside the house, for example in areas of wood piles, damp logs, and wooden posts. If these ants nest in the house, take action immediately before serious damage occurs.
Step 2. Open the area where the ant nest is suspected
If you see some carpenter ants moving in and out of the wall above the rotting part of the baseboard, open the baseboard. Next, if necessary remove a few sheets of drywall (gypsum wallboard) in the area so that you can see the inside of the wall more freely. If you see large swarms of ants in badly damaged wood, the nest has been found.
After the nest is destroyed, you still have to repair this area. So, feel free to dig further to find the nest. Alternatively, from this point on you can hire a professional pest control service to get rid of ant nests
Step 3. Spray the nest with a large amount of a carpenter ant insecticide
Use an insecticide specifically designed to kill carpenter ants, and containing bifenthrin, deltamethrin, or permethrin. Spray a large amount of insecticide on the anthill. If you follow the instructions for use listed on the product packaging, the insecticide should kill the colony in no time.
- Keep pets and children away from the area you are working with, and take other safety precautions according to the instructions on the package.
- Although the poison bait will kill the ants and destroy the nest over time, you will still have to repair rotten wood in a damaged house. So it's best to attack the nest directly when you're trying to get rid of carpenter ants.
Step 4. Repair the affected area once the colony is confirmed to be dead to prevent ant infestations from returning
Spray insecticide again if necessary (according to product directions) until you have not seen any ant activity in the nest for 2 to 3 days. Next, fix the leaking pipe, seal any gaps that allow water to enter, replace any rotting wood, and then seal the area again. If you can't do it yourself, hire a handyman.
