Ants invaded your home? Simple tricks to get rid of them for good

Ants in a house or apartment are not necessarily a sign of poor hygiene. The insects are attracted by crumbs, sweet and greasy foods, and water, while they can get inside through the smallest cracks around windows, doors, pipes, or the foundation.

If you notice a whole “trail” of ants, it is important not just to remove the insects you can see. It is much more effective to find out where they are coming from, cut off their access to food and water, and, if possible, find the point of entry.

Why ants appear in the house

Most often, insects enter a building in search of food or water. Even small traces of jam, honey, fruit, sweet drinks, or grease on a kitchen surface can attract them.

Ants also leave chemical trails that help other ants find the source of food. That is why one accidentally spotted insect can quickly turn into an entire column.

How to quickly get rid of ants in an apartment

1. Remove everything that attracts them

Start with the kitchen. Wipe the countertops, table, floor, and other surfaces, and remove crumbs and food leftovers.

Food, especially sweets, cereals, and pet food, should preferably be stored in tightly sealed containers. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight and take out the trash regularly.

It is also worth checking whether there is a leaking faucet or another source of constant moisture.

2. Find out where they are coming from

Do not rush to spray insecticide right away. First, follow the ants.

Look at where their trail begins: it could be a crack near the baseboard, window, door, pipe, or another small opening.

Once you find the entry point, seal it with caulk. Experts particularly recommend checking cracks around windows, doors, and utility lines.

3. Wash away the “trails” with soapy water

If you have already removed the food source, wipe the areas where the ants were crawling with soapy water.

This helps wash away the chemical trail left by the insects and temporarily disrupt their usual route. To do this, simply dissolve a small amount of liquid dish soap in water.

For surfaces where it is safe to do so, you can also use a mixture of water and vinegar.

4. Try ready-made ant baits

If there are many ants or they keep coming back, cleaning alone may not be enough. In this case, special ant baits may be a more effective option.

Their advantage is that worker ants carry the bait back to the nest, where other ants can feed on it. This means the baits do not act only on the insects you can see.

At the same time, the results will not always be immediate: depending on the species of ants and the colony, these products may take several weeks or longer to work.

Important: Do not treat the bait area with insecticide spray at the same time — this can prevent ants from carrying the bait back to the nest.

How to get rid of ants in an apartment (photo: Pixabay)

8 natural remedies that may repel ants

If you do not want to use harsh chemicals right away, you can try some simple remedies. They mainly work because of strong smells that may interfere with ants’ ability to follow their scent trails.

1. Lemon

Lemon juice and zest have a strong aroma that can mask the “scent” trails left by ants. First, clean the kitchen thoroughly, then wipe the floor and surfaces with water mixed with lemon juice. Pay particular attention to areas where insects appear most often.

2. Orange

Orange peel works similarly. Fresh peel can be placed near areas through which ants enter the house, or surfaces can be wiped with the peel. Dried orange peel can also be used as an additional repellent.

3. Chalk

You can use chalk to mark places where ants enter the room and draw a line along their usual route. This is more of a supplementary method, so it is best combined with cleaning and sealing cracks.

4. Salt

Salt can be sprinkled near cracks, gaps, and other potential entry points for insects. Another option is to prepare a weak salt solution and wipe the surfaces where you have noticed ants.

5. Pepper

The strong smell of black pepper or hot red pepper may repel ants. A small amount of ground pepper can be sprinkled along their routes and near entry points. Do not spray insects with a concentrated pepper solution, as it may irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.

6. Vinegar

Mix vinegar with water in approximately equal proportions and wipe the surfaces where ants move around. This solution can help remove their scent trails. Before using it on a surface that could be damaged by acid, test the solution on an inconspicuous area.

7. Mint

The strong scent of mint can also be unpleasant for ants. A few drops of essential oil can be diluted in water and applied to areas where insects have been spotted. If you do not have essential oil, fresh mint can be used as an additional aromatic barrier.

8. Cinnamon and cloves

Ground cinnamon and cloves can be placed in small amounts near ant trails and entry points. Their strong aroma may help repel the insects.

How to get rid of ants in the kitchen (photo: Pixabay)

What you should avoid doing

• Do not leave food uncovered. Even a few crumbs can lead to more ants appearing.

• Do not limit yourself to eliminating the insects you can see. Most of the colony may remain in the nest, so the problem can quickly return.

• Do not use chemical products at random. If you use an insecticide, follow the instructions on the packaging and keep the product away from children and pets.

When to call a professional

If ants continue to appear after cleaning, cutting off their access to food and water, and using baits, the problem may be caused by a nest inside the walls, floor, or somewhere near the house.

Pay particular attention to large, dark ants or their regular appearance near damp or damaged wood. Some species can build nests in damp or decaying wood.

In such cases, it is better to identify the species of ant and contact a pest control professional rather than repeatedly treating the apartment with sprays.