How to Get Rid of Ants in the House (2026 Guide)

Sugar ants, carpenter ants or pavement ants? Identify the trail, bait correctly and seal entry points for good.

DIY-friendly: Usually DIY-able: correct ID + sealed entry + label-led method. Act on first signs — it only gets cheaper early. Hiring guide →

Identify the ant first

Sugar ants (odorous house ants) love kitchens. Carpenter ants leave frass (sawdust) near damp wood. Pavement ants nest under slabs and enter through expansion joints. The bait that works for one may be ignored by another — put out both sugar and protein bait and see which they take.

Why bait beats spray

Sprays kill workers you see. The queen keeps laying eggs. Slow baits with borax or fipronil ride back to the nest on the workers’ bodies and in shared food. Replace dried-out bait every 2–3 days.

Step-by-step plan

Follow the how-to box above. Key rule: patience. If traffic increases for 24–48 hours after baiting, it is working — recruits are following the trail to the bait.

When to call a pro

Carpenter ants in structural wood, ants after 3 weeks of correct baiting, or winged swarmers indoors in spring. A pro finds satellite nests in wall voids you cannot reach.

How to: How to Get Rid of Ants in the House (2026 Guide)

Bait, starve and seal ants out.

You'll need

sugar-based ant bait stations
protein-based bait
caulk
airtight containers

Tools

flashlight
damp cloth

Follow the trail

Watch where ants go at dusk. Note entry points (window frames, pipes, baseboards) and the food they visit.
Place baits on the trail

Put sugar and protein baits beside the trail, not on it. Do not spray insecticide nearby for 2 weeks.
Remove food and water

Wipe counters, seal dry goods, fix dripping taps, empty trash daily. Pet food goes in sealed bins.
Seal entry points

Once traffic drops, caulk cracks, fit door sweeps and trim branches touching the house.