Top Tips: How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home 

1. Focus on the Source: Eliminate Attractants

The most crucial step in ant control is removing the reason they are inside: food and water. Search engines favor content that emphasizes prevention.

• Seal Food Storage: Use airtight containers for all pantry items, including sugar, flour, cereal, and pet food. Never leave food uncovered.

• Deep Clean Immediately: Wipe down kitchen surfaces (countertops, stovetops, sinks) multiple times a day. Ants only need trace amounts of grease or crumbs.

• Manage Garbage & Recycling: Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids and empty them frequently. Rinse all recyclable containers thoroughly.

• Watch for Moisture: Repair any leaky faucets or pipes. Ants are attracted to standing water, especially during dry spells.

2. Block the Path: Locate and Seal Entry Points

To prevent ants from returning, you must physically block their access. This targets long-tail keywords like "how to seal ant entry points."

• Trace the Ant Trail: Follow the foraging ants to discover the exact spot they are using to enter your home.

• Caulk and Seal: Use durable silicone caulk to seal cracks and gaps around:

  • Window and door frames.

  • Utility line entry points (where pipes/cables enter the wall).

  • Cracks in the foundation or concrete slabs.

• Repair Damage: Replace or repair damaged window screens, door sweeps, and weather stripping.

3. The Ultimate Solution: Ant Baiting Strategy

For long-term ant removal and eliminating the entire ant colony, bait is superior to sprays. This addresses the common user search for "how to kill the queen ant."

• Use Ant Baits: Purchase gel or granular ant baits that contain a slow-acting poison (like boric acid or indoxacarb) mixed with an attractive food source (sugar or protein).

• Placement is Key: Place bait stations directly along the established ant trails or near the entry points you identified.

• Be Patient: Do not kill the ants you see. They must carry the bait back to the nest to feed the other ants and, critically, the ant queen. This process can take days to a few weeks, but it ensures the elimination of the colony.

4. Natural Disruption and Repellents

These natural methods are great for immediate, non-toxic disruption of ant pheromone trails. Use these to clean up after baiting, not during the baiting process.

• Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Use this to spray directly on ants and wipe down surfaces to destroy their scent trail, which they use to navigate.

• Essential Oils: Peppermint oil is a powerful, natural ant repellent. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil near common entry areas.

• Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Sprinkle food-grade DE in hidden areas where ants travel (behind appliances, under sinks). DE is a natural powder that dehydrates and kills insects upon contact.

5. When to Call a Professional Exterminator

If you are dealing with persistent or difficult-to-control species like Carpenter Ants (which nest in wood) or Pharaoh Ants (which require specialized baits), it's time to seek professional pest control.

• Signs of Infestation: Seeing large numbers of ants, finding wood shavings (frass) from carpenter ants, or dealing with multiple indoor colonies are signs a professional is needed.

Call Pest Pro Exterminator today for effective, guaranteed ant removal in Calgary!