How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House (Fast and Permanent)
Ants keep coming back because you are killing the workers, not the colony. Here is how to eliminate the entire colony for good.
Why Killing Visible Ants Does Not Work
The ants you see are workers, just 10 to 20% of the colony. The queen stays hidden and keeps producing thousands more. Spraying kills workers but the queen replaces them within days. The goal is to get poison back to the queen.
The Borax Bait Method
Mix 1 tablespoon of borax with 3 tablespoons of sugar and enough warm water to dissolve. Soak cotton balls in the mixture and place them along ant trails. The ants carry the sweet borax mixture back to the colony and feed it to the queen. Within 1 to 2 weeks the colony dies. Do not disturb the trail while they are feeding.
Seal Entry Points
Follow the ant trail to find where they enter your home. Seal cracks with caulk, replace worn weather stripping, and fix gaps around pipes. Ants can fit through cracks as thin as a credit card. Sealing entries prevents new colonies from moving in after you eliminate the current one.
Prevention
Clean up food crumbs immediately. Store sugar, honey, and pet food in sealed containers. Wipe counters with vinegar daily during ant season. Fix any water leaks because ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches trimmed away from the house as ants use them as bridges.
Pro Tips
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