How to Get Rid of Ant Trails in Your House: a Step-by-Step Guide

Last Modified on October 28, 2024 by Zachary Smith

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Have you noticed trails of industrious little ants marching through your home?

If so, you’re probably wondering what to do and how to eliminate them.

Fortunately, you don’t have to do it on your own.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we’ve been providing Bay Area residents with ant control services for more than 20 years, and we’ve compiled our top tips into this blog.

Before you Get Started

Observe the ants

Before you start cleaning up after those pesky ants, take a moment to observe their behavior.

Pay attention to where they’re coming and going in your home.

Why?

By tracking their entry and exit points, you can pinpoint the source of the infestation more effectively.

This makes tackling the problem a lot easier.

Gather Your Supplies

Before dealing with the ant problem, ensure you have the right tools.

This includes:

  • Ant bait or traps to target the worker ants and the nest.
  • Vinegar, a spray bottle, and paper towels to wipe down paths and entry points (or opt for a standard household cleaner like ammonia-based window cleaners).
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and a mask if you’re using chemical sprays.

How to Remove Ant Trails

how to remove ant trails

1. Eliminate the Food Source

If you can figure out what the ants are eating and clean it up, you can dissuade them from returning.

Tools Needed:

  • Storage containers
  • Trash bags
  • Broom and dustpan

Steps to Take:

1. Identify where the trail leads. Usually, the ants are following a trail to a food source.

2. Once you’ve identified where the ants are headed, locate and dispose of the food sources they’re relying on – this includes cleaning up crumbs and spills and keeping unsealed foods in airtight containers.

3. Clean the area with a vinegar and water solution. This will disrupt the scent trail the ants leave behind and make it more difficult for them to return to your space.

Pro Tip: Regularly check for forgotten food residues under kitchen appliances and furniture that might attract ants.

2. Wipe Away Ant Trails

Cleaning up ant trails disrupts ants’ pheromone path and can help stop the infestation.

Fortunately, removing ant trails from your home can be as simple as using a damp towel.

While many people jump right to using pesticide sprays, we do not recommend that.

There’s no need to apply toxic chemicals on your countertops or walls.

Instead, just use a household cleaner and a paper towel.

Tools Needed:

  • Household cleaner (vinegar or a commercial option like ammonia-based window cleaner)
  • Spray bottle
  • Paper towels or cloth

Steps to Take:

  1. Locate the visible ant trails in your home.
  2. Spray the trails thoroughly with a household cleaner.
  3. Wipe the sprayed area with a paper towel or cloth to eliminate pheromone traces.
  4. Repeat as needed until the ants stop using the trails.

Pro Tip: Vinegar is a natural way to disrupt ants’ scent trails. It’s safe to use around pets and kids!

3. Use Ant Baits

Using ant baits is an excellent way to effectively target and eliminate entire ant colonies and ensure a long-term solution to infestations.

If you still have active ant trails in your home and would like to utilize them to your advantage, put out ant bait stations near the trail so the ants can start taking the bait back to their colonies.

This is effective for species like Argentine ants.

Tools Needed:

  • Ant bait stations
  • Gloves

Steps to Take:

  1. Wear gloves to handle the baits and keep them away from kids and pets.
  2. Place ant bait stations near trails and entry points.
  3. Check the baits daily and refresh them as needed.

Pro Tip: Don’t kill ants you see on the bait path. Let them return to their nest so they can spread the bait effectively.

4. Seal Entry Points

To start getting rid of ants in your home, observe where they’re going and where they’re coming from.

Once you’ve found their entry point, plug it up with spackle or caulking.

Sealing entry points prevents ants from entering your home, which reduces the likelihood of future infestations.

Tools Needed:

  • Caulk gun
  • Weatherstripping
  • Foam sealant

Steps to Take:

  1. Check your home for cracks and gaps in doors, windows, and foundations. Remember that ants are tiny, so it’s smart to seal up anything you see.
  2. Use a caulk gun to seal any visible cracks and gaps.
  3. Install weatherstripping around doors and windows to prevent entry.
  4. Use foam sealant for larger gaps that could let ants in.

Pro Tip: Check your home regularly for new entry points, especially as the weather changes. Make any necessary repairs to keep a strong barrier.

5. Keep the Space Clean

Keeping your space clean is essential because it eliminates food sources and lowers the chances of attracting ants and other pests to your home.

Tools Needed:

  • Cleaning supplies (mop, vacuum, dustpan)
  • Trash bags

Steps to Take:

  1. Create a regular cleaning schedule to keep your space spotless.
  2. Sweep and vacuum floors to get rid of crumbs and food bits.
  3. Wipe down countertops and storage areas to remove food residues.
  4. Keep garbage areas clean and dispose of trash daily.

Pro Tip: Regular cleaning helps prevent ant problems and creates a healthier, more enjoyable living space.

Methods to Avoid

Dealing with ants can be frustrating.

Even so, you must keep yourself and your family safe as you work to control their populations.

With that in mind, here are a few things NOT to do:

Using Toxic Sprays in Kitchens

Using toxic sprays, especially in food prep areas, is a big no-no.

These chemicals can leave nasty residues that might contaminate your food and harm your health.

Plus, they can hurt helpful insects and non-target species.

Sealing Entry Points Without Addressing Underlying Causes

Another thing to avoid is sealing up entry points without figuring out why the ants are coming in.

That usually just sends them looking for other ways into your home.

Instead, try focusing on integrated pest management techniques that are safe and offer long-lasting solutions!

Ant Trails can be a Thing of the Past – Smith’s Pest Management can Help!

Because they’re some of the most versatile pests out there, ants are also some of the most difficult to get rid of.

While approaches like removing their food sources and using pesticides can be practical, they may require some extra help to implement.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, our team will use Integrated Pest Management approaches to control ant populations on your property and help put an end to those ant trails.

We service the entire San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast, from Marin to Monterey.

Contact us today to learn more: (408) 871-6988.

FAQs

Why is there an ant trail in my house?

Ant trails usually form when worker ants are searching for food or water.

These industrious little ants lay down a chemical pheromone trail to guide other ants to resources, forming visible lines of ants.

With that in mind, if there’s an ant trail in your house, it usually means that the trail leads to something ants depend on for survival.

Where are the most common ant infestation spots?

Ants typically infest areas with easy access to food and water.

Common indoor spots include kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, and areas with leaks or excessive moisture.

In the outdoors, ants can often be found nesting near gardens, under paving stones, along the foundation of the building, or in piles of wood.

Will ants go away on their own?

No, they won’t.

While you may occasionally notice a dip in ant activity, these critters usually won’t disappear entirely without some help.

To keep them from coming back, it’s essential to remove anything that attracts them and fix any entry points they might be using.

How do I prevent ant infestation?

To prevent ant infestations, keep your home clean.

Clean surfaces regularly and store food in airtight containers.

Seal entry points like cracks in windows and doors to block ants.

Address moisture issues quickly, as ants are attracted to damp areas. Check for leaks and ventilate spaces like basements and kitchens.

Monitor your home for signs of ant activity and use natural deterrents like vinegar or essential oils to keep them away.

Following these steps, you can create a less inviting environment for ants and keep enjoying a comfortable, pest-free home.

zach smith

Author Bio: Zach Smith

Landscape Pro Turned Gopher Pro: Owner, Zach Smith, graduate of Cal Poly’s Horticulture program worked nine years as a landscape professional- dealing with gophers, moles, and ground squirrels and was quickly recruited by other local gardeners. Fast forward to the past 15+ years, where Zach and his team trap and remove burrowing pests from residential, municipal and commercial properties throughout the San Francisco Bay area, from Marin to Monterey. Learn more about Zach and his team here.

team photo cropped