How to Get Rid of Ants Permanently | 15 Proven Steps

While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate ants from your home, there are steps you can take to reduce their population significantly. Let’s see how to get rid of ants permanently.

The Home Affluence team will discuss the steps for permanently removing ants:

• Identifying ant species
• Locate the ant’s nest and entrance points
• Clean up food and water sources
• Create barriers around entryways
• Place ant bait outside of your home
• Use insecticidal sprays
• Use ant sprays or gels for indoor ant problems.
• Use ant-repellent granules
• Use ant dust
• Seal cracks and crevices
• Use homemade traps, like borax and sugar.
• Use natural deterrents, like cayenne pepper
• Use store-bought ant traps
• Use Organic Pesticides
• Professional pest control services

We’ll cover all the basics, from chemical methods to natural, eco-friendly solutions. We’ll also discuss preventive measures to help avoid a future ant infestation. 

Finally, we’ll provide tips on identifying the type of ant in your home and the best methods for eradicating them. 

Read on to learn all you need to know about getting rid of ants permanently.

How To Get Rid of Ants Permanently

1. Identifying ant species

One of the first steps to getting rid of ants permanently is to identify the ant species. 

Different types of ants require different treatments, so it is important to know what kind of ant you are dealing with to eliminate them effectively. 

To identify the ant species, you should first note distinguishing characteristics like size, color, and behavior. 

Additionally, you can take pictures of the ants and search for them online. 

Once you have identified the ant species, you can proceed with the next steps to eliminate them.

2. Locate the ant’s nest and entrance points

Locate the Ant’s Nest and Entrance Points. Once you have identified the ant species in your home, locating their nest and entrance points is important.

Ants typically nest in the ground outdoors and enter homes through small cracks or openings around windows and doors. 

Try to identify the nest’s exact location to treat the area properly. Ants may also nest in walls, so you may need to inspect your walls for any signs of ant activity. Look for ant trails; if you find some, follow them to locate their nest.

3. Clean up food and water sources

Cleaning up food and water sources is important to eliminate ants permanently. Ants are attracted to food and water sources, so by eliminating these sources, you can make it less appealing for them to stay in your home. 

Start by ensuring all food areas do properly sealed and all food items are put away and stored in airtight containers. 

Make sure to clean up any spills or crumbs promptly. Additionally, check your home for sources of water, such as leaks or spills, and repair them if necessary. 

These proactive steps can reduce ants’ food and water sources and make your home less attractive.

4. Create barriers around entryways 

Creating barriers around entryways is an effective way to eliminate ants permanently. 

Locating ants’ entry points is important, as they may enter through windows, doors, or other cracks and seal them with caulk. 

You should also set up ant bait stations or use ant-repellent sprays at the entrances and around the perimeter of your home to prevent future infestations.

You can also place ant traps near entryways, which will help eliminate any visible ant colonies. 

Finally, it would help if you kept the area around your entryways clean and free of food debris, as this will reduce the chances of an ant invasion.

5. Place ant bait outside of your home 

You can apply this effective method for getting rid of ants permanently is to placing ant bait outside your home. It will help to reduce the ant population and discourage them from entering your home in the future. 

Read More: How To Get Rid Of Roaches

Place the bait in areas where you have seen ants, such as near doorways, windows, and your home’s foundation. 

Keep the bait away from pets and children and replace it when it depletes. 

It will help you achieve long-term control of your ant problem.

6. Use insecticidal sprays 

Insecticidal sprays are designed to kill ants quickly and can use effectively to eliminate ants permanently. 

Spraying ant-infested areas with products containing active ingredients such as pyrethrins and pyrethroids can immediately relieve ant infestations.

However, it is important to read the label carefully and follow the instructions precisely, as product misuse can be dangerous.

If the infestation does sever, you may need to repeat the process several times to ensure all the ants go.

7. Use ant sprays or gels for indoor ant problems

If you have an ant infestation inside your home, sprays, and gels can effectively control the problem in a targeted manner. 

Sprays and gels are often more effective than bait traps, as they can reach smaller areas and be applied directly to ants. 

Sprays are best for larger areas, while gels are often better for more localized infestations. 

Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging and wear protective gear when using ant sprays or gels.

8. Use ant-repellent granules

Ant-repellent granules are an effective way to get rid of ants permanently. When applied as instructed, the granules create a barrier around your home that disrupts pheromone trails and effectively repels ants. 

Reapply the granules every 6-8 weeks for the best results. Keep the area around your home clean of debris and food waste that could attract ants.

9. Use ant dust 

The best way possible to permanently eliminate ants is by using ant dust. Ant dust is a fine powder of boric acid, an acidic substance toxic to ants. 

This powder can sprinkle around the areas where ants enter your home and around any ant trails you may have noticed. 

The powder will stick to the ants’ bodies and be returned to the nest, killing the rest of the ants.

Ant dust is a safe, effective way to get rid of ants and can be purchased at most local hardware stores.

10. Seal cracks and crevices

No. 10 on the list of effective ant control methods is to seal cracks and crevices. Ants often enter buildings through small openings in walls, windows, and door frames. 

Sealing cracks and crevices with caulking or weather stripping can help prevent them from entering. Additionally, seal any openings around pipes and wires. Any cracks or crevices that cannot seal should be treated with insecticide dust or foam. 

Be sure to pay special attention to areas around window and door frames, the foundation of the building, and other openings. Taking these steps will help you get rid of ants permanently.

11. Use homemade traps, like borax and sugar

Homemade traps are an effective way to get rid of ants permanently. Borax, for example, is a naturally-occurring mineral salt that can use to control ant populations. 

Mixed with sugar creates an attractive bait for ants, who ingest the solution and die. 

This process can repeat around the home to reduce ant populations, and the number of ants will significantly reduce over time. 

Additionally, the borax solution can block off ant trails, discouraging them from returning. 

When using homemade traps, it is important to ensure proper safety precautions are taken, as borax can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.

With the proper precautions, however, it is a safe and effective way to reduce ant populations permanently.

12. Use natural deterrents, like cayenne pepper

Using natural deterrents, like cayenne pepper, is an effective and safe way to eliminate ants permanently. Cayenne pepper is a natural repellent and can be sprinkled around areas where ants are seen or suspected to appear. 

Cayenne pepper smells unpleasant to ants, and they will avoid it. In addition, it can use to create a barrier to prevent ant infestations. 

Sprinkling cayenne pepper around windowsills, doorways, and other entry points will help to deter ants from entering the premises. 

Furthermore, cayenne pepper can also spray directly on ants, which will cause them to scurry away. 

This natural deterrent is an effective and safe way to eliminate ants permanently.

13. Use store-bought ant traps

Store-bought ant traps can be an effective way to get rid of ants permanently. Ant traps contain a bait that draws the ants in, which is then poisoned. 

This method is economical, as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to find in stores. It is also safe for use around the home, as the concentration of the poison is low enough to be non-toxic to humans and pets. 

Ant traps also effectively control larger ant infestations, as the bait attracts the ants and draws them away from their food sources. 

With the regular placement of ant traps, you can get rid of ants for good.

14. Use Organic Pesticides

Organic pesticides are a great solution for permanently removing ants in your home or garden. Organic pesticides are derived from natural materials and are safe for humans and animals. 

They are also non-toxic and biodegradable, making them an ecologically friendly option. 

Unlike traditional chemical pesticides, organic pesticides eliminate ants’ colonies and their eggs and larvae. You can find organic pesticides at your local garden center or online. 

When using organic pesticides to get rid of ants, it’s important to use them correctly for the best results. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them closely. Applying organic pesticides should result in the permanent removal of ants from your home or garden.

15. Professional pest control services 

Professional pest control services are a reliable and effective way to eliminate ants permanently. 

These services use high-quality products and processes to identify, control, and eliminate ant infestations. 

By utilizing an integrated pest management approach, professional pest control services can quickly and efficiently identify the source of the problem and use long-term solutions to eliminate it. 

This approach not only eliminates the ant infestation but also prevents future infestations. 

Professional pest control services can also advise preventing future infestations, such as using baits, sealing entry points, and reducing potential food and water sources. 

By taking a proactive approach, homeowners can be assured that their ant problem will resolve and future infestations will prevent.

Expert Opinion

In conclusion, getting rid of ants permanently requires a multipronged approach that involves identifying the type of ants presents in your home.

Using a combination of DIY and store-bought methods to eliminate them and taking preventative measures to ensure they do not return. You can effectively eliminate ants and maintain an ant-free home with the right strategies and products.

Eliminating ants requires a combination of preventative measures, such as sealing off entry points, and extermination methods, such as baiting traps, insecticides, and natural solutions. It is important to identify the type of ant infestation and the source of the problem to eliminate the ants properly. 

With the right approach and diligence, it is possible to get rid of ants permanently and keep them from coming back.