How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House (Fast and Permanently)

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If you’re seeing ants crawling across your kitchen counters, bathroom floors, or near windows, you’re not alone. Ant infestations are among the most common household pest issues — but with the right approach, you can eliminate them yourself using professional-grade DIY methods and products.

This guide shows you how to get rid of ants in your house, prevent them from coming back, and keep your home pest-free all year long.

Why Ants Invade Homes

Ants come inside searching for food, water, and shelter. Even small crumbs, pet food, or damp areas under sinks can attract them. Once one ant finds food, it leaves a pheromone trail for the rest of the colony — leading to an entire line of foragers within hours.

Common entry points include:

  • Gaps under doors or around windows

  • Cracks along baseboards or trim

  • Utility penetrations (plumbing, wires, vents)

  • Foundation voids and siding seams

Step 1: Sanitize and Remove Attractants

Before applying any product, clean up what’s drawing ants inside.

Clean and deny access to food sources:

  • Wipe counters and sweep floors daily.

  • Seal food in airtight containers.

  • Rinse dishes promptly.

  • Empty trash cans regularly and wipe their rims.

  • Store pet food overnight if possible.

A clean environment helps bait and spray products work much more effectively.

Step 2: Use Ant Gel Baits Indoors

After cleaning, apply slow-acting gel baits that worker ants will carry back to the colony. Baits eliminate the nest, including the queen, through secondary transfer.

Recommended Products:

How to apply:

  • Place pea-sized drops or bait stations along foraging trails, under sinks, and behind appliances.

  • Replace baits as needed every few weeks until activity stops.

Step 3: Apply a Non-Repellent Spray for Indoor Control

Once baiting has reduced activity, follow up with a non-repellent spray indoors. These professional-grade sprays are undetectable to ants — they walk across treated surfaces and spread the active ingredient to others in the colony.

Recommended Products:

  • Alpine WSG – excellent non-repellent for indoor use that dries clear and works fast.

  • Temprid FX – dual-action insecticide that targets ants, roaches, and other household pests.

Both products provide long-lasting residual protection without alerting ants to danger.

Step 4: Treat the Exterior with a Repellent Spray

For outdoor control and to prevent re-entry, use a repellent residual spray around your foundation and entry points.

Recommended Product:

  • Bifenthrin – proven exterior perimeter treatment that forms a protective barrier around your home.

How to apply:

  • Spray 2–3 feet up the foundation and 2–3 feet out into the soil or mulch bed.

  • Focus on door thresholds, window frames, and any visible trails.

  • Allow the spray to dry completely before watering or rain exposure.

Step 5: Use an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)

IGRs stop ants from reproducing by disrupting their growth and development. Using one alongside your spray ensures long-term population control.

Recommended Products:

  • Tekko Pro IGR Concentrate – can be mixed directly with Alpine WSG or Temprid FX for efficient one-step treatment.

  • Gentrol Aerosol – great for targeted use under sinks, behind appliances, and inside wall voids.

Pro Tip:
You can mix a non-repellent spray (like Alpine WSG or Temprid FX) with an IGR such as Tekko Pro in your sprayer.
This saves time and gives both immediate knockdown and extended colony control in one application.

Step 6: Seal Entry Points and Maintain Prevention

Once the ants are gone, close off entry routes and eliminate moisture issues to prevent reinfestation.

Prevention checklist:

  • Caulk cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and baseboards.

  • Repair leaks under sinks or near plumbing lines.

  • Replace worn door sweeps and weather stripping.

  • Trim vegetation and shrubs that touch your foundation.

  • Keep exterior trash bins sealed and clean.

Professional Tip: Combine Interior and Exterior Treatments

For complete elimination:

  1. Bait indoors to collapse the colony.

  2. Spray indoors with Alpine WSG or Temprid FX (optionally mixed with Tekko Pro IGR).

  3. Spray outdoors with bifenthrin for lasting protection.

This integrated plan mimics what professional pest control companies use — without the high service cost.

Get the Complete DIY Pest Control Guide

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