Ants in the kitchen are a common challenge for homeowners, especially during warmer months, as these persistent pests are primarily attracted to kitchens due to easy access to food, moisture, and shelter.

Even small crumbs, sticky residues, or a drip of juice can invite an entire ant colony. Once ants find a reliable food source, they leave behind pheromone trails for other ants, which can quickly escalate the problem.

Effective techniques to deter ants involve a combination of rigorous hygiene, preventative measures, and targeted treatments when necessary.

Here are effective techniques to deter ants from entering your kitchen:

1. Maintain Strict Cleanliness and Proper Food Storage

Maintaining a clean kitchen is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to deter ants. Ants are constantly searching for food, and a tidy kitchen leaves them with nothing to forage for.

• Wipe down surfaces daily: Routinely wipe down countertops, sweep floors, and promptly clean up any food debris or spills in your cooking zone. Focus on removing crumbs, sticky residues, and any food particles from kitchen surfaces, floors, and dining areas.
• Store food properly: Use airtight containers for items like sugar, flour, snacks, and pet food. Ants can easily find their way into open packages, so keeping everything sealed significantly reduces their chances of accessing your food. Avoid leaving food out on countertops for extended periods.
• Manage trash and recycling: Empty your kitchen trash regularly and ensure that your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Clean the bins to eliminate any residue that might attract ants. Regularly empty and clean recycling bins, as sticky residue can attract ants.
• Clean pet areas: Don’t leave pet food out for extended periods, and clean up any spills promptly. Store pet food in airtight containers to prevent ants from accessing it.
• Clean sinks and disposal units: Keep sinks and disposal units clean and dry, as ants are drawn to moisture and leftover food.

2. Eliminate Water Sources

Ants need water to survive, and your kitchen might provide the perfect hydration station.

• Fix leaks: Promptly fix any leaky faucets or pipes.
• Wipe up spills: Wipe up water spills immediately and avoid leaving standing water in sinks or pet bowls. Reducing water sources makes your kitchen less appealing to thirsty ants.

3. Seal Entry Points

Ants can enter your home through the tiniest cracks and crevices.

• Inspect and seal: Regularly inspect your kitchen and the exterior of your home for potential entry points. Seal these gaps with caulk or other appropriate materials, such as silicone caulk.
• Focus on key areas: Pay special attention to areas around windows, doors, and where utilities (pipes, electrical wires) enter your home. Also, check floorboards, skirting, and hidden areas like under or behind cabinetry.
• Caulk strategically: It is recommended to caulk from the outside, not inside, to encourage ants to consistently appear in the same familiar location.

4. Utilize Ant Deterrents and Natural Remedies

Many natural solutions can deter ants or disrupt their scent trails.

• Vinegar: Mix a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water and spray it around entry points, countertops, and ant trails. The strong smell disrupts their scent trails and repels them. Vinegar can also be used to clean kitchen surfaces and ant trails.
• Essential oils: The strong scents of various essential oils can repel ants and other insects.
  • Peppermint oil is a common repellent; its strong scent signals ants to keep away. Spearmint oil also works.
  • Other effective oils include cedarwood, cinnamon, citronella, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange, patchouli, tea tree, and thyme oils.
  • To make a spray, combine 30-40 drops of essential oil, 30 drops of alcohol, and 60 ml of distilled water in a spray bottle. You can also soak cotton balls in citrus or peppermint essential oils and place them in cabinet corners or drawers.
  • Caution: Some essential oils, such as lavender, cinnamon, citrus, and tea tree, can be poisonous to pets.
• Spices and other deterrents: Ants dislike strong-smelling spices and certain substances.
  • Cinnamon (powdered or sticks) can be sprinkled or placed where ants enter, as they dislike the spicy smell and won’t cross it. Cinnamon oil can even cause them to choke and die.
  • Cloves (whole or oil) are also effective.
  • Other options include pepper (red or black), curry powder, salt, and chalk. Sprinkle pepper behind appliances and around baseboards.
  • Cucumber peels placed near problem areas are also disliked by ants.
  • Talcum powder and petroleum jelly can be used to line doors and windows.
  • Coffee grounds can be shoved into crevices.
  • Cream of tartar can be used to create a barrier or “wall” at the head of an ant trail.
• Soapy water: Hand soap mixed with water can clear the scent of ant pheromones, scattering ants and making them unable to communicate.

5. Use Baits and Colony Killers

Baits are designed to be carried back to the ant colony, eliminating the source of the infestation. This method is generally considered safer than spraying pesticides inside, as the poison is contained.

• Borax/Boric Acid and Sugar: A common and effective homemade bait is made from borax (or boric acid) and sugar.
  • How it works: Ants are attracted to the sugar, ingest the borax, and carry it back to the colony to feed the queen and larvae, which ultimately kills the entire colony. Boric acid erodes their stomachs and outer shells.
  • Recipe: A common mixture is 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. Another recipe suggests 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons Borax, and 1.5 cups warm water, mixed until dissolved. Soak cotton balls in this mixture and place them near ant paths.
  • Safety: While effective, borax and boric acid are mildly toxic if eaten, so keep them away from children and pets. Boric acid requires wearing gloves when handling.
• Commercial Baits: Many commercial liquid ant baits, such as Terro Liquid Ant Bait, are widely recommended and highly effective.
  • Function: These baits are usually made of borax and sugar gel. Ants swarm the bait, consume it, and carry it back to the nest to poison the queen and young.
  • Patience is crucial: It’s common for ant activity to increase at the bait site initially as more ants are attracted to it. The process can take several days to weeks to eliminate the entire colony. Do not remove the baits prematurely, as this can hinder their effectiveness. If possible, avoid cleaning the area thoroughly with chemicals, as it can disrupt the ants’ scent trail back to the bait.
• Advanced Gels: Advion Ant Gel is a professional-grade product recommended by former pest control experts. It is effective for both ants and roaches and can be applied safely in hard-to-reach areas, minimizing exposure to pets.
• Other DIY baits:
  • Corn flour: Put corn flour in their path; ants can’t digest it, causing it to swell and kill them and the colony.
  • Diatomaceous Earth (DE): A natural, mechanical pesticide that kills ants by absorbing their oils and dehydrating their exoskeletons. It is safe for pets and humans but should not be inhaled. Sprinkle it around points of entry or along perimeters.
  • Baking soda and powdered sugar: This mixture attracts ants with sugar, and the baking soda reacts with acids in the ant’s system, leading to dehydration and death.

6. Consider Professional Pest Control

While home remedies and hygiene practices are effective for mild cases, sometimes a persistent problem requires professional intervention.

• When to call: You should seek expert help if you find multiple nests or large swarms, if ants keep returning despite your best efforts, if you can’t locate the source of the infestation, or if you suspect ants are nesting inside your walls or floors.
• Professional approach: Expert technicians will assess your situation, identify the type of ants you’re dealing with (which is crucial as not all treatments work for all species), and implement a comprehensive, targeted treatment plan to eliminate the infestation and prevent future occurrences.

7. Long-Term Prevention and Maintenance

Once an ant problem is under control, consistent prevention is key to keeping them away.

• Routine checks: Schedule monthly checks of your home’s exterior to identify and seal any new cracks or crevices. Ensure that window and door seals remain intact.
• Vigilance: Stay vigilant during warmer months, as ants are more likely to seek shelter indoors.
• Declutter: Keep your kitchen organized and free of unnecessary items. Store appliances and utensils that you don’t use regularly in cabinets to minimize clutter on countertops, limiting places where ants can hide.
• Routine inspections: Consider scheduling routine pest inspections, especially if ants are a recurring issue.