Q&A for How to Get Rid of Ants in the House

Ants are attracted to moisture, so you may see them even if your kitchen and bathroom are spotless.

Make a moat if you're having trouble with ants in your pet food. Place your dog or cat food bowl inside a shallow dish, then fill the dish with water and a little dish soap. The soap will break the surface tension, so the ants won't be able to walk across the water to get to the food bowl.

Ask your parents to buy gel ant bait and place it strategically about the house. The most important thing to clean up is food, whether on the floor or in the sink, so start there if you want to help with cleaning.

Ants come in during the summer because they are looking for water, especially if you live in the south. My advice - mix vodka or rubbing alcohol with peppermint essential oil and put it in a spray bottle. Spray this on countertops and the path that the ants are making and let it dry. Ants do not like peppermint and it confuses them. Works great for me.

Yes. I've tried it and it works.

Some stores sell a spray that you spray around your house that will make a barrier line so they cannot come in. I would do some research if you have pets, but that could be one solution. Also, look for any food lying around the house, and check the seals around your doors and windows.

Check for hidden food or crumbs somewhere in the bedroom. Leave out traps by the windows and around the floor for a few days, they should be gone soon. However, you'll need to check for entryways to prevent return of the ants.

Ants tend to be attracted to water and sugar. You may want to check the humidity level in your house. You may also try citrus oils, lemon or orange-based, as cleaners, or even barrier lines in doorways and on counters.

The best way to keep ants from being in your home is to keep it clean. Sweep up any crumbs and spills as soon as they happen so the ants aren't attracted to your home. Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink and put away food as soon as you're done with it. If you already have an ant problem, set up ant baits to start killing them and spray insecticides around any entry points into your home.

Look for lines of ants to see where they originally entered your home. Usually, ants will make their way inside from cracks in your window or openings near your doors. If they're coming in from a window, check for any leaks, and use silicone caulk to seal the window. You can also place ant baits near the entry points to capture any ants that try to come inside.

Look for places where ants are walking in a line, then follow it back to where they're entering from. Common places they might be coming from include plants near your front or back door, lawns, garden beds and soil.

Note where the ants always walk. Those are trails. Use regular household cleanser (Comet, Ajax, etc) to sprinkle onto those pathways. Leave sit for at least a week. Ants will pink up the cleanser powder, carry it back to the nest, and that will kill off ants at the source. After a week, wipe up the excess powder with a wet cloth. That will disrupt the scent trails that ants leave that other ants use to find food sources. If ants return, sprinkle the cleanser again.