Ant Infestation in Kitchen
easy 20–60 min
Tools: spray bottle, caulking gun, flashlight · Materials: ant bait stations (sugar and protein types), silicone caulk, vinegar or soapy water, airtight food containers
Steps
- Follow the trail to find the entry point — a gap around a pipe, a window frame, or under a door — and note what they are eating.
- Wipe the trail with vinegar or soapy water to remove the scent path; do not spray insecticide on foraging ants, it scatters the colony.
- Place bait stations along the trail near the entry; ants carry the bait back and the colony dies in one to two weeks — leave them undisturbed.
- Store sugar, honey, pet food and crumbs in sealed containers and clean under appliances.
- Seal the entry gaps with silicone once the trail has stopped.
Stop and call a pro if
- the ants are large and black and you find fine sawdust — carpenter ants nesting in wood
- you see winged ants indoors, or the colony keeps returning after baiting
- the trail comes from inside a wall or under a slab and you cannot locate the nest
What a pro does that you can't
A pest technician identifies the species, finds a nest inside walls or foundations, treats it directly, and seals entry routes you cannot reach.
DIY cost: $8–25 for baits and caulk