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Fix ants in kitchen

We'll help you find the trail and entry point, remove food sources, use bait to kill the colony—or when to call an exterminator.

Troubleshooting · Home care
30 min setup, 2–7 days for bait to work
What you'll need
  • Ant bait stations (borax or hydramethylnon)
  • Caulk or weather stripping
  • Vinegar or soap (to wipe trails)
Step 1 of 5

Quick triage — pick your path

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Steps

Goal: Find the trail and entry point, remove food sources, use bait to kill the colony.

  • Follow the ant trail to find where they enter—under doors, around windows, or through cracks.
  • Good: You found the trail. Proceed to Bait path.
  • Bad: No clear trail—clean thoroughly and place bait where you see the most activity.

Bait path

Goal: Use bait to kill the colony.

  • Place ant bait stations near the trail. Do not spray—that scatters them. Remove food sources. Wait 2–7 days.
  • Good: Ant activity drops. Proceed to Seal path.
  • Bad: Still many ants after a week—call an exterminator.

Seal path

Goal: Seal entry points after the colony is reduced.

  • Caulk cracks and gaps. Weather-strip doors. Check around windows and pipes.
  • Good: Entry points sealed. Monitor for return.
  • Bad: Ants return—check for new entry points or call an exterminator.

When to get help

Call an exterminator if:

  • The infestation is large or keeps returning.
  • You have carpenter ants (large, nest in wood).

Verification

  • Ant activity is greatly reduced or gone.
  • Food is sealed and counters are clean.
  • Entry points are sealed.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Find trail and entry Follow ants to find where they enter.
  2. Remove food and use bait Wipe counters, seal food; place bait near the trail.
  3. Seal entry points Caulk cracks and gaps after colony is reduced.
  4. Call exterminator Large infestation or carpenter ants.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Entry point location
  • Whether bait was used
  • Steps already tried

Have you found the ant trail and entry point?

Following the trail shows where they enter.

Watch the ants. Follow the line. Yes: place bait near the trail, remove food. No: clean thoroughly and place bait where you see the most activity.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Remove food and place bait

Clean and bait where ants are seen.

Wipe counters. Seal food. Place bait stations. Wait 2–7 days. Do not spray the trail.

Done

Is ant activity decreasing?

Bait takes 2–7 days to work.

Place bait near the trail. Remove food sources. Wait. Good: activity drops—seal entry points. Bad: still many ants after a week—call exterminator.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Seal entry points

Prevent new ants from entering.

Caulk cracks and gaps. Weather-strip doors. Verify entry points are sealed.

Done

Call an exterminator

Call an exterminator if the infestation is large, keeps returning, or you have carpenter ants.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why are there ants in my kitchen?
Ants come for food, water, or shelter. Crumbs, spills, and unsealed food attract them. They enter through cracks, under doors, or around windows. Find the trail and entry point, then remove attractants.
What is the best way to get rid of kitchen ants?
Use ant bait—not spray. Bait lets workers carry poison back to the nest. Spray kills visible ants but not the colony. Remove food sources and seal entry points. Patience: bait can take a few days to work.
When should I call an exterminator for ants?
Call an exterminator if the infestation is large, keeps returning after DIY treatment, or you see carpenter ants (they damage wood).

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