How to eliminate ants from the home?

How to eliminate ants from the home?

The most effective method is "baiting + source treatment." Simply swatting or spraying visible workers is only a temporary fix — the nest and queen must be dealt with.

Step 1: Observe ant trails

Spend a day or two observing where ants appear and where they carry food. Worker ants forage up to 30 meters from the nest. Follow the direction workers carry food back to find the nest entrance. Common locations: wall crevices, under baseboards, around electrical outlets, tile gaps, and under flower pots.

Step 2: Use bait (most effective)

• Boric acid sugar bait — mix boric acid and sugar water at a 1:10 ratio and place on ant trails. Workers carry it back to feed the queen and larvae; the entire colony dies within 3-7 days.
• Commercial ant bait gels — usually contain fipronil or imidacloprid; similar effect to boric acid, more convenient.
• Note: do not place bait where insecticide has been sprayed — ants will avoid it.

Step 3: Environmental cleaning

• Remove food residues, especially sugar, grease, and meat.
• Seal gaps where ants may enter.
• Keep kitchen countertops clean and dry.

Step 4: Chemical protection

Spray dinotefuran-containing household insecticide on door and window frames and corners to form a protective barrier, preventing re-infestation. Residual effect lasts 2-4 weeks.

Precautions

Do not just spray insecticide on workers — that may cause the colony to split and spread, making eradication harder. Baiting is the most effective method for eliminating the nest.