How to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen Safely and Keep Them Out

Why Are There Ants in Your Kitchen?

Ants in your kitchen are worker ants that found food or water and left a scent trail for the rest of the colony to follow. According to Health Canada, a successful scout marks the way back to the food so other workers can find it. Most ant species nest outdoors and usually come inside only to forage, according to the City of Calgary. That is why you usually see a line of ants rather than a few strays: they are following the same invisible path along baseboards, cabinet edges and the inside corners of cupboards.

Food

Food is the main reason ants come into the kitchen. Health Canada notes that ants like sugary and greasy foods such as peanut butter and crumbs, and UC IPM adds fats, proteins and seeds to the list. A smear of jam on a counter, a sticky syrup bottle or crumbs under the toaster is enough to start a trail.

Water

Water draws ants too, especially in dry weather. UC IPM recommends fixing leaky faucets because water can attract ants. Drips under the sink, around the dishwasher and on a wet dish rack are common kitchen water sources.

Weather Changes

Weather changes explain why ants can appear in a spotless kitchen. UC IPM says ants often move indoors when conditions change outside: when their usual food runs out, during dry and hot spells, or when the soil floods. Large invasions are often more likely in spring and fall.

Entry Points

Entry points are the small gaps ants use to reach your kitchen. They come in through cracks in the foundation and walls, gaps along baseboards and openings around pipes under the sink. Following a trail back to where it disappears often shows you exactly where they get in.

What Are the Small Ants in Your Kitchen?

Small ants in the kitchen are usually odorous house ants, little black ants, pavement ants or pharaoh ants. Health Canada says the ants that invade Canadian homes range from about 1 mm to 13 mm long, and the kitchen invaders sit at the small end of that range. Knowing which one you have helps, because UC IPM notes that ant species prefer different foods and respond differently to treatment. For a fuller identification guide, see our article on small ants in the house.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants are brown to black, about 3 mm long, and often give off a rotten, coconut-like smell when you crush one (Utah State University Extension). Indoors they look for moisture and heat, so you often find them around sinks, leaks and window frames. They love sweets, so sweet liquid baits work well. Repellent treatments may make their nests split into several new nests.

Little Black Ants

Little black ants are shiny black and tiny, about 1/16 inch (about 1.6 mm) long, with workers all about the same size (Texas A&M). They nest in woodwork, wall voids and masonry, and large colonies can spread through cracks into food cabinets and pantries. If you cannot find the nest, Texas A&M recommends placing baits on their foraging trails, as does UC IPM.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are light to dark brown and nest under stones, sidewalks and building foundations, then enter homes through cracks in the concrete (Utah State University Extension). In the kitchen, they tend to arrive from the floor level near an outside wall. The University of Kentucky notes that most baits control them easily.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are tiny, about 1.5 to 2 mm long, and usually yellow or light brown to red (Alberta Health). In Canada they live inside heated buildings, often near warmth and water, and they are common in apartment buildings. Do not spray them or use repellents: UC IPM says sprays make infestations worse by dispersing the colony into several new nests. Read our guide to pharaoh ants before you treat.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are not small kitchen ants: Health Canada gives their size as 6 to 25 mm. If you see large black or reddish-black ants near the kitchen, look for piles of sawdust-like shavings and check for damp or rotting wood, because they tend to prefer moist, decaying wood. Retail baits usually will not control carpenter ants (University of Kentucky), and Penn State Extension notes the ants frequently ignore baits, so follow our guide on how to get rid of carpenter ants instead.

How to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen, Step by Step

Getting rid of ants in the kitchen works best in this order: clean the trail, remove the food, bait the colony, then seal the gaps. Each step supports the next: UC IPM notes that ants may ignore a bait when other attractive food is still within reach. If ants are also in other rooms, our guide on how to get rid of ants in the house covers the whole home.

1. Wipe the trail with soapy water.
2. Put away all food and clean up crumbs and spills.
3. Set slow-acting bait stations on the trail.
4. Leave the bait alone for at least two weeks.
5. Seal the cracks they used.

Wipe the Scent Trail

Wiping the scent trail stops more ants from following it to the same spot. UC IPM recommends cleaning up invading ants with a sponge and soapy water as soon as they come in, which removes the trail they leave behind. Wipe the ants you see and the path they were using along the counter, backsplash and baseboard. Do this once at the start, not around your bait stations later.

Remove the Food Source

Removing the food source makes the bait the most attractive meal in the kitchen. UC IPM advises cleaning up crumbs, grease and spills and moving food into clean, sealed containers instead of plastic bags or open packaging. Check the pantry for open cereal, sugar and cracker boxes, wipe sticky jars and bottles, and empty the toaster crumb tray.

Set Slow-Acting Bait Stations

Slow-acting bait stations are the most reliable way to get rid of kitchen ants, because the ants do the work for you. According to UC IPM, worker ants carry the bait back to the nest, where it can kill the whole colony, including the queens. The insecticide has to act slowly so the workers survive the trip home. Common active ingredients include boric acid or borate, fipronil and avermectin.

UC IPM calls prepackaged bait stations the safest and easiest option, which matters in a kitchen. Health Canada says two different baits at the same time give better results, and UC IPM suggests offering both a sugar bait and a protein bait so the ants can choose. For tested options sold in Canada, see our picks for the best ant killer.

Bait Placement

Bait placement decides whether the ants find the bait before they find your food. Put stations directly on the trail and near the spot where ants come in, such as along baseboards, at cabinet edges, under the sink and near pipes. Health Canada recommends using plenty of stations, placed out of reach of children and pets. Keep stations off food preparation surfaces and away from dishes, and do not place them where you sprayed any insecticide.

Bait Timing

Bait timing takes patience. At first you may see more ants around the station, which means they are feeding and carrying bait home (University of Kentucky). UC IPM says it can take 5 to 10 days to see fewer ants, and Health Canada advises keeping baits out for at least two weeks and repeating if needed. Replace stations when they are empty. If the ants ignore a bait, move it or switch to a different product, and make sure no other food is left out.

Seal Entry Points

Sealing entry points keeps the next wave of ants out once the trail has stopped. Health Canada recommends caulking along baseboards, cracks and crevices indoors, and notes that duct tape or petroleum jelly can seal a crack for now. Seal once the trail has stopped, so the ants keep feeding on the bait while it works.

When to Call a Pest Control Professional

Calling a licensed pest control professional makes sense when ants come back after weeks of careful baiting, when you suspect carpenter ants or pharaoh ants, or when you live in an apartment building where the colony moves between units. Health Canada advises using a professional for difficult carpenter ant situations. UC IPM suggests asking the company to use baits and spot treatments rather than perimeter treatments or monthly sprays. You can get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

Which Ant Remedies Are Safe to Use in a Kitchen?

The safest ant remedies in a kitchen are enclosed bait stations and simple cleaning, because they keep pesticides away from food, dishes and hands. Many popular home remedies only move the ants around for a day or two. Here is how the common options compare.

Vinegar

Vinegar can wipe away the scent trail for a short time, but it does not kill the colony. It works much like soapy water: the ants you see stop following that path, and the nest keeps sending workers. Use it as a cleaner if you like the smell, not as a treatment. Our article on whether vinegar kills ants explains the details.

Essential Oils

Essential oils such as peppermint and orange oil can clean up an ant trail, but UC IPM says they give only short-term control and their smell can be strong. They can also act as repellents, and repellents may make odorous house ant and pharaoh ant colonies split into new nests. Avoid using them near your bait stations.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a dust that dries ants out, and Health Canada describes it as non-toxic to people and pets. It only works while it stays dry, so it suits cracks, gaps behind appliances and wall voids, not a counter you wipe every day. Avoid breathing the dust when you apply it, since UC IPM warns it can irritate the lungs.

Homemade Borax Bait

Homemade borax bait is a common tip, but Health Canada says not to make homemade pesticides with boric acid, and borax can produce boric acid. Children are at the highest risk if they get into it. Since July 22, 2018, boric acid ant products for home use in Canada are sold only as sealed bait stations or gels. A registered sealed station gives you the same slow-acting effect without a mix sitting in a jar lid on your counter. Our guides on using borax for ants and homemade ant killers cover the options and their limits.

Ant Sprays

Ant sprays are a poor fit for kitchens. UC IPM says sprays only give temporary control, may not be safe to use indoors and will not stop more ants from coming in. Spraying a trail may make some colonies split, and Health Canada warns that spraying while you bait stops the bait from working. If you use any product indoors, make sure the label says it is for indoor use.

The PCP Number

The PCP number is the Pest Control Products registration number printed on the label, and Health Canada says to look for it on every pest product you buy. It shows the product is registered for use in Canada. Read the label, follow the directions and store pesticides out of sight and reach of children. If you have a dog or cat, see our guide to pet-safe ant killers.

How Do You Keep Ants Out of Your Kitchen?

Keeping ants out of your kitchen means leaving them nothing to find: no open food, no standing water and no crumbs. These habits also make bait work faster, because the bait becomes the easiest meal around. For more ant guides by species and method, visit the ant hub.

Food Storage

Food storage is your first line of defence. Health Canada recommends glass jars with rubber gaskets or plastic containers with snap-tight lids for sugar, honey, cereal and other foods ants like. Rolled-down bags and cardboard boxes are often easy for small ants to get into.

Counter Cleaning

Counter cleaning takes a minute and removes the reason ants visit. Wipe counters after cooking, clean up grease and spills right away, and sweep or vacuum the floor often, as Health Canada advises. Pay attention to the spots under the toaster, kettle and microwave.

Garbage

Garbage and recycling attract ants when they hold food residue. Health Canada suggests emptying kitchen garbage often and rinsing containers before they go into the garbage or recycling. UC IPM also recommends cleaning food waste bins regularly.

Pet Food Bowls

Pet food bowls are a favourite ant target. Health Canada suggests setting the bowl in a shallow dish of water, because ants cannot swim across it. Sweep or vacuum around pet dishes often, and do not leave food sitting out all day.

Moisture Control

Moisture control takes away the water ants need. Fix dripping taps and leaks under the sink, dry the sink and dish rack at night, and do not leave wet sponges or cloths on the counter. Odorous house ants in particular are drawn to damp spots near sinks and leaks.