How to get rid of ants | Non-toxic

How to get rid of ants, step by step

Getting rid of ants for good comes down to one idea: the ants you see are not the problem, the colony is. Killing the foragers on the counter buys you an hour, because the colony simply sends more. To actually get rid of ants you have to erase the scent trail they follow, treat the path back to the nest and close the doors they came through, and you can do all of it without synthetic poison in your home.

Start by reading the trail

Ants leave a chemical scent trail between food and nest, and that trail is your map. Follow it to the entry point, usually a gap at a baseboard, window, pipe or slab. Most of the colony stays hidden in a wall void or outside near the foundation, which is why the surface sprays from the store rarely fix the problem. (More on the how and why: How to get rid of ants in the house and Ants are everywhere: what to know and where to turn.)

The non-toxic removal system

Six Feet Under kills ants on contact with plant-based active ingredients, and wiping the surface afterward erases the trail. Puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster into the cracks and entry points where the trail leads so the colony cannot re-cross. For a whole-home reset, prepare Barricade according to label directions, attach the sprayer and treat the perimeter.

Your removal checklist

• Find the trail and entry point: follow the line to where it enters.
• Kill and erase: spray Six Feet Under and wipe the surface to remove the scent.
• Seal the path: puff Dust to Dust into cracks, thresholds and under sinks.
• Prevent the return: treat the perimeter with Barricade and keep food sealed.

Related: Non-toxic ants control and Best ants trap.

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