How to get rid of carpenter ants | Non-toxic

How to get rid of carpenter ants

Carpenter ants are the big black ants you find near windows, decks and damp wood. They are the ones that can actually damage a home. They do not eat wood the way termites do. They tunnel through it to build their nest, which is why finding and treating the nest matters far more than the stray foragers you notice indoors. Here is how to stop them without dousing your home in synthetic poison.

Why carpenter ants show up

Carpenter ants look for wood that is already soft from moisture, so a leaky roof, a damp sill or old water damage is an open invitation. They often nest outdoors in a stump or woodpile and send foragers inside. Sometimes they build a satellite nest in a wet wall void. Large ants near your home at dusk, faint rustling in walls or small piles of sawdust-like shavings all point to a nest nearby. (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 fix

Six Feet Under kills carpenter ants on contact with plant-based active ingredients and wiping afterward erases the trail. Puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster into wall voids, cracks and the gaps where foragers travel so the powder reaches the nest. To keep new foragers from getting in, prepare Barricade according to label directions and treat the perimeter of your home.

Shut carpenter ants down

• Find the nest: follow foragers at dusk toward walls, decks or damp wood.
• Dry the wood: fix leaks and replace water-damaged wood so there is nothing to nest in.
• Treat the voids: puff Dust to Dust into wall gaps and cracks near the activity.
• Ring the perimeter: treat the foundation and exterior of your home with Barricade.

Related: How to get rid of ants and Non-toxic ants control.

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