Ant infestations are a major nuisance. Fortunately, DIY and professional pest-control options exist.
If you see scout ants in your home, kill them immediately. Don't leave any food out, and keep kitchen surfaces clean.
If you continue to see ants, make sure you've closed possible entry points, including small cracks in your walls or under windows. Start by caulking areas like window casings.
Next you can put down barriers like salt or talc under doors to turn ants away, or apply scents such as vinegar, peppermint oil or cinnamon. Bear in mind, anything you put down will also be of interest to pets and children, so be careful.
If ant explorers have morphed into a full-on colony, then you need a plan.
Start with soap and water. This will not only kill chemical trails, but any ants it touches. Add citrus to the water to boost effectiveness.
You can also purchase pest sprays and baited ant traps from local grocery and hardware stores. These use a mixture of sugars and ant poison, such as boric acid, to attract, trap and kill ants. These traps won't work on protein-feeders like carpenter ants, since the sweetness won't interest them.
With a mixture of Windex, vinegar and water, you can spray around the home's exterior where the house meets the pavement or ground to prevent more ants from infiltrating. Spray cracks around the baseboards.
