How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants
To get rid of sugar ants, keep your home clean, store food in sealed containers, wipe up spills immediately, and use natural repellents or ant baits. Identify and seal entry points to prevent more ants from coming in. Consistent cleaning and prevention are key to keeping sugar ants out of your home.
What Are Sugar Ants?
Sugar ants, also called pavement ants or odorous house ants, are small black or brown ants that are drawn to sweet foods. They often sneak into homes searching for sugar, honey, syrup, or crumbs. Once they find a food source, they leave a scent trail for other ants to follow. Before you know it, you have a whole line of ants marching across your kitchen counter.
Why Are Sugar Ants in Your House?
Sugar ants invade homes for one main reason: food. They have a strong sense of smell and can detect even the tiniest traces of sugar or other sweet foods.
Common reasons sugar ants come inside include:
- Open food containers
- Dirty dishes in the sink
- Spilled juice or soda
- Crumbs on the floor
- Trash that isn’t sealed
They also enter through tiny cracks in windows, doors, or walls.
How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants
Step 1: Find Out Where They’re Coming From
The first step in getting rid of sugar ants is to find their entry point. Watch where the ants are coming from and where they go. You’ll usually see a trail. Follow it back to a window, door, or crack in the wall. Sometimes, ants nest outdoors and come in just to collect food. Other times, they set up a colony inside your home.
Step 2: Clean Up Every Food Source
Sugar ants will not stick around if they can’t find food. Cleaning up is your most important tool.
- Wipe counters after every meal or snack.
- Sweep and mop the floors regularly.
- Wash dishes right away—do not leave them in the sink.
- Store food, especially sweets, in airtight containers.
- Take out the trash daily. Make sure your trash can has a tight-fitting lid.
- Clean up pet food spills and don’t leave pet food out overnight.
Step 3: Wipe Away Ant Trails
Sugar ants leave behind a scent trail called pheromones, which helps other ants find the food.
Wipe down surfaces where you see ants with a mixture of water and vinegar (equal parts). Vinegar destroys the scent trail, making it harder for ants to find their way back.
Step 4: Seal Entry Points
After you’ve found where the ants are coming in, seal these cracks and crevices:
- Use caulk to seal gaps around windows, doors, and baseboards.
- Repair screens and weather stripping.
- Block any holes in the walls or floors.
This helps keep new ants from entering.
Step 5: Use Natural Repellents
You can use natural ingredients to repel sugar ants. Some of the most effective include:
- White vinegar: Spray a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water on counters and entry points.
- Lemon juice: Wipe surfaces with lemon juice, especially around windows and doors.
- Cinnamon: Sprinkle ground cinnamon where ants travel. The strong smell confuses them.
- Peppermint oil: Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water and spray where you see ants.
- Diatomaceous earth: Food-grade diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled along ant trails and entry points. It kills ants by drying them out, but it’s safe for people and pets.
Step 6: Set Out Ant Baits
When natural remedies aren’t enough, use ant baits. These contain a sweet substance mixed with poison. Ants carry the bait back to the colony, killing the queen and other ants.
- Place bait stations along ant trails, not directly on the ants.
- Do not kill the ants you see right away—let them bring the bait home.
- Be patient. It may take a week or more for the entire colony to die.
Look for baits labeled for sugar ants or odorous house ants. Always follow label instructions.
Step 7: Call a Professional (If Needed)
If you’ve tried everything and still have a sugar ant problem, you may need to call a pest control professional.
Some infestations are hard to control on your own, especially if ants have built a nest inside your walls.
How to Keep Sugar Ants Away
Once you’ve gotten rid of sugar ants, you want to keep them out for good.
- Keep your kitchen and dining areas clean at all times.
- Wipe down counters and sweep floors daily.
- Don’t leave any food or drinks out overnight.
- Store sugary items in sealed containers.
- Take out the trash regularly.
- Fix leaks under the sink—ants need water as much as food.
- Check windows, doors, and walls for new gaps or cracks.
FAQs
1. What causes sugar ants in the house?
Sugar ants are attracted to any source of sugar or sweet foods left out in the open. Even small spills, crumbs, or open containers can draw them in.
2. Are sugar ants harmful?
Sugar ants do not bite or sting, and they do not cause structural damage. However, they can contaminate food and become a nuisance if not controlled.
3. How long does it take to get rid of sugar ants?
With regular cleaning and the use of baits or repellents, most sugar ant problems resolve within one to two weeks.
4. Can I use bleach to get rid of sugar ants?
Bleach will kill ants on contact and erase scent trails, but it is not a long-term solution. It will not eliminate the nest or prevent new ants from entering.
5. What is the fastest way to get rid of sugar ants?
The fastest way is to remove all food sources, clean thoroughly, and set out ant baits. Erasing their scent trail with vinegar also helps keep them from returning.
