How do I get rid of ants?

Sweep, Starve, and Secure

Trying to keep your home ant-free can be tricky; there is no magic bullet that will get rid of ants entirely. When they invade your home, you may need to fight back with multiple “weapons” such as a combination of cleaning, on-the-spot treatment, and a bait product. In general, the best way to prevent ants is by eliminating the things that attract them, like spills, dirty dishes, and exposed food. Follow that up with a strict regiment of products that kill ants where they live and breed.

Cleanliness is next to Antlessness

5 Tips for Keeping Ants Out

Clean up food and drink spills
Store food in sealed, air-tight Ziploc® containers
Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink
Wipe down sticky jars of honey, jam, etc. before placing them in the pantry
Regularly sweep and mop floors - especially in the rooms where food is eaten

Keep Calm and Kill the Queen

Don’t be fooled! Ant baits do not trap bugs. Instead of killing them on contact, the baits are designed to let ants feed on them. After the ants feed on the bait, they return to their nest and transfer the bait to the queen and others, thereby killing the entire colony. So if you see ants crawling around the bait, don’t kill them before they return to the colony! Give the product time to work its magic.

Did you know?

Ants are as attracted to water as they are to food, so it’s important to keep surfaces in your home dry–including sinks!

Expert Tip

Keep Ants from Marching In

Seal windows, doors and cracks with caulk to keep ants from marching in. The three most common home entry points are through unsealed cracks and crevices, the open space between the door and the floor, and vents or utility pipes.

Expert Tip

Don’t Bait and Spray

Do not place baits on surfaces which have been sprayed with an insecticide spray product. Ants traveling over sprayed areas may die before they have a chance to bring the bait back to the colony.

Which product should I use?

Raid® Ant Killer attacks ants, kills on contact, and keeps killing for up to four weeks. It also leaves no lingering chemical odor. This easy-to-use spray allows broad coverage of the areas ants may be infesting.

Raid® Ant Baits control and kill ants where they hide, helping to rid your home of ants for up to three months. The baits fit snugly in corners and along ant trails.

Raid Max® Bug Barrier prevents bugs both indoors and outdoors. It also comes in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. Keep the reusable auto trigger to use with Raid Max® Bug Barrier refills. The new Raid Max® Bug Barrier Defense Marker™ applicator is designed with a precision tip to draw a clear line of protection at key insect entry points. It is great for sensitive areas like the kitchen sink, backsplash, and bathroom. Before using this product, be sure to read the label.

How long do ants live?

The average life expectancy of an ant is only a few weeks. But the colony itself will live for years. That’s why it’s necessary to be aggressive when battling them. You can’t wait for them to die off!