What to Do if You Have Ants in Your Apartment
Ants show up because they’ve found food, water, or a way in — and they leave a scent trail for the rest of the colony to follow. The fix isn’t just killing the ants you see; it’s removing what’s attracting them and cutting off their trail.
Find the trail, don’t just kill what you see
Wiping out visible ants with a paper towel does nothing — more will follow the same scent trail within hours. Instead, follow the line of ants back to where they’re entering (a window sill, a gap under a door, a crack near a pipe) and where they’re feeding (a trash can, a pet food bowl, a dirty dish).
Clean the trail and the source
- Wipe down the ant trail with soapy water or a vinegar-water mix — this breaks down the scent trail so new ants can’t follow it.
- Store food in sealed containers, especially anything sweet or greasy.
- Take out trash more often and rinse recyclables.
- Wipe up crumbs and spills the same day, not the next morning.
Use bait, not just spray
Sprays kill the ants you can see but do nothing about the colony. Bait stations are more effective for an actual infestation: worker ants carry the bait back to the nest, which affects the colony at the source. Place bait stations along the trail and near entry points, not out in the open where they won’t find it.
Seal the entry points
Once the immediate trail is handled, look for how they’re getting in:
- Caulk gaps around windows, baseboards, and pipes.
- Check weather stripping on exterior doors.
- Look for gaps around AC units or dryer vents.
When it’s more than a few ants
If you’re seeing large numbers daily, multiple trails, or ants returning within days of cleaning, you likely have a nest nearby (sometimes inside a wall). At that point, tell your landlord or property manager in writing — pest control for a genuine infestation is typically their responsibility, and documenting the request in writing protects you either way.
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