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The quickest way to eliminate ants is to attack the problem at its source. Start by cleaning up any food spills or crumbs that are attracting the ants. Next, use ant baits or gel bait stations near trails – these allow worker ants to carry poison back to the colony, wiping out the nest. You can also spray a contact insecticide to kill ants you see instantly, but sprays alone won’t reach the queen.

For a fast and thorough solution, consider calling a professional. Nozzle Nolen’s ant control services combine immediate treatment of visible ants with residual measures to destroy the entire colony and prevent rebound infestations.

Don’t worry – an ant invasion doesn’t mean your home is dirty. Ants enter houses seeking food, water, or shelter. Even a clean kitchen might have something enticing, like a sticky spill under an appliance or excess moisture in a bathroom. Ants have a sweet tooth and are attracted to sugary or greasy crumbs, pet food, and even tiny water leaks. Often, a change in weather (heavy rain or heat) can drive ants indoors suddenly as they look for safer nesting spots. Once a few scout ants find a food source, they lay down pheromone trails for others – explaining why ants seem to appear “out of nowhere.” To prevent this, keep food sealed, wipe up spills promptly, and seal cracks or gaps where ants are entering.

If you prefer DIY and eco-friendly methods, there are a few natural ant remedies to try. White vinegar mixed with water (50/50) can be sprayed along ant trails and entry points to disrupt their scent trails. Ants also dislike strong smells – sprinkling cinnamon or using a few drops of peppermint oil near doorways, windows, and baseboards can repel them. Keeping your kitchen extra clean and storing food in airtight containers is essential, as even natural solutions won’t work if ants find snacks lying around. You can also use diatomaceous earth (a natural powder) along baseboards; it’s harmless to humans but can desiccate and kill ants that crawl through it.

While these remedies can reduce ant activity, remember that they may not wipe out the colony – for persistent infestations, a professional treatment is usually needed.

Florida is home to many ant species, but a few are especially notorious house intruders.

Ghost ants (sometimes called sugar ants) are tiny pale ants that invade kitchens and bathrooms in search of sweets.

Carpenter ants are large reddish-black ants that nest in wood; they don’t eat wood but can hollow out moist or rotting wood in your home.
Fire ants, known for their fiery stings, usually nest outdoors in yards but can wander inside occasionally. You might also encounter
Pharaoh ants or Argentine ants, which are small and form big colonies.

Each type of ant requires a tailored approach. For example, sweet-feeding ants like ghost ants respond well to bait treatments that workers carry back to the nest. Carpenter ant control involves finding and treating their nesting sites (often in wall voids or eaves), sometimes drilling into wood to apply insecticide. Fire ant infestations are usually treated by baiting and directly treating their mounds. In all cases, the best treatment starts with proper identification – that’s why our technicians inspect your home to determine the ant species. From there, we use targeted methods (baits, residual insecticides, and perimeter treatments) to eliminate the colony and seal entry points to keep ants out.