10 Tricks That Keep Ants Out of the House All Summer

Once ants find a way inside, they’re relentless. It doesn’t take much—crumbs on the counter, a sticky spill, or even a drip under the sink. During the summer, they’re more active and more likely to head inside looking for food or water.

The good news is, you can stay ahead of them with a few easy habits and some smart prevention. These are the tricks I rely on every year to keep ants from marching across my floors.

Wipe Down Counters Every Day

Even the tiniest crumb or spill can draw ants in. They’re great at finding sugar, grease, or anything remotely edible. If your counters aren’t cleaned regularly, you’re leaving bait out whether you mean to or not.

Use a vinegar and water mix or your regular kitchen cleaner to wipe down surfaces daily. Pay extra attention to where you prep food, around the toaster, and anywhere near pet bowls or snack spots.

Seal Up Entry Points

Ants usually come in through tiny cracks and gaps you don’t even notice. Window frames, baseboards, electrical outlets, and door thresholds are all common access points. Once they find a way in, they leave a trail for others to follow.

Grab some caulk or weatherstripping and seal up the areas you know they’re using. If you’re not sure where they’re coming from, follow the trail backward—it’ll usually lead you right to the opening.

Keep Floors Clean and Crumb-Free

Ants often start near the kitchen, pantry, or wherever your family eats snacks. Crumbs under the table or near baseboards give them an easy reason to stick around.

Vacuum or sweep floors every couple of days, especially in areas where food tends to drop. Don’t forget under appliances and furniture. A clean floor gives ants a lot less to get excited about.

Store Food in Airtight Containers

Ants can chew through cardboard and find their way into bags with weak seals. Open cereal boxes, sugar bags, and snack packaging are all easy targets.

Transfer pantry staples like flour, rice, snacks, and sugar into sealed plastic, glass, or metal containers. It keeps your food fresh and shuts ants out at the same time.

Take Out the Trash Regularly

Even if it’s not full, your trash can be attracting ants with the food residue and smells inside. Leaky bags, fruit scraps, and fast food wrappers are all major draws.

Empty the kitchen trash often, especially in warm weather. Wipe down the inside of the bin now and then, and use a liner that fits snug so food doesn’t drip into corners.

Use Vinegar to Wipe Up Trails

When ants find food, they leave a scent trail for the rest of the colony to follow. Even after you’ve cleaned up the mess, the trail might still be there unless you break it.

Spray a mix of white vinegar and water (about 50/50) wherever you’ve seen ants moving. It helps erase the chemical trail so new ants can’t follow the same path.

Fix Leaky Faucets and Pipes

Ants don’t just look for food—they’re drawn to moisture too. A slow drip under the sink, damp towel on the counter, or even a pet water bowl can bring them in.

Fix leaks and dry up water sources around the house, especially in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. If you use a dehumidifier in the summer, keep it running in problem areas.

Keep Pet Food Bowls Clean

Pet food is a magnet for ants. If you leave bowls sitting out all day—or forget to clean around the base—they’ll show up quickly, especially if the food has any scent or grease.

Feed pets at set times and pick up bowls once they’re done. Wipe around the feeding area regularly, and store dry food in sealed bins instead of the original bag.

Place Natural Deterrents Where They Like to Sneak In

Some scents help keep ants away—like cinnamon, citrus peel, mint, and vinegar. They won’t stop an infestation, but they can help steer ants away from high-traffic zones.

Place a few citrus peels in window sills or wipe door frames with peppermint oil and water. It’s not a silver bullet, but it helps reduce the number of scouts that wander in.

Don’t Ignore a Few Ants

If you see one or two ants, there’s likely a lot more nearby. They’re scouts, and they’re looking for a reason to send in reinforcements. Ignoring them gives them time to map out your space.

Take it seriously and act fast—clean the area, spray down their trail, and look for their entry point. Early action is a lot easier than dealing with a full-blown invasion later.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.