Ants crawling around your walls can feel like an invasion of privacy—and your home! Once these tiny intruders find their way inside, they can multiply quickly and become a major nuisance. Ants can also mess the insulation of your walls.
Natural and DIY Methods for Ant Removal
If you’re looking for safe, budget-friendly options to tackle ants in your walls, natural remedies and DIY methods are a great place to start. Many homeowners find these solutions effective, particularly for smaller infestations.
Vinegar & Lemon Juice Spray
Ants hate the strong smell of vinegar and citrus. Create a solution using equal parts vinegar and water, and add a splash of lemon juice. Spray it into cracks, crevices, and suspected entry points. The acidic properties will not only repel ants but also help erase their pheromone trails.
Essential Oils
Peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus oil can act as natural ant deterrents. Mix a few drops with water and spray the mixture along baseboards, window sills, and other wall openings. The bonus? Your home will smell amazing!
DIY Sugar + Borax Trap
Combine sugar and borax into a paste-like mixture. Place small amounts near ant activity sites. The sugar lures ants in, and the borax works to kill the colony over time. (Keep this bait out of reach of kids and pets.)
Seal Entry Points with Caulk
If you spot cracks or holes in your walls, ceilings, or around windows, seal them off with caulk or another suitable filler. This stops new ants from entering and forces the current colony to relocate.
Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
This non-toxic powder can effectively destroy ants by damaging their exoskeletons. Dust it lightly in areas you suspect ant activity, such as wall openings or your attic.
These methods can be highly effective when dealing with smaller infestations. However, for larger colonies or persistent problems, it may be time to bring in professionals.
Professional Solutions and When to Seek Help
Home remedies are excellent starting points, but if the infestation persists—or if ants are causing structural damage—professional pest control services are your best bet.
When Is It Time to Call an Exterminator?
Large Infestations: When DIY traps no longer reduce numbers or sections of walls seem hollow (a sign of nesting).
Wood-Destroying Species: Carpenter ants, for instance, chew through wood and can cause significant damage if left untreated.
Recurring Problems: If ants keep returning even after extensive treatment, it’s likely the full colony wasn’t eradicated.
Expert Techniques Pros Use
Exterminators use advanced techniques such as liquid treatments, professional-grade baits, and foam insecticides to target ant colonies where they live. They also use special equipment to inspect hard-to-reach areas like inside walls and under foundations to ensure all pests are removed.
Professional services may cost more upfront but can save you from extensive home repairs in the long run.
Preventive Measures to Keep Ants Out for Good
Once you’ve removed ants, the next step is fortifying your home to make sure they don’t come back.
Seal All Entry Points
Cracks, gaps, and tiny openings around your home are gateways for ants. Inspect walls, windows, doors, and foundations regularly and seal any openings with caulk, weatherstripping, or concrete filler.
Practice Good Home Hygiene
Leaving out crumbs or dirty dishes is an open invitation for ants. Keep your kitchen tidy by wiping down surfaces, storing food in airtight containers, and regularly taking out the trash.
Eliminate Moisture Sources
Ants are attracted to water as much as food. Fix leaky pipes, ensure proper drainage, and use a dehumidifier in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and basements.
Invest in Ant Barriers
Products like pest control sprays or home barrier treatments can create an invisible line of defense around your property. Natural alternatives, such as spraying vinegar or diatomaceous earth, can work just as well.
Regular Inspections
Perform regular DIY or professional inspections to catch any signs of ant activity early. Keeping an eye out will help you stay a step ahead of potential problems.
Why Are Ants in My Walls (and Why Do They Keep Coming Back)?
Walls may seem like an unusual hiding place, but for ants, they offer the perfect environment. Ants are drawn to your walls, looking for two things: food sources and shelter. With hollow cavities, darkness, and warmth, walls provide excellent protection for an ant colony. Unfortunately, they also make it harder for homeowners to spot or eliminate them early on.
But why do they keep coming back after treatment? The secret lies in their ability to leave behind pheromone trails—a chemical breadcrumb that leads other ants straight to the same food and shelter sources. If these trails aren’t removed, new colonies can establish themselves even after the original one is gone.
Getting rid of ants in walls permanently requires more than temporary fixes. It requires a comprehensive strategy to eliminate colonies, address root causes, and proactively prevent future infestations. Once your walls are free of ants, you can also skim coat them.
Take Back Control of Your Walls
Ants might be tiny, but their presence in your walls is no small matter. The key to reclaiming your home is tackling the infestation head-on with a combination of natural remedies, professional solutions, and preventive measures. Even pencil marks can also be removed from walls.
