10 Ways to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen

Ants are relentless and common household pests. They love kitchens!

These tiny insects are a nuisance. They contaminate food and invade your living space. To prevent ants from taking over your kitchen, proactive measures must be taken.

Luckily, we’ve gathered some great DIY pest control measures for you. Here are ten effective pest control tips to get rid of ants in your kitchen.

  1. Clean your kitchen: Your first line of defense against ants. Wipe down countertops, sweep floors, and clean up spills promptly. Even the tiniest crumbs can attract ants, so make sure your kitchen surfaces are spotless.
  2. Store food properly: Seal all food items in airtight containers to prevent ants from detecting their scent. This includes cereals, grains, snacks, and pet food.
  3. Empty trash regularly: Empty your trash weekly and use tightly sealed trash bags to minimize odors that attract pests.
  4. Fix leaks and moisture issues: Moisture attracts ants, so fix any leaks in your kitchen promptly. Make sure the sink and faucets are not dripping, and consider using a dehumidifier to reduce overall humidity levels.
  5. Seal entry points: Ants can penetrate even the tiniest cracks and gaps. Inspect your kitchen for potential entry points and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping. Focus on gaps around windows, doors, and pipes.
  6. Use natural repellants: Certain scents repel ants. Use natural repellents like citrus peels, cinnamon, peppermint oil, or vinegar to deter ants from entering your kitchen. These scents are unpleasant to ants but safe for humans.
  7. Create barriers: Ants avoid crossing certain substances. Sprinkle a line of substances like powdered chalk, diatomaceous earth, or baby powder across entry points to create a barrier that ants won’t cross.
  8. Trim vegetation: If trees or bushes are touching your home, ants can use them as bridges to enter your kitchen. Trim vegetation away from the exterior of your house to limit access.
  9. Clean pet food areas: Clean their food bowls and spillage immediately after each meal. Ants are attracted to pet food, so maintaining cleanliness around their feeding areas is crucial.
  10. Consult pest control professionals: If you’ve tried various preventive measures and are still struggling with ant infestations, it might be time to seek professional help. Pest control experts, like Pest Shield, Inc., can identify the source of the problem and implement effective solutions.

Preventing ants from taking over your kitchen requires cleanliness, proper food storage, sealing entry points, and using natural repellents.

You should be able to maintain an ant-free kitchen environment and enjoy a more comfortable living space. Seek a pest control professional if your other attempts fail.

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Very professional and quick service. Troy is extremely professional and very nice. He treated our underground yellow jacket wasp nest which was also behind a short stone wall. He inspected where the infestation was occurring and promptly treated the area. It is great that he offered a 30 day guarantee so if there is any sighting of these wasps he will return and treat the area again. If you are looking for a professional pest removal company, I would not hesitate and call Troy at Pest Shield. In addition, he was so kind to get our lawnmower out of the shed so we could mow our grass since we did not want to drag the mower close by the infested area for the fear of getting stung We are so appreciative for everything.
Monica Maditz profile picture
26 October 2026
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I can't say enough good things about Pest Shield and the service we received from Rob! We had a pretty serious yellow jacket infestation in one of our bedrooms, with dozens of yellow jackets actually breaking through the ceiling. Needless to say, we were very concerned and needed help quickly. I called Pest Shield at 9:00 AM on a Sunday morning, and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call back from Rob, one of the owners, within five minutes. After I explained what was happening, Rob came out within the hour to take care of the problem. From the moment he arrived, Rob was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and reassuring. He took the time to explain exactly what he was going to do, how yellow jackets behave, and how his treatment would eliminate the infestation and help prevent them from coming back. It was clear that he knew exactly what he was doing and genuinely cared about solving the problem. The treatment was completed in about an hour, and the price was very reasonable, especially considering the quick response on a Sunday and the severity of the situation. When you have dozens of yellow jackets coming through your ceiling, you want someone who will answer the phone, show up quickly, know what they're doing, and give you confidence that the problem is being handled properly. Pest Shield checked every box. I highly recommend Pest Shield to anyone dealing with pests. Great service, fair pricing, fast response, and excellent professionalism. Thank you, Rob, for coming to our rescue!
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13 September 2026
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Troy replied quickly - easy to deal with and removed a significant hornet nest safely. Highly recommended.
Ross Zirkle profile picture
30 August 2026
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Troy was great in treating a yellow jacket nest in our wall. Timely, efficient, and reasonably priced. Would definitely use Pest Shield again.
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22 August 2026
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Awesome service. Large aggressive bald faced hornet nest removed. Done professionally and expeditiously.
Eric Thorndike profile picture
17 August 2026
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Troy inspected my home carefully, made a recommendation, gave me a bid and did the work competently. He explained the termite life cycle n how the pesticide treatment worked. He indicated they may swarm again but after 90 days all evidence of live termites should be gone. He explained his warranty n yearly inspection.
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6 May 2026
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Great expertise. Very professional and thorough. I would highly recommend.
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26 April 2026
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Control or Inspect for Termites I was deeply impressed by the expertise and professionalism of Troy and Jeff. They have great knowledge about the biology and behavior of termites as well as years of experience working with residential customers. They knew exactly what needed to be done, were on time, worked hard, and patiently answered any questions I had. Having them do the job gave me great confidence that my pest problem will be promptly resolved.
Joe S profile picture
25 April 2026
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Troy is the best! As realtors, we work with Pest Inspectors a LOT and have had issues with multiple companies being wrong or missing some sort of infestation. Troy is the ONLY guy we can always trust will do an amazing job. He is quick to respond and usually can get the job done very quickly! We really appreciate you!
Camille Dixon profile picture
8 December 2025
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Look no further. They offer free initial inspections. Robert from Pest Shield came out and quickly developed a plan to solve our yellow jacket problem. His advice provided quick and complete eradication of the yellow jackets and a plan for any future concern. Pest Shield offered the honest and pressure free service we appreciate. Pest Shield is now our “go to” for any future pest control issue.
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22 September 2025
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