Household ants can be stopped fast with targeted baiting that the workers will carry back to the colony.

Start by identifying what the ants are eating right now by observing their trail for a few minutes; if they cluster around syrup, fruit or sweet residue use a sweet bait, if they prefer grease or protein use a protein bait. Use commercially available ant bait stations or make a simple bait by mixing boric acid with sugar water at a low concentration so it is attractive and not repellent; keep the bait moist because ants prefer liquid carbohydrate when foraging. Place bait where you see trails and near entry points but out of reach of children and pets, and avoid spraying insecticide near bait because that will kill the workers before they can carry the bait back. Maintain cleanliness by wiping counters, sweeping floors, and storing food in sealed containers so you do not create competing food sources that divert ants from the bait. If you need faster knockdown at visible trails, use a contact spray to remove the immediate nuisance then allow baiting to continue for colony elimination; repeat bait placement for up to two weeks until activity stops. For persistent infestations, locate and seal likely entry points such as gaps around doors, windows and pipes, and consider placing bait outside along foundation lines to intercept foragers.

Common mistakes are using repellents or sprays near bait which causes workers to avoid the bait and prevents colony control; stop spraying around bait and use contact control only for immediate visible ants. Another error is using a bait that does not match the ants food preference which leads to ignored bait and continued activity; switch bait type from sweet to protein or vice versa based on what you observed the ants eating. A final issue is removing bait too quickly once visible ants disappear which can leave the queen and larvae alive; keep bait in place for at least two weeks and monitor activity before removing it.

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