Ant Infestation: Where Do Ants Hide in the House?

Ants belong in tiny hills in parks and forests, not inside your home. But if you suspect that tiny insects are lurking within your house, where should you look for them?

To understand where ants hide, it’s helpful to know what attracts them. You’ll often find ants near these locations:

• Food sources. Insects need to eat, too. Any crumbs you leave behind will lure them. 
• Wood. If you’re dealing with carpenter ants, you’ll need to watch where you store your woodpiles. To a carpenter ant, a stack of wood is like an open invitation into your home. Store things like mulch, lumber, and firewood away from your home.
• Moisture. Like most bugs, ants are attracted to moist places. You’ll often find them hiding in cracks in your bathroom, basement, or near your water tank.

With these things in mind, here are a few places where you may find ants in your home:

Inside Wall Cracks, Gaps, & Spaces

Ants look for small, tucked away places to hide from humans. Given the size of these bugs (generally 1.5-13 mm), they don’t need much space. The harder that a place is to see, the more likely it is that bugs will choose to hide in it.

If you’re hunting for ants, you’ll often find them in cracks in the floor, in gaps in the foundation, or crevices in the wall.

The Bathroom

Of all the rooms in your house, your bathroom is the most humid; you use it to wash your face, take baths, and showers. All that water draws ants in. Look for ants under the sink, by the bottom of the tub, or near the toilet.

Doors & Windows

Most doors and windows are made of wood. Any openings in these will give ants access to your home from outside. To prevent this, make sure to seal any cracks with caulking or weatherstripping.

The Kitchen

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s where you gather with your family to cook meals, prepare snacks, and eat dinner together. Ants are not welcome at your dining table. 

These insects like to hide in pantries and cupboards. Take a look under little Sparky’s or Whisker’s pet bowls, and you might find a cluster of ants. You’re trying to take care of the family pet, not unwanted ants!

Kitchens are one of the most common places to find these insects, simply because it’s where you store your food. 

Near the Garbage

You’ve been putting off taking out the garbage, but when you finally get around to it, you find something other than trash in the bin. To your surprise, a group of ants has taken over your garbage can. The smell of old food draws ants like a magnet.

How Can You Get Rid of Ants?

Now that you’ve found the ants, you’re left wondering—what can you do to remove them? They’ve made themselves right at home in your humble abode.

You could try getting rid of the ants yourself but it’s very likely you’ll miss part of the colony you’re trying to eliminate. Luckily, there’s a better way to give those ants the boot.

Professional exterminator services are the quickest and most efficient way to eradicate your ant issue. Gilles Lambert is a pest control company in Winnipeg. Give us a call, and we’ll send those ants packing.