Ants in the kitchen are one of the most common spring and summer pest problems in Toronto homes — and one of the most mishandled. Spraying ants you see with store-bought spray kills the visible ants but does nothing about the colony. Effective ant elimination requires finding the trail, following it to the entry point, and using a bait that the ants carry back to the colony. Here's the approach that works.
The Most Common Toronto Kitchen Ants
The majority of ant infestations in Toronto homes involve one of two species:
- Pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) — small, dark brown ants that enter from outside through foundation cracks and gaps around plumbing. The most common species in Toronto homes. They're after sweets and proteins.
- Carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) — large black ants (6–12mm). If you see large isolated ants in your kitchen, not trails of small ones, carpenter ants are more likely. They nest in wood (often damaged or moist wood) and are a more serious problem requiring different treatment.
This guide covers pavement ants. Carpenter ants typically require professional pest control.
Step 1: Find the Trail and Entry Point
Follow the ant trail to its origin — usually a gap around a plumbing pipe under the sink, a crack in the baseboard near an exterior wall, or a gap around a window frame. This is where the ants are entering from outside. Finding the entry point is essential — blocking it is the only permanent solution.
Don't disrupt the trail before you've found the entry point. The trail shows you exactly where they're coming from.
Step 2: Use Bait, Not Spray
Spray kills the ants you see. Bait kills the colony. This is the essential difference.
Ant bait products (like TERRO Liquid Ant Baits, available at Canadian Tire and most hardware stores) contain a slow-acting insecticide mixed with a sweet attractant. Worker ants take the bait back to the colony and share it, which eliminates the colony over 3–7 days. When you first place bait, you'll see more ants — this is correct. Don't spray them. Let them take the bait.
Place bait stations along the ant trail, near the entry point, and anywhere else you've seen ants.
Step 3: Seal the Entry Point
Once the colony is eliminated, seal the entry point to prevent reinfestation. Use food-safe caulk around plumbing pipes and baseboards. For foundation cracks, exterior-grade caulk or concrete crack filler.
Step 4: Remove Food Sources
Ants enter homes to find food. Remove what attracted them in the first place:
- Store all dry goods in sealed containers — ants can enter cardboard boxes and unsealed bags
- Wipe counters after any food preparation
- Clean under the stove and fridge, where crumbs accumulate
- Empty and clean the garbage and compost regularly
- Fix any dripping faucets or pipe leaks — ants need water
Preventing Ants in a Toronto Kitchen
- Seal all gaps around plumbing and baseboards before spring
- Keep food sealed, counters clean, and garbage empty
- Use perimeter ant bait stations outside the foundation in April and May — before ants start entering
When to Call a Professional
If ant trails continue after 1–2 weeks of bait use, or if you're seeing large carpenter ants, call a licensed pest control professional. In Toronto, certified pest control operators are listed with the Structural Pest Management Association of Ontario (SPMAO).
A thorough kitchen deep clean addresses the food sources that attract ants. Book a Toronto kitchen deep clean with flat-rate pricing and HST included.