Crawling pests
Ants
Common household ants
- Dry in
- 3–4 hours or longer
- Don't wash or wipe
- 7 days
- More ants for
- 1–3 weeks
No entry until it's dry. Drying takes 3–4 hours or longer, so don't go back into a treated area until it's dry, even if the time on this page has passed.
Get your home ready
Before we arrive
What we do on the day
- We put dust into the subfloor and the roof void.
- We put gel bait in small spots along the ant trails.
- Gel goes where children and pets can't reach it, and never on open surfaces.
- We don't spray liquid over the gel. It spoils the bait, and the ants stop eating it.
- Premium ant treatment adds a spray into the soil outside. It stays in the ground, treats anything that walks through it, and gets carried back to the nest.
- Premium ant treatment also comes with a bottle of liquid bait that we leave with you.
- We show you how to use it: a little in the bottle cap, not the whole thing poured out. The ants drink it and it works through the colony over about a week.
After treatment
- Increased activity for 1–3 weeks is normal
- Do not wash or wipe treated areas for 7 days
- Allow ants to consume bait fully
- Continue topping up bait if provided
Common questions
Why are there more ants after treatment?
It takes time for ants to spread the bait through the colony.
How long does treatment take?
Activity usually settles over 1 to 3 weeks.
Which treatment is best?
Our premium treatment is best for heavy infestations or recurring problems.
When can people and pets go back in?
Once the treated areas are dry. Drying takes 3 to 4 hours or longer. If you have a question about children, pets or health, call us and a technician will talk it through.
Do ants damage my house?
Not usually. Ants tend to move into gaps and worn spots that are already there, and they don't generally cause structural damage to buildings.
Are white ants really ants?
No. Termites are often called white ants, but they're a different insect. Termites eat wood and can damage wooden structures, while ants found in wood are using hollows that were already there. If you're not sure what you've got, see the termite inspection guide.
Why should I leave the ant trails alone?
The trail is how the bait gets carried home to the nest. Wiping it away stops the treatment working.
Signs you've got ants
- Trails of ants between their nest and a food source. When one ant finds something it likes, it goes back and brings nest mates to help, so numbers can build fast.
- Little heaps of soil around pots, and between tiles and brickwork outside.
- Soft, uneven soil in the garden, where some ants build nests with lots of chambers just below the surface.
Where ants nest, and what draws them in
Where they nest
- In walls and foundations, and in small gaps between fittings and walls.
- In indoor pot plants.
- In the garden soil, and around pots, tiles and brickwork.
- In wood, but only in gaps that were already there.
What draws them in
- Different ants go for different foods, such as sugars, proteins, fats or oils.
- In long dry spells they go looking for water too.
- They use gaps and worn spots that are already there.
Keep them away
- Clean food spills quickly
- Seal cracks and entry points
- Avoid leaving food exposed
What happens next
Booking the treatment
A light ant treatment suits light or occasional ants. If they keep coming back in different rooms, premium ant treatment goes after the colony. Premium ant treatment comes with a 6 month warranty and aftercare.
Still have a question?
Call us and we'll help. If you're still seeing activity after the times on this page, let us know.