Hey everyone,
I’ve been fighting off Pharaoh ants in my kitchen for weeks, and I’m starting to lose patience. I’ve tried a few sprays that seem to kill them on contact, but they always come back — usually in a new spot. I’ve read online that baits are more effective long-term because they get taken back to the nest, but I’m not sure how well that actually works in real life.
So, what’s been your experience? Do baits really outperform sprays when it comes to Pharaoh ants? Any setup tips or mistakes to avoid?
I’ve dealt with Pharaoh ants twice, and baits were the only thing that worked long-term. Sprays just scattered them, I learned that the hard way. Once I switched to slow-acting bait and left it alone for a few days, they started disappearing for good.
Same here. Spraying them just makes the colony split into smaller groups. Baits take patience, but they go straight to the source. I put small bits along their trails and near sinks, worked great.
@BugScout91 yep, I made that mistake too. Sprayed one line of ants and woke up to three lines the next day. Now I stick to baits only.
Don’t clean up the ants right away when you lay the bait. Let them take it back. I know it’s gross watching them swarm the bait, but it’s part of the process.
Baits are definitely the way to go. I used to think sprays were quicker, but Pharaoh ants are sneaky. Once they feel threatened, they just relocate deeper into the walls.
Agree with everyone here, patience is key. It took about a week for me to notice fewer ants. I also sealed the small gaps around my pipes afterward to prevent re-entry.
I use baits too, but make sure you don’t use strong cleaners around them. @CleanNestLife mentioned letting them sit undisturbed, that’s crucial. I wiped one area too soon and ruined the progress.
I’m old-school, so I tried sprays for months before switching. Baits worked better, but it took multiple placements. I replaced them weekly until no activity remained.
Honestly, it depends on how bad the infestation is. If you’re seeing hundreds daily, it’ll take several rounds. But for smaller groups, bait alone can wipe them out completely.
@SuburbanHelper that’s true. For me, baits alone worked fine because I caught it early. But I still check once a month just to make sure they’re not making a comeback.