10 Best Indoor Ant Killers 2020

Sometimes the ants go marching one by one, and other times, they come pouring in by the hundreds – right into your kitchen.

Whether they’re in the kitchen, basement, bathroom or living room, the problem is that they are in your home, and you want to know how to get rid of them!

In our guide, we’ll be presenting the ten best indoor ant killer options in addition to providing you with some very useful shopping tips.

There are many important things to take into consideration before you purchase a product like this, so let’s take a look at a few of them before you head down and check out the products in our table.

Things to Consider When Buying Indoor Ant Killer

Some of the most important things to remember before you select are:

  • Kids and Furry Friends. Whenever you shop for a product like this, be sure you eliminate any choices that may be toxic to kids and pets.

There are plenty of natural products you can use to get rid of ants (and we will show you a few of them in our guide), so just remember that you don’t have to resort to the strongest insecticide to exterminate the ants.

  • Different Ants Might Require Different Products. If you thought that there was one product to kill them all, then you’ll want to keep reading our guide.

As we’ll be discussing below, different ants are attracted to different baits, so it is important to identify the type of ants you have to be successful.

Top 10 Indoor Ant Killers Table

PictureNameTypePriceRating (1-5)
Picture
Name
Type
Price
Rating (1-5)
1. NOW Foods Clove Oil, 2 ounceClove Essential Oil$$4.7
2. Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade 10 Lb Diatomaceous Earth$$$$4.5
3. Advion Ant Gel Insecticide with Plunger, 1.06 oz. Pack of 4Gel$$$$4.5
4. TERRO Ant Killer Liquid Ant Baits (pre-filled) , Pack of 1 Bait Stations$$4.5
5. Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait 0.95 oz-1 box BA1072Gel$$$$4.5
6. TERRO T401 Ant Killer Aerosol Spray Aerosol Spray$4.4
7. Raid 11717 Ant & Roach KillerAerosol Spray$4.3
8. Combat Max, Ant Killing Gel, 27 Grams Gel$$4.2
9. Orange Guard 103 Water Based Indoor/Outdoor Home Pest Control Spray$$4.1
10. Eco Defense Organic Home Pest Control Spray, 16ozSpray$$3.9

Sprays and Aerosols

For many of you, the best indoor ant killer is some spray that you can use to get a few stray ants that made their way into your home and found some nice sugar crystals on your kitchen counter to eat.

Remember that this type of solution is temporary since you’re only able to kill the ants that you see.

If you have a real infestation problem, then you’re going to need ant bait. We’ll be looking at this option in the next section.

Ant Bait – How to Choose It and How to Use It

Understand that choosing the best indoor ant killer might mean selecting a bait rather than a spray.

Ant bait is like ringing a dinner bell in the ants’ ears, and what they pick up, they will bring back to the rest of the colony.

  • Type of Ants. Do you have Carpenter ants, Pavement ants, Argentine ants or Fire ants? Those are just a few to give you an idea!

If you don’t plan to call an exterminator, then you’ll probably want to grab an ant specimen and search online until you can identify it.

It is true that many baits will work for a variety of ants, but some products target specific ants, and you don’t want to waste time by purchasing the wrong product.

  • Type of Bait. Bait comes in the form of powders, gels, granules or liquid stations.

As we mentioned earlier, the type you choose depends on the species of ants invading your home, but you should also think about the toxicity of the ingredients and whether or not they are the right choice for your home.

If you have pets or kids, always choose an all-natural ant killer solution and remember that there are plenty of safe DIY recipes available if you are interested!

The nice thing about bait stations for indoor use is that they are covered, and only the ants can get into them, but still be cautious with them if you have curious toddlers or clever pets who might try to get a hold of it.

All you need to do is set the bait station in the general area where ants travel, and their radar will lead them to it.

If your ants are gathering in a higher location, then you might opt for a gel like the Advion Ant Gel Insecticide Plunger we included on our list.

Top 3 Best Indoor Ant Killer Reviews

1. NOW Foods Clove Oil

We decided to include an all-natural solution at the top of our list since it is safer for you and the environment.

Clove oil is toxic to ants, so if you feel like whipping up some spray, a little water, and clove oil will create an excellent base to your homemade ant killer recipe.

Some suggest mixing a bit of vodka in the mix so that it will prevent the oil from separating and floating to the top, but if you don’t have vodka, just be sure to shake the bottle well between uses.

They say that peppermint oil is also great at warding off ants, so if you happen to have a bit of peppermint essential oil around the house, add it to the mixture.

You will find plenty of great recipes online, so find one that works based on what you have in your pantry and be sure to get some of this clove oil as the main ingredient!

2. Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade

What is this stuff, you wonder? Oh, just the fossilized remains of some hard-shelled algae.

This powder is quite versatile, and you can use for many different needs. This particular kind is even edible!

All you need to do is sprinkle this stuff in the places where the ants are hanging out (not where kids or pets can access it, of course).

One of the nice things about this stuff is that if your kids or your pets do happen to get near it, it is not toxic. We encourage you to keep it away from them regardless.

Insects like ants – with an exoskeleton – will die when they come in contact with the powder, so this is a great way to help you safely rid your home of ants.

3. Advion Ant Gel Insecticide with Plunger

Our final suggestion is much stronger than the previous two and is probably best for those of you with more serious ant infestations.

This little syringe allows you to squirt the gel into the tiny nooks and crannies of your home, whether they are up high or down low.

The formula targets sweet feeders and is very attractive to ants. Once they take it back to the colony, it is capable of affecting ants of all life stages and not just adults.

It is a highly effective ant killer and easy to use. Just be sure to keep kids and pets away if you use it at floor level!