When it comes to ridding your house or yard of an ant infestation, time is of the essence. Although ants rarely cause serious problems, they have the potential to damage property, sting or bite and carry diseases.

Whether you decide to DIY with a natural home remedy or commercial product or call in a professional exterminator for help, read on to learn about the best ways to kill ants.For minimal fuss, pre-filled liquid bait stations like TERRO PreFilled Liquid Ant Killer II are an effective and popular DIY ant killer. Simply place stations in and around your home and leave them.

The containers have tiny openings to keep paws and little hands from coming into contact with the bait. And because ants consume liquids easier than solids, they’re more likely to bring the bait back to the nest, wiping out the entire colony in less than a week.
One advantage of ant baits is that they’re formulated for a certain type of ant, so they have little or no effect on non-targeted insects and organisms. A top pick for killing menacing fire ants that’s also safe for pets is Extinguish Plus Fire Ant Bait.

Strategically lay down the granular bait near mounds or wherever you see fire ants congregate. Expect elimination of the colony in a few days.Bait stakes are an excellent defense against outdoor infestations. Placed directly into the soil, bait stakes zero in on ants you can see and those you can’t. Fast-acting TERRO Outdoor Liquid Ant Bait Stakes attract ants straight to the bait’s sugary liquid.

To use, snap off the activation tab and push the stake into the ground. Don’t forget to put a few near your home’s entrance for extra protection against interlopers. Here are nine myths about ants you need to stop believing.