The first ants you see may be halfway down the hall. Before you reach for the vinegar spray, watch where the line goes in the other direction. It may lead to a gap beside the door frame or a spot under the trim. Once you wipe the trail away, that entry point can be harder to find.
Find both ends of the trail
Watch the ants for a moment and trace their route in both directions. One end can show where they’re getting in. The other might lead to spilled pet food, a sticky patch under the recycling bin, or water around a bowl. If the route disappears behind trim, take a photo or make a note of the last spot you can see.
Wipe the route after you know where it goes
Ants can follow a scent trail left by other workers. University of California Integrated Pest Management recommends wiping trails with soapy water or vacuuming them up. Use a cleaner suitable for the surface, remove whatever drew the ants in, and clean along the route you traced, including the section nearest the doorway.
If you found an opening around the frame or in the surrounding wall, seal the gap with a material suitable for that spot. Check the weatherstripping if the route runs under the moving door. A fresh line in the same place tells you where to look again. If it keeps coming back after you remove food and water sources, UC IPM also explains how to use ant baits and when to get help identifying the species.
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