What is an effective method to remedy a carpenter ant infestation?

Using insecticide baits is an effective method to remedy a carpenter ant infestation due to how these ants consume and distribute the bait throughout their colony. Carpenter ants are social insects that actively forage for food, and when they encounter insecticide baits, they can carry the toxic substance back to their nest. This ultimately helps to eliminate not only the individual ants that consumed the bait but also other ants in the colony, including the queen, leading to more effective control of the infestation.

Insect traps, while they may catch some carpenter ants, do not address the colony as effectively as baits do. Traps primarily capture workers but do not control the source of the infestation. Spraying with water is not effective and may even worsen the situation by causing the ants to scatter or relocate without addressing the underlying problem. Using essential oils might repel ants temporarily, but they lack the potency and effectiveness in eliminating the colony compared to the targeted action of insecticide baits.