***Disclaimer*** I would definitionally start with the my methods. At my old home I was at war with carpenter ants. They appeared during the COVID lock down so it was up to me not to use anything that would harm my parrots. If anyone is not familiar with them they are super sized ants; about as long as a thumb nail. I tried traps made especially for them; which they just ate the poison like candy. I had tarro boric acid (the paper with sweet liquid) set up like land mines around the kitchen. There was defense line set up all around the kitchen of DTE. There was nothing for them to eat also the kitchen was clean but I would wake up to 15-20 of them crawling around the walls, on the stove, clustering on the floor. Plus they were fast movers. It got to the point where I really couldn't use the kitchen; I couldn't have anyone enter the house. I was stuck with a nightmare. There was even a DMZ zone between the kitchen and living room with a line of DTE 1/4" thick, and they would just walk right through it. Luckily they never made it to the parrot room but I am scarred for life. If they were normal ants I wouldn't have a problem; the methods used (even just the traps) would work. However these were super ants. I had a happy nest for 10 years before they showed up. If it rained; guess what more ants. Hot outside; more ants. No reason; more ants. I discovered that my garbage disposal was leaking; making the perfect wet wood for them to chew through. They also had an ant express from the maple trees outside to the roof of my building. After 10 years of making a home I moved; the new owner was aware of the issue but could use heavy pesticides. I was really sad to leave my nest after spending so much time just getting it nice. I honestly think I have trauma from the experience. So in reply to your message I went to military action mode. Hopefully you just have the small common ants; I wouldn't wish super ants on anyone. However the new flat that I moved into was awesome. Every window and sliding door faced a wooden area with a stream. It was magical. However it never felt like home again. ** I did have a small outbreak of ants in my green cheeks nesting area; daily cleanings, mint around the cage, and giving her cinnamon sticks to shred took care of the issue; they were getting in through the window by her home ** Sometimes less is more; other times you get super ants.
Jay