If you are getting a lot of rain, it causes the ants to seek shelter. Most sprays get washed out for all the rain too. A good product is Ortho Home Defense. You can spray inside and outside, says it is safe for pets after the areas have been treated. I've used it for a few years, mainly outside but some inside. I do have pets and they weren't affected by it. It will keep the ants out for a while until it gets washed off (outside) or needs reapplying (inside). The best thing is to find the ant mounds outside and eliminate them.

I had rentals (and an old porus house in an old Detroit area neighborhood). I swear the pest control companies were spraying sugar water because the ants never left and the pest company had a new life long customer.

So I searched the web. Foud DIY Pest Control in FL. I bought their professional products and a GOOD stanless spray pump jug. Would spray around the permieter of my house and damn if the ants didnt tell thier buddies to stay the hell away from THAT house. Just sprayed once or twice a year and NO ants.

I recently moved to an island. Its bug central. Mostly spiders and carpenter ants (THOSE ARE THE BIG BLACK ONES ANY THEY ARE BIG TROUBLE - they eat your house from the inside out and are like termites). I have to spray monthly out there because of so many pests, so much moisture and all the end of the world rains we've been getting.

The store brand stuff is a GIGANTIC waste of money. Like store brand medicine vs prescribed stuff. NO comparison. Just wasting money.

I've had good luck with Terro Liquid Ant Baits. Comes in a small clear plastic container. Break off the end and put them on the kitchen counter. Takes a few days but they carry it back to the nest and they are finally gone. Works well.