Life is a combination of magic and pasta.

I use an essential oil that I mix with olive oil around my door frames and windows. Yeah, it leaves a little residue, but that's what keeps the lil' shits away. It's made by a place called Eden's Garden and it's called "Pest Defy". It keeps away all kinds of pests, not just ants and spiders ( spiders is why I started using it). It has a pleasant smell. https://www.edensgarden.com/search?q=pest+defy

Also, some of these suggestions might help, as well. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/how-to-get-rid-of-ants_n_1385182.html

I can sympathize, though. I once lived in a rented house that would always get those damned HUGE Carpenter ants coming from the outside wall of the bathroom. Our landlord was such an idiot! He could have given a rat's ass, he did essentially NOTHING. Ugh! Critters, stay outside, ya lil' shits!