My apartment high-rise has been afflicted with ants in the past few years. The pest control technician says that it has become a common problem due to warming weather. Various things have been tried, and I am leaving this in their expert hands (or rather, the apartment management is). This question is not asking for further countermeasures.
When I find a place or pathway with many ants, I find that simply wiping with a damp cloth or vinegar doesn't keep them away for long. Wiping is supposed to disrupt their pheromone trails, but I only find somewhat lasting effects if I wipe with undiluted household bleach. I am pleasantly surprised that they stay away even after the bleach has dried. After some internet research, I found that bleach leaves behind a salt residue when dried. Is it the salt residue that keeps the ants away when wiping otherwise doesn't have lasting effect?
I've had another corroborative experience that leads me to suspect that salt residue has a repulsive effect on pharaoh ants. I keep a large beer glass of very salty water on hand because of the dental benefits of salt water rinse. I probably use too strong a solution, which likely has drawbacks (something I have yet to research). It is kept on top of the fridge. Around the glass is salt water staining. I never see ants around it, even though ants like water. I admit that this corroboration is not very strong, as I generally do not see ants on top of the fridge anyway