rofl, and people whine about swedes combining words. :D

There are bait boxes that you can put in the ant trails/highways. I think they’re called Ameisen köderdose in german. Much less cleanup compared to granulates/powder that you pour out.

It would be a horror if they find the pet bowl with food in there, or the trash can.

If you don’t remove them from your balcony that horror will become reality, sooner or later.
I don’t mind having ants in my garden, but when it’s next to the house I do remove them. It’s way easier to nip it in the bud then having house guests.