Ants are one of the most common household pests in the UK. They may seem harmless at first, but once they’ve found a reliable food source in your kitchen, you’ll likely find trails of them coming back again and again. Luckily, there are several remedies you can try at home to keep them at bay.
If ants are affecting a kitchen, food business, rental property, or recurring entry point, check pest control services or commercial pest control.
1. Keep Your Home Clean
Ants are mainly attracted to food. Make sure to:
Wipe down worktops after preparing food
Sweep and vacuum regularly
Store food in airtight containers
Avoid leaving pet food or crumbs lying around
A clean environment makes it harder for ants to find anything worth returning for.
2. Block Entry Points
Ants usually enter through tiny cracks in walls, doors, or windows.
Seal gaps with silicone caulk
Use weather stripping around doors and windows
Keep outdoor plants trimmed back from walls
By limiting their access, you reduce the chance of infestations.
3. Natural Remedies
If you prefer to avoid chemicals, try these natural solutions:
Vinegar spray: Mix equal parts vinegar and water, spray along entry points and ant trails.
Lemon juice: Disrupts scent trails that ants use to navigate.
Cinnamon, peppermint, or talcum powder: Sprinkle where ants gather; these can deter them.
4. When to Call Antiva
If ants keep returning despite your best efforts, you may be dealing with a larger nest or a harder-to-reach colony. In such cases, professional treatment from Antiva is often the most effective and long-lasting solution.
Seasonal Ant Swarms
If you are seeing winged ants or sudden summer swarms, read Flying Ant Day UK: why ants are swarming and what to do.
Ant Problem Severity Checklist
Low - a small trail near a door or window: clean food sources and seal the obvious gap
Medium - repeated trails into a kitchen or living area: check local pest control services
High - ants in a commercial kitchen, care setting, school, rental property, or food storage area: request commercial pest control
Related local services: pest control in Edinburgh, pest control in Glasgow, and pest control in West Lothian.