As soon as the heat arrives they start showing up in the kitchen, and knowing how to get rid of ants in the house becomes a priority from June to September. The good news is that most invasions are solved without harsh products: with order, cleaning and a few home remedies for ants you already have in the cupboard. In this guide we explain why they come in, how to break the trail and how to stop them coming back next summer.
Why there are ants in the house
Before you go on the attack, it helps to understand the problem. If you're wondering why there are ants in the house, the answer is almost always food and water within reach. A single scout ant finds a few crumbs, heads back to the nest leaving a chemical trail (pheromones) behind, and within hours dozens of workers are following that same invisible motorway to your worktop.
The usual sources are obvious enough:
- Traces of sugar, honey or ripe fruit in the kitchen or on the table.
- A bin with no lid, or one that isn't emptied daily.
- Pet bowls with food or water left on the floor overnight.
- Cracks in window frames and skirting boards that let them in from outside.
How to get rid of ants in the house, step by step
To get rid of ants in the house effectively you need to work on two fronts: wipe out the existing trail and close the pantry to them. Follow this order:
- Wipe out the path. Run a cloth with water and a splash of vinegar or washing-up liquid along the line they're walking. You remove the pheromones and leave them «blind».
- Find the entry point. Follow the line back to the crack, window or drain they're appearing from.
- Put the food away. Move sugar, biscuits, cereal and fruit into airtight containers. With no access to food, the trail stops making sense.
- Clean thoroughly every evening. Crumb-free worktop, dry sink and swept floor. A week of consistency is usually decisive.
A decent set of sealable jars and pantry organisers makes all the difference in leaving nothing to attract them; take a look at the kitchen storage and organisation solutions and get your food safely stowed.
Home remedies for ants that actually work
These home remedies for ants are cheap, safe and already within reach. Apply them along the trail and at the entry points:
White vinegar
Mix half water and half vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the route they're using. It's the most popular option because it breaks the pheromone trail instantly.
Lemon and citrus
Lemon juice and orange peel give off a smell ants avoid. Run half a lemon along the thresholds of doors and windows.
Bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, ground cinnamon or coffee grounds into the gaps. They act as a deterrent barrier with no risk to children or pets if used sensibly.
One extra trick: combine the citrus scent with vinegar to reinforce the barrier on the hottest days, when the colonies are at their most active and looking for water indoors more insistently.
How to get rid of ants naturally and keep them away
Knowing how to get rid of ants naturally doesn't end the moment they disappear: what matters is that they don't come back. To keep them out all summer:
- Seal the cracks in frames, skirting boards and around pipes with filler or silicone.
- Empty the bin daily and use one with a lid that closes properly.
- Lift your pet's bowl after every meal and wipe the floor around it.
- Check the plants on windowsills and balconies: the soil and greenfly attract entire colonies.
If the invasion is very large, comes from a nest inside a wall or repeats year after year, the sensible move is to call a pest control company. For everyday kitchen life, though, the combination of cleaning and natural remedies is more than enough.
In short
Getting rid of ants in the house is above all a question of consistency: wipe out the trail, close the pantry and seal the entrances. With a couple of home tricks and a well-organised kitchen, you'll keep them outside this summer without filling your home with chemicals. At Velia Select you'll find airtight jars, organisers and cleaning solutions to keep your home in good order all year round.