Ants get a bad name indoors, but outside they do useful work. They are an important part of the ecosystem: they turn and aerate the soil so oxygen and water can reach plant roots, and they act as miniature decomposers, feeding on organic waste and dead creatures and helping to keep the environment clean.
None of that makes them any more welcome on your kitchen worktop. Indoors, ants are simply a nuisance, and once you spot them it pays to act quickly. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to deter them and keep them out, and this post runs through the most practical ones.
Why ants appear in the warmer months
Like a lot of common pests, ants prefer warm weather, which is why you tend to see more of them in spring and summer. When it turns wet and rainy, they look for somewhere dry and safe to shelter, and that somewhere is often inside your home.
Seal up the gaps
Keeping things sealed is one of the best ways to avoid attracting ants. That means food containers, sweet treats and the lids on fizzy drinks, but it also means the fabric of your home. Take a few minutes to check your masonry walls for small holes and openings, and fill any you find with an approved sealer. It is worth checking the seals around windows and doors too, since gaps there are easy to overlook.
The baking soda and sugar trick
Most old wives’ tales do not stand up, but the baking soda and sugar mix is one of the exceptions, and it works on ants and a few other insects drawn to sweet things. Mix baking soda with sugar and sprinkle it around doorways and anywhere you have seen ants. The ants are tempted by the sugar and carry the mixture back to share with the colony, where the baking soda does the rest.
When to call in the experts
Caught early, an ant problem is usually quick and easy to deal with, and there are some genuinely effective sprays and powders on the market. If you cannot get on top of it, though, call our team. Our ant removal specialists will tell you how far the infestation has spread and which treatment will clear it from your home. We are open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.