HOW-TO GUIDES
How to get rid of ants in the house
Updated 07/26
By: Content Team
Reviewed: Alex Peters
The odd ant on the kitchen worktop rarely stays alone for long. Ants are social insects, and a single scout finding food or water in your home will quickly recruit the rest of the colony using a pheromone trail.
Understanding that behaviour is the key to actually solving the problem, rather than just wiping away today's ants and finding tomorrow's in the same spot.
Why ants keep coming back even after cleaning
How to trace ants back to their nest
Natural vs chemical treatment options
Which rooms attract ants most and why
How to stop ants getting in for good
When it's worth calling in a pest control expert
This guide covers how to get rid of ants naturally and chemically, why kitchens and bathrooms attract them most, and how to stop them coming back for good.
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Why do I have ants in my house?
Ants come indoors for three reasons: food, water and shelter. Kitchens and bathrooms are the most common trouble spots because they offer all three, especially in late spring and summer when colonies are actively foraging for new territory.
A few spilled sugar granules, a sticky spoon left in the sink, or a leaky pipe can be enough to draw a trail of ants into your home. Once one ant finds a source, it lays a pheromone trail back to the nest, and the rest of the colony follows it in.
Follow the ant trail backwards, rather than forwards, to find where they're getting in. It's usually quicker than trying to spot the nest first.
How to get rid of ants naturally
If you'd rather avoid chemicals, particularly with children or pets in the house, these steps will deal with an ant problem without pesticides:
Clean the source thoroughly - Wipe away food residue and clean the ants' point of entry as well as whatever attracted them in the first place.
Break the scent trail - Mix one part white vinegar to three parts water in a spray bottle and spray along the route the ants have been taking. Vinegar disrupts the pheromone trail and temporarily stops other ants following it.
Seal entry points - Fill gaps around skirting boards, pipework and window frames with caulk or sealant once the area is clean and dry.
Add a natural repellent - Ants dislike strong scents. Mix peppermint or lavender essential oil with water and spray it around windowsills, doors and other likely entry points. Cinnamon, chalk or diatomaceous earth sprinkled along entry routes work in a similar way.
Deal with the nest - If you can find the nest outdoors, pouring boiling water over it can destroy it at the source. This won't work on nests hidden inside cavity walls or under solid flooring, where a professional treatment is usually needed.
How to get rid of ants chemically
For a more permanent fix, especially with a larger infestation, a targeted bait treatment tends to outperform natural remedies:
Clean the area and break the scent trail with the vinegar solution above.
Seal obvious entry points with caulk or sealant.
Buy an ant bait product containing boric acid or a similar slow-acting insecticide, available from DIY stores, garden centres and supermarkets.
Place the bait along the ant trail rather than directly on the ants themselves. The idea is that foraging ants carry the bait back to the nest, where it's shared with the rest of the colony, including the queen.
Resist the urge to kill the ants you see. Left alone, they'll do the work of wiping out the colony for you.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely, and keep bait products well away from children and pets.
Be patient. Colony-wide bait treatments can take one to two weeks to fully work.
Not sure what ant removal could cost? Why not try out our free pricing tool?
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How to get rid of ants in the kitchen
The kitchen is prime ant territory, thanks to food, spills and standing water.
A consistent cleaning routine does more to solve the problem than any spray:
Wipe down worktops after every meal, and don't leave dirty dishes overnight.
Clean out cupboards regularly. Old jars of honey or syrup often have sticky residue that draws ants in from elsewhere in the house.
Keep pet food bowls clean between feeds, since leftover kibble and spills are just as attractive to ants as human food.
Store food in sealed containers rather than open packets.
As a deterrent, line doorways and window sills with a barrier of salt, chalk, cinnamon or curry powder.
How to get rid of ants in the bedroom
Ants aren't dangerous, but finding them on your pillow is unpleasant enough that most people want them gone fast. The cause is usually food or drink residue rather than anything more serious.
Start with these steps:
Clear food and drink waste from bedside tables, including empty glasses and mugs
Check for leaky medicine bottles, since some contain sugar or syrup
Empty bedroom bins regularly
Use peppermint oil near windows, skirting boards and doorframes as a deterrent
From there, follow the natural or chemical steps above to clear any ants already inside.
If ants aren't your only unwelcome houseguest, our guides to getting rid of fleas and getting rid of flies cover the other common culprits, or a pest control professional can deal with several issues at once.
Preventing ants from coming back
Once you've cleared an infestation, a few consistent habits will stop it returning:
Ant prevention checklist
Getting a professional in
If ants keep coming back or the infestation feels too large to tackle yourself, a pest control professional can identify the species, locate the nest and treat the problem at the source.
It's usually quicker than DIY methods and safer around children and pets, since professionals use targeted treatments rather than blanket spraying.
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Ant control costs
Costs vary depending on the size of the infestation and whether you're buying DIY products or hiring a professional.
For a full breakdown of typical prices, see our ant control cost guide and pest control cost guide.
Ant pest control cost: 2026 UK prices
Successful ant pest control means treating both the entry points and the nests. See [year] prices for fire ants, carpenter ants and flying ants, and find a checked specialist to get it sorted.
How much does pest control cost in the UK in 2026?
Having a pest infestation in your home can be unsettling, as well as hazardous to the health of you and your family. In this guide we’ve put together the average cost of pest control to help you understand how much you can expect to pay to remove pests from your home.
FAQs
Ants only need a tiny food or water source to keep coming back, such as a single leaky pipe or a jar with sticky residue. If ants persist despite cleaning, check for entry points you may have missed and consider a bait treatment to target the nest directly.
Ants dislike strong scents including peppermint, lavender, vinegar, cinnamon and citrus. These work well as deterrents at entry points but won't remove an existing infestation on their own.
No, particularly if you're using bait treatments. Foraging ants that survive long enough to carry bait back to the nest will help wipe out the colony far more effectively than killing individual ants.
Natural deterrents can reduce ant activity within a day or two, but bait treatments aimed at the whole colony typically take one to two weeks to take full effect.
Most UK house ants aren't dangerous to people or pets, though they can contaminate food. Certain species, including some carpenter ants, can cause structural damage over time if nests establish in timber.
Yes, for most small infestations. Natural or chemical DIY methods work well when you can identify the entry point and nest. Larger or recurring infestations, or ants nesting inside cavity walls, often need professional treatment.
They can, especially if the original food or moisture source hasn't been fully removed. Sealing entry points and removing attractants is the best way to stop repeat infestations.
Powders and sprays kill ants on contact but don't reach the nest, so they offer only a temporary fix. Bait products are designed to be carried back to the colony, making them more effective for long-term control.
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