Javascript required
Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Get Rid of Tiny Black Ants in Kitchen

Are you looking for a simple solution on how to get rid of ants in the house? From peppermint oil to ground coffee, there are plenty of natural homemade remedies you can try to help keep the pesky insects at bay.

Ants are social insects that live in colonies, so it's unlikely you'll find just one. While they aren't harmful or explicitly dangerous, and cannot cause any real damage to your home, they are a nuisance as they can quickly build up in numbers.

Black ants are the species you're most likely to find in UK gardens, and they're also regularly seen indoors, drawn to areas where they will find a food source — they have a taste for sugary substances, so will quite happily forage for food in your kitchen.

'If you want to get rid of them, there are plenty of ways to do so without having to rely on chemical solutions. Coffee grounds, glass cleaner and white vinegar have all proved to be effective in killing ant colonies,' explain the team at Gardening Express.

Not sure where to begin? Take a look at the seven simple things you can try below:

1. Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are a great way to naturally deter ants without harming them. Grab a handful of dried coffee and create a 'barrier' for the ants so they can't pass through – try sprinkling the coffee grounds on disposable surfaces, and around pet bowls and plants. You can also place them on windowsills. Because of its crunchy texture, the ants won't like the feeling underfoot.

cropped hand making coffee at table   ant repellent

Carlo Van Stek / EyeEm Getty Images

2. Glass cleaner and liquid detergent

If you're reluctant to use toxic baits, another way to keep the ants away is to mix glass cleaner and liquid detergent together. Simply place in a spray bottle and spritz around the ant-infested area. Wipe down the area after spraying, leaving a light residue. This remedy works by cleverly removing the scented pheromone trail they leave behind when they walk.

3. Pepper

Ants hate the strong scent of pepper, so this is also a great natural alternative to consider. Simply take some pepper (cayenne pepper or black pepper) and sprinkle around entry points in your home. 'This remedy to ant infestation is completely natural and safe. Anecdotal evidence suggests that sprinkling pepper around baseboards and behind appliances may help keep ants at bay,' adds the team at Gardening Express.

coarse ground black pepper on a wooden spoon and spilled on an old, weathered wood surface

skhoward Getty Images

4. Tea tree oil

Mix together 5-10 drops of tea tree oil with a little water and place into a spray bottle. Simply spritz around the areas where ants are dominating and you'll soon see immediate effects. Another tip is to soak cotton wool balls in tea tree oil and place them around entry points in the home — ants won't like the smell.

Gardening Express explains: 'Like most essential oils, you should keep tea tree oil out of reach of pets, especially cats, who can become very ill if exposed.'

BUY NOW

5. Peppermint

Peppermint oil and mint leaves are another great way to put off the pesky insects from entering your home. Consider spraying peppermint close to dustbins, compost heaps or doors to the garden.

'Mix 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil with two cups of water, then spray the mixture around the baseboards and windows of your home.'

BUY NOW

organic fresh bunch of mint on wooden cutting board

wmaster890 Getty Images

6. White vinegar

An effective way to get rid of ants is to spray white vinegar and water on areas around the home and garden. If you have a reoccurring ant problem, try using diluted vinegar to clean hard surfaces, including floors and counter tops, around your home — this will keep them at bay.

7. Boiling water

A quick trick for getting rid of an ant nest is to pour boiling water into any ant holes. 'Anthills may appear small, but the colonies underneath them can be huge in comparison,' says Gardening Express.

Remember to be careful with the hot water, especially if you have young children or pets playing outside.

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.

SIGN UP


23 stylish garden accessories to spruce up your outdoor space

Creekwood Mirror

Outdoor Mirror - Best Garden Accessories

Creekwood Mirror

Creekwood amazon.co.uk

£44.92

Barrington Plant Stand

Plant Stand - Best Garden Accessories

Barrington Plant Stand

Barrington gardentrading.co.uk

£120.00

Display your collection of plants, flowers and herbs with the Barrington Plant Stand. This three-tiered unit has shelves of varying depths allowing you to arrange the larger pots on the bottom, and smaller at the top.

Outdoor Iron Fireplace with Grill,

Fireplace - Best Garden Accessories

Outdoor Iron Fireplace with Grill,

Create an ambience, keep warm and even cook all on the same piece of furniture: an iron fireplace. Not only does it look super-chic, it's as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing.

Abbingt Hanging Chair

Hanging Chair - Best Garden Accessories

Abbingt Hanging Chair

If you can't quite get on board with a hammock (literally) then a hanging chair is the next best (if not better) option. It's the grown-ups version of a hammock and means you don't need two trees to tie it to.

Solar Lanterns

Garden Lanterns - Best Garden Accessories

Solar Lanterns

Tom-shine amazon.co.uk

£29.83

These outdoor solar lanterns create mesmerising patterns across your patio or shrubbery at night. The soft lighting adds a calm glow to an outdoor space and, best of all, there's no need for batteries or an electric point outside.

CJ Wildlife Apex Insect House

Insect House - Best Garden Accessories

CJ Wildlife Apex Insect House

National Trust nationaltrust.org.uk

£25.00

Create a haven for insects with this beautiful wooden insect house. Hang no higher than two metres from the ground and watch as buzzing bees and insects alike use the holes to lay their eggs.

Round Terracotta Bird Bath, Green

Bird Bath - Best Garden Accessories

Round Terracotta Bird Bath, Green

nationaltrust.org.uk

£16.00

Give the birds somewhere safe to drink with this round glazed terracotta bird bath. Simply place in your garden, fill with water and watch as the garden birds come to visit. Make sure you keep it topped up.

Set of 2 Wooden Storage Boxes, £28

Storage Boxes - Best Garden Accessories

Set of 2 Wooden Storage Boxes, £28

gardentrading.co.uk

Neatly hide away any bits and bobs with this set of two wooden storage boxes. Use it to carry cuttings or fresh produce, or to keep your shed organised.

Summer Lantern Candle Holder, Pink/Blue

Garden Lanterns - Best Garden Accessories

Summer Lantern Candle Holder, Pink/Blue

John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com

£35.00

This colourful candle lantern is a great addition for summer garden parties.

10 Geo Shape Solar String Lights

Garden Lights - Best Garden Accessories

10 Geo Shape Solar String Lights

Smart Solar very.co.uk

£19.99

Brighten up your outdoor space with these stylish solar string lights. Designed to illuminate automatically at dusk, they charge in direct sunlight. We also love that they are waterproof, too.

Three Oval Trough Planters

Outdoor Plant Pots - Best Garden Accessories

Three Oval Trough Planters

Metal watering can

Watering Can - Best Garden Accessories

Metal watering can

Keep your outdoor plants hydrated with this stylish metal watering can. With a rounded handle at the top and narrow spout at the front, it's also available in classic silver.

20 Warm White Carnival Plug In Festoon Lights

Festoon Lights - Best Garden Accessories

20 Warm White Carnival Plug In Festoon Lights

Brighten up a summer's evening with these on-trend festoon lights. Either hang around a tree, along a fence or on a festoon pole. Ideal for creating an Insta-worthy look.

Ipanema Round 4 Seater Garden Table

Outdoor Table - Best Garden Accessories

Ipanema Round 4 Seater Garden Table

Argos Home argos.co.uk

£75.00

Spruce up your patio with Argos Home's playful yellow garden table, perfect for popping drinks on when relaxing outdoors.

Bluebell Handmade Recycled Metal Garden Sculpture

Garden Sculpture - Best Garden Accessories

Bluebell Handmade Recycled Metal Garden Sculpture

CHI-AFRICA notonthehighstreet.com

US$22.49

Made from recycled metals, such as car bodies and oil drums, this bluebell garden sculpture will look great nestled amongst grass and flower borders.

Industrial Fire Pit In Two Sizes

Fire Pit - Best Garden Accessories

Industrial Fire Pit In Two Sizes

notonthehighstreet.com

£160.00

Outdoor Wooden Tension Tower Game

Outdoor Games - Best Garden Accessories

Outdoor Wooden Tension Tower Game

Chad Valley argos.co.uk

£24.50

Looking to have some phone-free fun with the family this summer? This beautiful wooden tower game is great for both indoor and outdoor use.

Catalpa Indoor/Outdoor Palm Leaf Rug

Outdoor Rug - Best Garden Accessories

Catalpa Indoor/Outdoor Palm Leaf Rug

Rugs don't just have to be for inside the home: bring comfort underfoot with this beautiful green outdoor rug. It has been made from polypropylene — a highly durable material that is easy to care for.

Hand Blown Clear Glass Self Watering

Garden Ornament - Best Garden Accessories

Hand Blown Clear Glass Self Watering

Siyaglass amazon.co.uk

£10.99

This hand-blown glass snail offers an attractive way to keep plants watered. It slowly releases water into the soil around your plants as needed, which is great news if you don't have time to water them yourself.

Grand patio Garden Solar Lights

Solar Garden Lights - Best Garden Accessories

Grand patio Garden Solar Lights

Grand patio amazon.co.uk

£54.98

A striking sculpture as well as a useful patio light, recharge the battery for more than eight hours with enough sunshine and it will keep aglow for six to eight hours at night.

Coated Metal Drinks Trolley

Outdoor Drinks Trolley - Best Garden Accessories

Coated Metal Drinks Trolley

THE FOREST & CO notonthehighstreet.com

US$95.00

Serve up chilled beverages in style with this stylish drinks trolley. The wheels make it easy to move across decking, while the metal coating makes it waterproof.

Personalised Hanging Metal Garden Shed Sign

Shed Sign - Best Garden Accessories

Personalised Hanging Metal Garden Shed Sign

DELIGHTFUL LIVING notonthehighstreet.com

£32.00

This personalised hanging metal sign can be printed with bespoke wording, making it the ideal accessory for a garden, shed, allotment or veg patch. The sign comes with either a rope or suede hanger.

Habitat Floor Cushion - Grey

Floor Cushions - Best Garden Accessories

Habitat Floor Cushion - Grey

Habitat argos.co.uk

£18.00

Transform your seating area with this cosy floor cushion. Made from 100 per cent cotton, it will give your garden an instant refresh. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Get Rid of Tiny Black Ants in Kitchen

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/cleaning/a33584237/how-to-get-rid-ants/