Warmer weather and bluer skies are here – but with the spring heat comes another unwelcome guest. Mild conditions also brings with it the annual chaos of ant infestations that begin as the insects begin to search for food post-hibernation.

For unlucky Brits who don’t tackle the ant problem head-on, it can escalate to an infestation alongside pest control bills that cost hundreds of pounds. Homeowners who head seek advice may turn to baking powder as a cheap home hack. But according to Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Self Store, baking powder alone is almost redundant as he urges homeowners to combine a second pantry ingredient to “almost guarantee” removal.

“You might think an ant or two might not be a problem, but they will quickly alert their friends that your home is the place to be,” he said. “Before you know it, you could have a whole colony living in your kitchen. Killing them when you see them isn’t sufficient; you need to destroy the nest or warn the scouting ants to avoid your home.”

The secret second ingredient is icing sugar. The expert added: “This method works so well because the sugar attracts the ants with its sweet smell, while the baking powder, hidden in plain sight, does the dirty work.

“Once the ants take the sugary treat back to the nest, the whole colony will consume the baking soda, which will kill off the nest.”

How to get rid of ants

“Simply mix 1 part baking powder and 1 part icing sugar in a bowl, ensuring they’re fully mixed. Sprinkle it around potential trails and near entry points and wait for the magic to happen.”

If you don’t already own it, a 500g bag of icing sugar will cost you 90p and 170g baking powder will cost you 65p. You’ll need to mix 5g of each, costing just 3p in total.

Be patient – this isn’t an instant solution, so it will take a few days for their numbers to decrease. Ensure to keep topping the mixture up when the levels go down.