Every May, ants make their move into UK kitchens, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the worst years on record. Merlin Environmental’s nine-year UK ant dataset confirms earlier-than-usual emergence in 2026, driven by a warm spring.

Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillarys said: “Most people see ants and immediately reach for a spray, but that only kills the trail, not the cause. Ants are highly sensitive to scent traces invisible to us: residue from a spilled drink that was wiped rather than cleaned, crumbs behind an appliance, or condensation on a cold window sill on a warm morning. All of these are active signals to a foraging colony.

“What homeowners often don’t realise is that the trail in the kitchen was established from outside. The ants already found a way in, through a gap in a door threshold, a crack in a window frame seal, or an opening around a pipe. Killing the trail indoors is like mopping the floor while the tap is still running.”

In order to help Brits stop ant invasions during the heatwave, Luke Newnes shared five quick fixes:

Seal gaps around windows and doors

Door threshold brushes, draught excluders and silicone sealant around window frames are the single most effective long-term fix. A gap as small as 1mm is wide enough for a common black ant.

White vinegar spray on trails and entry points

A 50/50 vinegar and water solution disrupts the pheromone trails ants use to navigate, supermarket white vinegar (costing around 35p), is ideal for this. This mix is completely safe around children and pets, and can be reapplied as needed.

Ground cinnamon at entry point

This kitchen staple is a great ant deterrent. Costing under 50p in most UK supermarkets, ground cinnamon overwhelms ant scent receptors and acts as a natural barrier along window sills, door frames and cracks.

Store food in airtight containers and clean under appliances

The fridge, hob and washing machine are common sites for invisible food residue, which in turn will attract ants. Decanting sugar, flour and cereals into sealed containers also removes a key attractant.

Move compost bins and plant pots away from exterior walls

Ants nesting in soil close to the house will reliably send workers inside to forage. Relocating these features removes the bridgehead.

Luke said: “Windows and doors are the most overlooked ant entry points in the home. A worn threshold brush, a hairline crack in a window seal, a small gap where a frame has shifted over winter, these are the places to focus on. Fixing the entry point is always more effective than treating the symptom inside.”