The hard truth about London’s most stubborn household pest

You’re cleaning the kitchen surfaces when bam, there they are – ants.
A few here, a full-on ant trail confidently crossing your skirting boards as though they own the place.

They don’t buzz like wasps or bite you like bed bugs, but once they have settled in, you won’t easily get rid of them.

The question is: can you get rid of them or will you need to call in the professionals?

At Pestpatrol, we’ve seen every DIY method imaginable – from herbal sprays and essential oils to ridiculous baking soda solutions. Some work for short time. Most don’t. And understanding what works and what doesn’t when it comes to ant control in London homes can save you significant frustration.

Why the Natural Products are so Attractive

There’s a lovely feeling about natural methods. No chemicals, no making an appointment, no fuss. Just open the cupboard, grab what you can, give it a go and hope for the best!

It feels safer for a lot of people, especially if you have children or pets in the house.

The most common household deterrents include:

• Cinnamon and peppermint oil for their pungent smell
• White vinegar, commonly used to spray the surfaces to mess up the ant trail.
• Chalk or talcum powder, sprayed onto the floor to break the trail
• Boiling water poured straight into nests
• Coffee grounds placed at a door or window sill

They all sound clever and comforting, and they can work to some extent, at least for a time.

Wipe a trail and they disappear. Problem solved?

Not quite.

The Real Problem is Hidden

That ant trail across the kitchen floor? That’s just the scout party.

The real action is happening off stage—nests under paving slabs, colonies behind walls, and even down in roof voids or rotting floor cavities. You’re only seeing about 5% of the actual activity.

Natural deterrents may disrupt an active scent trail for a day or two, but they don’t touch the nest.
They don’t stop the queen from having more eggs. And they certainly do not kill the entire colony.

Why DIY-style Ant Control Almost Never Lasts

Ants have been around long enough to learn a thing or two.

They may not be as smart as you or I, but smarter than most people give them credit for. They will easily find another route to their food source, often within minutes if their trail is blocked.

They will wiggle through a crack in the wall, find new crumbs behind the cooker, discover another way into the sugar bowl.

And so the cycle continues:

• Cleaning the countertops. Cinnamon on scout trails. Wiping the kitchen floor
• They take a little respite
• Then they return

Does that sound familiar?

When You Should Call Pestpatrol

If any of the following statements ring a bell, your issue with ants is probably beyond what vinegar and talc can keep in check:

• You have observed ants in more than one room
• You keep getting new groups of trails despite cleaning
• You have located a nest in or around your property
• You are experiencing biting or swarming ants
• You have tried everything without any positive result

When ants get to this level of comfort, it is time to start provisioning actual reinforcements.

What a Professional Ant Control Looks Like 

When you book Pestpatrol, you won’t have someone turning up in a white suit with a fogging machine. We’re clean, and precise and work around your news and space. 

Step One: Identifying

We don’t guess, we know. Not all ants are the same. Black garden ants, pharaoh ants, Argentine ants etc. each requires a different level or consideration.
At the start of our communication we work out what species we are dealing with.

Step Two: Inspection

We will follow the trail, identify entry points and if we’re lucky, identify where the nest is.

Often the real problem is in an unknown place, underneath a skirting board, in a cavity wall or even outside under your decking!

Step Three: Treatment – Targeted control 

The best practice is to use bait gels or bait stations that are designed to be carried back to the nest by the ant.

This is deliberate because the ants bring the bait fed to the entire colony and wipe out the colony. This includes the queen!

Understand that this is an extended process as it takes time to move poison and establish the colony’s habitual behaviour & decomposition (remember it takes time for ants to move into disturbed and new nesting sites). 

Step Four: Prevention

We will help you to seal up gaps, convenient temptations and promote to reduce access to food. This will be achievable irrespective of whether you occupy a ground floor flat or a Victorian terrace.

Step Five: Follow up

If necessary we will return, and if you are on a Pestpatrol pest management plan we will get ahead of seasonal outbreaks before they arrive.

Natural vs Professional: The Bottom Line

Natural methods are potentially helpful if you have encountered only a stray scout or two.

A good quick spray of vinegar or citrus may keep them at bay—for now.

But if you’re dealing with repeat trails, nests in or nearby, or swarms in the flat, it’s time to stop messing around.

Professional ant control doesn’t just hide the problem, it removes the colony.
And it means no more guesswork, no more spraying cinnamon every night, and no more ants inside your cereal box.

It’s peace of mind, sorted.

But is it safe?

Yes. We only use regulated products approved for use in domestic situations.

They’re pet-friendly and child-safe, and used in a professional manner.

We will tell you exactly what’s going where, how long you should avoid the area (if at all), and how to stay safe through all of it.

Our processes have been designed with realistic home settings in mind.
Families, pets, tenants, busy city kitchens.

Why Ants Are a Growing Problem in London

We’re not imagining this: Ant activity in London is increasing.

Warmer summers, milder winters, more densely-packed homes are creating the perfect trifecta of ant possibilities.
Warmth, food and endless nesting places.

We’ve dealt with infestations from loft-conversions in Walthamstow, student flats in Clapham, cafes in Camden and penthouse flats in Mayfair.

There isn’t a post code that can be considered untouchable.

And once they’ve discovered a good food source, they will not forget it.

Final Word: What Works Best

For a lighter ant presence, natural methods may work – for a while.

But for anything above the odd forager, you’ll need proper help.

At Pestpatrol, we’ve been solving ant problems all over London for years.

We understand the species. We know how to find your hiding spots. And we know how to remove them without turning over your home.

Let’s End the Ant Problem – For Good

Don’t wait until the whole kitchen is taken over by ants.
If you have trails, nests or just tired of it – book in a Pestpatrol visit today.

We will resolve it quickly, safely, and discreetly so that you can get back to living without ants.

Explore our Ant Control Services