With the warmer weather persisting, many British homeowners are starting to notice an unwelcome invasion of ants in their homes and gardens. The black ant is the most common species in the UK, and can turn into a real pest in the home if left to roam around freely.

Fortunately, there’s no need to reach for pesticides or harsh chemicals to keep them at bay. Experts from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk recommended two natural, family-friendly ingredients to prevent ants from entering your home, all while avoiding any harm to the environment or the ants themselves. According to the specialists, the key to keeping ants out of your home lies in disrupting the scent trails they rely on to find food.

They explained: “Ants dislike the strong scents and it disrupts their trails making it harder to find food.”

The solution is simple: sprinkle a combination of coffee grounds and chilli powder to confuse and deter ants.

“Try sprinkling chilli powder or spraying vinegar around entry points,” the spokesperson advised. “Ants dislike the strong scents.”

The trick is to place these ingredients around common entry points such as doors, windows, and cracks where ants might be sneaking in.

If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn ant problem, coffee grounds offer an additional layer of protection, as ants are not fans of the smell or the texture.

Simply sprinkle used coffee grounds around any entry points, and make sure to refresh the barrier regularly, as once they dry, they become “less effective”.

For homeowners looking to protect their garden spaces, there are even more natural options, like planting mint and lavender, which will create a fragrant barrier that ants won’t want to cross.

These plants not only help to keep ants away but will also add a lovely scent to your garden and can also be used as natural air fresheners around the house.