Ants can be a real problem if you let them take over your garden, as they could come into your home and wreck havoc - but one 5p trick will get rid of them for good17:05, 06 Jul 2026Ants can play an important role in your garden's ecosystem, but there are times when they become a genuine pest. In many instances, ants are actually helpful to your garden. They serve as natural pest control by feeding on harmful insects, and as they dig tunnels beneath your plants, they're inadvertently aerating your soil.That said, ants can become troublesome if they construct nests right underneath plant roots, which could hinder their development. Another issue with ants arises when they establish nests in busy areas, such as within the gaps of your patio slabs. This can create problems during outdoor gatherings like barbecues, as they'll be drawn to the food on offer, and may increase the likelihood of them trailing back inside with you - potentially leaving you facing an indoor infestation.If you've got ants appearing where you don't want them, there's a straightforward solution to eliminate them. In fact, you can destroy an entire nest using just one item that's already in your home.According to an Instagram video posted by Melinda Martin, a simple method that costs mere pennies can solve your ant problem permanently, though you'll need some patience for it to be effective.Melinda explained the most effective way to eliminate an ant nest is by using boiling water from your kettle. Nearly everyone has access to tap water, and the energy required to boil a full kettle costs around 5p on average in the UK.Content cannot be displayed without consentShe said: "I'm going to show you my favourite at-home, easy, don't have to buy anything way to kill an ant pile."The woman recorded herself boiling her kettle, before heading outside into her garden and tipping the entire contents straight onto the ant nest. She then went back to her kitchen and repeated the same process several times over.She added: "This method does work, but you have to be consistent, and you have to do it multiple times. I'm going to take this in, I'm going to refill it, and I'm probably going to do it six to eight times. I'm also going to poke holes in [the nest] after I do it a few times to make sure we get down to the bottom, where the queen is."In the video's caption, Melinda explained she would suggest pouring boiling water over the nest several times daily for at least two consecutive days to guarantee all the ants are eliminated.While this trick can be highly effective, you should only ever use it in spots where nothing else is growing, such as on your patio or driveway. You must never pour boiling water onto soil containing plants, as this could kill your vegetation.How to safely get rid of ants1. Destroy the scent trailsAnt scouts leave behind chemical pheromone trails to guide the rest of the colony to food. Plain water does not remove these trails, so to keep ants away from your house and garden, use one of these tips to break scent trails:Vinegar Spray: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray it along countertops, baseboards, and entry points.Soapy Water: Mix two tablespoons of dish soap with a litre of water. This wipes away trails and breaks down the ants' protective outer coating on contact.Lemon Juice: Mix one part lemon juice with three parts water. The high acidity naturally destroys trail odours.2. Set baitSetting bait is one of the most effective ways to kill ants. They will pick up the bait and take it back to the queen, and that will remove the whole colony much faster than squishing every ant you see.Baking soda and sugar: Mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. The sugar acts as a lure, while the baking soda disrupts the ants' digestive systems.Cornmeal: Place small piles of cornmeal where you see trails. Ants will carry it back as food, but cannot digest it.3. Home remedies for immediate knockdownArticle continues belowIf you spot an ant nest and want to eradicate it immediately, or you want to kill lone ants before the whole colony finds its way into your house, follow one of these steps:Soapy Water: A few drops of washing up liquid mixed with water in a spray bottle kills ants on contact. Spraying visible trails also removes the invisible scent trails ants use to navigate.Boiling Water: Pouring boiling water directly into outdoor ant mounds provides an instant, chemical-free way to destroy the nest and the queen.