Advice
Ants in the Kitchen: Causes and What Helps
Ants in the kitchen are usually following food and warmth, and a few careful habits can reduce them, though a persistent trail often needs professional treatment.
Read the guide →We cover Salcombe and the TQ8 area, looking after residents, property managers and waterfront businesses. Whether it is one kitchen or several properties, we start by finding the nest and working out exactly how the ants are getting in and what is drawing them.
Why empty and part-time homes attract ants
A house that is closed up for a while often has food residue in cupboards, bins that have not been emptied or damp corners near sinks, and ants need very little to set up a routine. Outside, a sunny wall, garden steps or a gravel path makes a ready nesting spot, and the steep ground around Salcombe offers plenty of warm, sheltered places for a colony to settle.
Waterfront businesses have a different challenge. Food, drink spills and rubbish are present every day, and ants that find the source will keep using it. Because many of the buildings here sit tight against walls and slopes, nests can be right at the edge of the property, so we check boundaries and outside surfaces as well as the rooms indoors where you first noticed the trail.
A careful, targeted visit
We look first and treat second. That means following trails, checking window frames, door thresholds and the base of outside walls, and asking when the ants are most active. Once we have found the likely nest, we place a targeted treatment so the workers carry it home, and we avoid wide spraying in rooms where people eat and sleep, which is better for everybody in the building, including children and pets.
We then talk through simple fixes: sealing gaps, lidded storage, a quick clean of surfaces before you leave a property empty. For letting agents we are happy to suggest a short checklist for changeover days. If a nest is hard to reach or ants return after treatment, we will say so honestly and plan a second visit with you, so nothing is left to chance in Salcombe.
Before you lock up for the winter or the week
Empty bins, wipe surfaces, put sugar, honey and pet food in sealed tubs and check for drips under sinks. Do the same before guests arrive if a property has been shut for a while. Salcombe owners can also call us for a quick look if ants appeared last season, before the weather warms up again. We also work in Dartmouth and Ivybridge if you have a property in either.
Frequently asked questions
I have a second home in Salcombe and ants are inside when I arrive. What should I do?
Wipe up what you can, but do not spray around the trail, as that can scatter the ants. Contact us with where you saw them. We can visit while you are there or arrange access, then trace and treat the nest.
Can ants get into a property with no food left inside?
Yes. Ants may be drawn to crumbs behind appliances, damp spots, pet food residues or sweet drink rings, or simply wander in looking for warmth. Even a tidy empty house can see a trail, so a check for outside nests is always useful.
Will treating the nest outside be enough for a Salcombe house?
Often yes, because removing the colony removes the source. We also seal or advise on entry points so new ants from neighbouring nests find it harder to get in. If activity continues, we will recommend a follow-up visit to finish the job.