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 →Our approach is to find where the ants are coming from rather than just wiping out the ones you can see. That means following the trail, locating the nest and treating it in a targeted way.
Why older Sidmouth buildings suit ants
Sidmouth has plenty of older houses, with solid walls, worn pointing, gaps round pipes and airy cavities that ants find easy to use. Black garden ants often nest under a patio, a path or a bit of lawn outside, then send workers into the house through a crack at the back door or a gap under a window sill.
Flats and terraces near the seafront can see the same thing, because ants follow warmth and food along walls and pipework. If you spot ants coming out of a skirting board or through a kitchen worktop edge, note where they appear, as that helps us trace the route back.
Guest houses, care homes and busy kitchens
Sidmouth has a lot of guest accommodation and retirement homes, and ants cause particular trouble there. Breakfast crumbs and sugary drinks are not the only draw, because ants will also take grease, pet food and any damp food waste. In shared kitchens, a trail across a worktop is something nobody wants to see.
We can treat around the building, work indoors where needed and talk through simple housekeeping that keeps the problem from returning, such as sealed food containers, wiped surfaces and bins kept shut. We arrange visits to fit around guests and residents wherever we can.
What we do when we visit
In Sidmouth, as anywhere, we start by asking where and when you see the ants, then look for the trail and the nest, both indoors and out. Treatment is targeted, aimed at the nest and the routes in, and we seal obvious entry points where it is sensible to do so. We also cover nearby Sidford and Sidbury in EX10, so just ask if you are on the edge of town. Ants can come back in warm weather, so we will explain what to watch for.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get so many ants in my Sidmouth kitchen in summer?
Warm weather makes ant colonies active, and workers go looking for sweet or greasy food. If you see a steady line, there is a nest close by, often under paving or beside a wall. Keeping food sealed helps, but finding the nest is what really stops the trail.
Are flying ants in Sidmouth the same as ordinary ants?
Yes, flying ants are normally the winged breeding form of the same garden ants, leaving the nest on warm, still days. They do not bite in any way that matters and do not last long, but lots of them indoors suggests a nest close to the building.
Can you treat ants at a guest house without closing the rooms?
Often yes. Much of the work is at the nest, outside, or in kitchens and service areas rather than guest rooms. We will talk through which areas need to be kept clear and for how long before we start, so you can plan around guests.