Mrs Hinch fans say kitchen product we all have can be used to keep ants away

Dealing with one ant isn't a problem, but an infestation can be a nightmare for any homeowner. Ants are attracted to remnants of food in homes, following scent trails directly to forgotten morsels on floors.

Sometimes, it's not just the search for food that leads them inside - ants could also be seeking a snug place to nest. Once settled, they stay due to the nest being in a convenient location with plenty of food and a warm, secure environment, a problem that tends to worsen in the summer months.

They usually invade kitchens, always on the hunt for their favourite sweet snacks. For those looking to tackle ant invasions without resorting to chemicals, fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch have a natural solution: baking soda, reports the Express.

A distressed member of the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook group posted: "Help! I am getting ants in my house. Any recommendations to keep them at bay? I do have a dog in the home." Advocates for Mrs Hinch's tips suggest that baking soda can eliminate ants effectively.

One such enthusiast, Carla Edwards, recommended: "Sprinkling baking soda them around the ant colony like insecticide powder will get rid of them fast." Liz Gorman recounted her experience saying, "I had them last year and got some cheap baking soda from Asda, it was only 65p. The ants take it back to the nest and it kills them."

Judy Neil offered a straightforward tip: "Baking soda works really well. Just sprinkle it where you think they are coming in."

Jessica Paine spoke about her success with the method: "Bicarbonate of soda got rid of them instantly for me, didn't affect my pets and they don't come back this way." Jackie Preston shared her simple solution: "I read about using baking soda, so I put some down near the front door where they were coming in and I haven't seen any since."

According to experts at Midway Pest Management, the reason baking soda is successful against ants is it "expands when exposed to water", which can pose a fatal threat to small insects like ants.

They also highlight that baking soda doesn't act as a deterrent; it actually attracts ants who will flock to it. To enhance its efficacy, households may mix baking soda with sugar, which not only adds to its attractiveness but also increases its potency against ants.

The combined scent of sugar and baking soda is powerful at drawing ants due to their keen sense of smell, thereby affecting a larger population within the colony. Moreover, any powdered sweetener mixed with baking soda can be just as effective, confirming that homeowners have a potent homemade answer to ant problems.