Banish ants by spraying 1 natural item with 'strong smell' on windowsills — makes them 'retreat'

The arrival of warmer weather often ushers in unwelcome house guests, and one of the most irksome culprits is ants. There's little that can match the annoyance of spotting a procession of tiny ants parading across your kitchen worktop, or even worse, discovering them invading your food cupboard.

If not nipped in the bud, an ant invasion can rapidly escalate, making it increasingly challenging to manage and eradicate. Ants are particularly active during spring and early summer, and while they generally prefer the great outdoors, they'll swiftly invade your home if you commit one particular faux pas, warns an expert.

Adeel Ul-Haq from Divan Beds explained: "Ant infestations in the spring are more common than you may think and the problem can be made much worse by eating in bed.

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"Ants are constantly on the lookout for food and while eating in bed may seem harmless, even the smallest crumb can send out a signal to an entire colony."

Once a scout ant locates food in your bedroom, it can then blaze a trail for hundreds of its comrades to follow, reports .

"Knowing that ants are crawling around your room and on your bed can be distressful and can create a feeling of discomfort and anxiety, both make it near impossible to sleep," said Adeel.

Fortunately, there's a straightforward solution to banish these pesky pests - and it's likely something you already possess.

Adeel revealed a thrifty solution for ant problems, stating: "White vinegar is a cheap deterrent for keeping ants out of your home. The strong smell makes it hard for them to navigate your home and the scent trails they leave behind are disrupted, this causes them to retreat from your home back into the garden."

Creating the natural ant repellent is a breeze; simply combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it generously to areas like window sills, doorways, and any crevices around the house.

You can even spritz the concoction around your bed to fend off the tiny invaders and ensure undisturbed slumber.

For those who are not fans of vinegar's pungent aroma, Adeel suggests an alternative: "If you don't like the smell of vinegar around your home you can also use strong natural smells like cinnamon, lemon juice and peppermint oil as they achieve the same effect and act as a natural deterrent, the upside of using a natural oil is your room also smells fresh."