Pouring boiling water directly onto ant nests can eliminate entire colonies for as little as 5p per treatment, according to a viral gardening hack shared by Melinda Martin on Instagram. The method requires no chemicals and uses a common household appliance—the kettle.
How the 5p Trick Works
In the video, Martin demonstrates boiling a full kettle and pouring the water directly over an ant mound in her garden. She explains that the process must be repeated six to eight times per session, and she recommends doing this multiple times a day for at least two consecutive days. “This method does work, but you have to be consistent, and you have to do it multiple times,” she says. She also advises poking holes in the nest after several pours to ensure the boiling water reaches the queen at the bottom.
The cost of boiling a full kettle in the UK averages around 5p, making this an inexpensive and chemical-free solution for ant infestations in patios, driveways, and other non-planted areas.
Where to Use Boiling Water Safely
Boiling water should only be applied to areas where no plants are growing, such as cracks in patios, concrete paths, or gravel. Pouring boiling water onto soil containing plant roots can kill the plants. Ant nests in garden beds or near desirable vegetation require alternative treatments.
Additional Ant Control Methods
For scent trails, vinegar spray (equal parts white vinegar and water) or soapy water (two tablespoons of dish soap per litre of water) can disrupt the chemical pheromones ants use to navigate. Lemon juice mixed with water (one part juice to three parts water) also works.
Baiting is highly effective for colony elimination. A mixture of equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar attracts ants and disrupts their digestive systems. Cornmeal placed near trails is carried back as food but cannot be digested, eventually killing the colony.
For immediate knockdown of visible ants, a spray bottle with a few drops of washing-up liquid and water kills on contact and removes scent trails.
Expert Advice on Ant Management
While ants are generally beneficial to gardens—aerating soil and preying on harmful insects—they become problematic when nesting under plant roots or in high-traffic areas. Boiling water offers a targeted, non-toxic solution for these nuisance nests, but patience and repetition are key to success, as Martin emphasises: “You have to be consistent.”
