An ant infestation in your bathroom can arise due to certain factors. Read on to understand these factors and what steps you can take to mitigate this pest invasion.
Why do I have ants in my bathroom? Ants can invade bathrooms due to their wet environment. Within bathrooms, ants may be present in rotten window ledges or other spaces that are accumulating water. Stagnant water and excessive moisture in your bathroom may lead to an ant infestation.
Find out further details about how you can prevent ants from entering your bathroom and how to eliminate them or drive them away.
Why are ants in my bathroom!?
Ants are commonly found in many homes. They may be found in bathrooms in addition to other areas of the house. Carpenter ants could be responsible for the infestation.
Other ants like the Argentine, Pharoah and pavement ants may also be present. These are the most common types of ants found in residences. In addition, there is also a smaller possibility that you may have other kinds of ants.
Ants normally come into homes in search of shelter, water and food. Since water is one of the reasons that ants enter bathrooms, you should try to keep them as dry as possible.
Seeing one or two ants occasionally in your bathroom may not be too problematic. But seeing a large number of ants regularly can be a source of concern.
You will then have to get serious about controlling this infestation because it can possibly get worse if not addressed.
Ants can enter your home through:
- Crevices and cracks around foundation walls and windows
- Via air conditioning and heating ducts
- Through ventilation openings located in attics
- Branches, utility lines and shrubs that are directly in contact with your home
If you are going to deal with the infestation on your own, then you will have to locate the source, that is, you must pinpoint the entry points as well as the nest itself.
Take a look at all parts of your bathroom to find the location of the colony. There is one thing you can do to make it easier to find the nest. Simply track the ants as they move across your bathroom. You will soon locate the colony.
How to keep ants out of your bathroom
Ants taking refuge within your bathroom could be coming out of a nest located in a wooden beam or similar structure in your house. The nest may also be located behind the walls or under the flooring. This could possibly be just the satellite nest. The parent nest could be further away from your bathroom than the satellite nest.
You can take several steps to prevent ants from encroaching in your bathroom. This includes blocking entry points, eliminating ant hills within your yard and repairing plumbing leaks in your house. These steps can help to control ant infestations.
There may be different kinds of ants living outside of your property. One such species could be carpenter ants. These ants often build their nest in moist wood, tree stumps, tree roots and rotting trees as well. They may also find a home in boards or logs lying around the ground or buried underneath the soil.
Carpenter ants are usually not treated as a nuisance if they are living outside of your home. The problem begins when they begin foraging for food and start building nests within your home. Carpenter ants can cause considerable structural damage to your property while boring holes through wooden structures within your home to construct their nest.
You can implement the following measures to reduce the chances of ant infestations inside your home.
1. Repair all sources of leakages within your property
Nobody likes finding ants in their bathroom. Not only are they a nuisance, but they can also be a sign that your home is not as clean as it could be. If you’re dealing with an ant problem, one of the best things you can do is to identify and repair all sources of leakages.
Ants are attracted to moisture, so even a small drip can attract a whole colony. Check all plumbing fixtures, including sinks, toilets, and showers, for any signs of leaks. Also, take a look at your gutters and downspouts to make sure that they are not clogged or leaking.
2. Replace or repair all wood structure damaged by water or termites
In most cases, ants do not infest wood that has less than 15 percent water content. If you’re dealing with an ant problem, you may be tempted to use chemical pesticides. However, these products can be harmful to your family and pets, and they may only provide temporary relief. A better solution is to take steps to prevent ants from entering your home in the first place. One way to do this is to repair any wood damage that could provide them with an entry point. This means replacing any water-damaged or termite-damaged wood in your bathroom.
3. Make sure that there is enough clearance between structural wood and soil
When it comes to keeping ants out of your bathroom, one of the most important things to do is make sure that there is enough clearance between structural wood and soil. Ants are attracted to wood because it provides them with shelter and a food source.
If there is too much clearance, ants will be able to build nests in the wood and access the bathroom through cracks and crevices. To prevent this from happening, it is important to fill any gaps or cracks with caulk or another sealant. In addition, you should regularly check around doors and windows to make sure that ants are not entering the bathroom that way.
4. Ensure sufficient ventilation in your home and attic
Ants are attracted to moisture, so it’s no surprise that they often end up in bathrooms. Unfortunately, once they find their way into your home, they can be difficult to get rid of. One of the best ways to prevent ants from entering your bathroom is to ensure that there is sufficient ventilation.
This will help to keep the space dry and free of any potential food sources. You can also try using a dehumidifier to further reduce the moisture levels in the air. If you already have an ant problem, there are a number of DIY solutions that you can try, such as using vinegar or Borax. However, if the problem persists, it’s best to call in a professional exterminator.
5. Remove stumps, logs and other wooden debris from areas surrounding your property
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give much thought to the wooded areas around your property. However, if you’re trying to keep ants out of your bathroom, it’s important to remove any stumps, logs or other wooden debris from these areas.
Ants are attracted to wood because it provides them with a place to build their nests. If there’s wood close to your bathroom, they’re more likely to find their way inside. In addition, wood also provides a perfect hiding place for ants.
They can easily hide in the crevices and cracks of a stump or log, making it difficult for you to spot them. By removing these potential hiding places, you’ll make it easier to keep ants out of your bathroom.
6. Trim all trees and shrubs that are in contact with your home
Trees and shrubs are great for providing shade and privacy, but they can also be a haven for ants. If you have a problem with ants in your bathroom, one of the best things you can do is to trim any trees or shrubs that are in contact with your home.
By trimming back any overhanging branches, you can make it more difficult for ants to access your bathroom. In addition, it’s a good idea to remove any fallen leaves or debris from around the base of your trees and shrubs. This will help to keep the area around your home clean and free of potential hiding places for ants.
7. Seal all crevices and cracks on your property structure
Most ants are small and harmless, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your bathroom. If you’ve noticed ants crawling around your sink or tub, it’s time to take action. Sealing up cracks and crevices is the best way to keep ants out of your bathroom. Ants are attracted to moisture, so they’re often drawn to bathrooms in search of water.
By sealing up cracks and crevices, you can deny them access to your bathroom and make it less attractive as a nesting site. Start by looking for cracks and crevices around doors and windows. You can also check underneath sinks and behind toilets.
Once you’ve found all the potential entry points, seal them up with caulk or another sealant. This will create a barrier that ants can’t cross. With all potential entry points sealed, you can enjoy an ant-free bathroom.
8. Make sure that all door frames and windows are properly sealed
Most ants are small and harmless, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your bathroom. If you’ve noticed ants crawling around your sink or tub, it’s time to take action. Sealing up cracks and crevices is the best way to keep ants out of your bathroom.
Ants are attracted to moisture, so they’re often drawn to bathrooms in search of water. By sealing up cracks and crevices, you can deny them access to your bathroom and make it less attractive as a nesting site. Start by looking for cracks and crevices around doors and windows. You can also check underneath sinks and behind toilets.
Once you’ve found all the potential entry points, seal them up with caulk or another sealant. This will create a barrier that ants can’t cross. With all potential entry points sealed, you can enjoy a ant-free bathroom.
Take all possible steps to prevent ants from being motivated into entering your home. To improve your chances of eliminating the infestation, you should try to figure out which species has invaded your home. This is helpful for getting rid of ants since you can use this information to pinpoint the right treatment.
Getting rid of ants in your bathroom
There are several steps that you can take to reduce the ant population inside your bathroom and home. These steps should be followed after the aforementioned steps have been taken to prevent the entry of further ants inside your home and washroom.
You can utilize several natural remedies to get rid of ants. These natural methods have advantages over harmful pesticides and chemicals since they are safe and non-toxic.
Essential oils
Certain essential oils are good ant repellents such as tea tree oil, citrus oil and peppermint oil. You can make an effective ant repellent spray using the following simple method.
Fill up a clean spray bottle with a quarter cup of water. Add 7 drops of citrus oil, 16 drops of peppermint oil and 16 drops of tea tree oil. Shake the mixture vigorously and then spray the solution around your bathroom. Just make sure that you avoid using this spray in areas where you process edibles like the kitchen. For these areas you can spray a mixture that has 7 drops of lemon oil and 16 drops of peppermint oil.
You can also make a natural ant bait using essential oils. For this, you will need two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of borax and water. Add equal parts of sugar and borax to a bowl and mix well. Fill up a clean container with this mixture and add a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint oil. Place this container near the areas where you have seen ants. The sugar will attract the ants while the borax will kill them.
Vinegar
Vinegar spray is a very effective ant-repellant. Prepare a mixture by pouring equal amount of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and mixing it vigorously before use. You can also use this vinegar spray to clean your bathroom surfaces and get rid of the ant pheromones that may be present. This will help to prevent future infestations.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (or DE) is a popular garden and home product that can kill all sorts of insects without causing any harm to human beings or pets. They are also safe for the environment. DE is made up of rocks that contain tiny fossils known as diatoms.
This substance can be crushed into a powder the grains of which have numerous sharp points. These sharp edged grains can cut into insects and eliminate them. You can sprinkle generous amounts of the powder where you see plenty of ants.
Clean out the scent trails
While traversing your property, ants are capable of leaving behind a scent trail. This will guide other ants to food sources and back to the colony just like street signs. Of course, this trail won’t be visible to you. Ants can exit your bathroom to find sources of food such as kitchen garbage bin or cat food bowl. You should eliminate these scent trails simply by washing them off dishwashing liquid.
Fill up a small container with water and squirt some dishwasher liquid inside. Notice the trial along which ants are traveling to and from the colony. Wash off this trail with the mixture that you just prepared. You will have to repeat this step a number of times to fully eliminate the invisible scent trail.
Castille soap spray
This is an old folk remedy that you can employ to finish off ants. You can purchase castile soap from traditional general stores and health stores. Once you buy it, you should crush about a quarter cup of soap in a quart of water. Add in a few drops of peppermint oil. Mix the blend thoroughly and then spray it where ants are to be found to kill them.
One very well known Castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. It is one of the best choices for making ant killer liquids.
Cayenne pepper
If you can stand the heat, cayenne pepper is a very effective ant repellent. Just sprinkle some of this powder near entry points and other strategic places in your bathroom. You can also make a spray by mixing water, vinegar, and cayenne powder in equal amounts. Spray this solution around the house to keep ants away for good.
Traps
Several insect traps are available that are toxin-free. These are very safe to use where you have kids and pets. Traps are lined with pheromones that attract ants and other insects into the box where they get stuck.
Chalk
Chalk is also a useful substance to deter ants. You can purchase chalk from the stationary store and grind it into powder form. If you want, you can also purchase powdered chalk in a bottle from the hardware store.
Aspartame
Although it is not a natural remedy, it is still effective. Aspartame poisons ants that eat it. Just sprinkle a generous amount of aspartame powder around the areas where ants are seen.
Citrus peels
You can also use citrus peels to repel ants and other insects. Just place the peels in areas where ants are seen or likely to enter the house. You can also make a spray by boiling citrus peels in water for some time. Allow the mixture to cool and then transfer it to a spray bottle. Use this citrus peel spray around the perimeter of your house.
Related questions
Why are there ants in my toilet?
Ants close to the bathroom can signify they’re interested in your pee. This brings ants to a bathroom. But if you do get ants and you exercise and eat wholesome food, odds are you’ll be just fine. There is a rare condition known as benign glycosuria wherever your body expels sugar together with your pee.
Why are ants coming out of my bathroom sink?
Ants come into the toilet seeking outside debris and moisture in that the pipes they can feed on. Pest control steps might kill the ants, however if you can find structural deficiencies on your toilet which are enabling the ants to get inside, they will come back.
How do you get rid of ants in your shower?
In the event that you presently have ants on your shower drain, then you can wash out the drain to get rid of those first. Then, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of white vinegar down the same drain. The mixture will bubble and foam, cleaning out that the residue that’s lining that the drain pipes.