Ants in the Bathroom
Most people expect to find ants in their kitchens, especially during the spring and summer months. However, when you see ants in your bathroom, it can be a bit unsettling. There’s no food in there, so why are these little insects choosing to hang out in this location of your home?
Sadly, an ant problem can happen anywhere, but the real issue is that when you see them in a bathroom, it’s usually an indication of excessive moisture. You need to find the source of the infestation. Is the situation something you can manage, or do you need professional pest control to help?
Ants are determined little creatures that can inhabit the strangest places. It’s common to find them crawling in your drains, around the trash, or even in the sink. While seeing them in the bathroom doesn’t seem logical to you, there’s a good reason why they’ve chosen this room as a place to nest.
Why are Bathrooms Appealing to Ants?
Why is this room so appealing to insects when there’s nothing to eat and it’s not nearly as appealing as the kitchen. Ironically, these critters find nourishment in things you wouldn’t consider edible. Here are a few reasons why your bathroom is a hotel of luxuries for many species of ants.
Shelter
Ants need shelter just as much as food, and your bathroom delivers. While this area is a busy place for you, it’s a haven for a tiny insect. The average household ant is around one-sixteenth inch long, so you can imagine they look at the big world around them and are scared. They need a place that will shield them from predators both big and small, and your bathroom provides that safety.
Food
Many people work outside the home and have 101 things to do daily, and it’s only natural that the bathroom is sometimes neglected. The tub might need to be cleaned, the sink might have toothpaste spills on it, and there could be a pile of dirty clothing. Life happens and the bathroom is often overlooked as things like the kitchen and laundry seem more critical.
When you slack off on things like taking out the trash or cleaning up spills in any room of the home, ants, roaches, and other insects can smell enticing things from a mile away. Take, for instance, toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, your toothpaste is sweet, making brushing a more pleasant experience. While toothpaste doesn’t have sugar, manufacturing companies use artificial sweeteners to make their product more appealing.
Those blobs of toothpaste left in the bottom of your bathroom sink can be a meal for many ants. On top of the toothpaste residue are skin cells, a collection of hair, and crumbs that can make their way into this space. Since the ants are so tiny and can get into every little area, they can easily find something to eat that you can’t even see. While ants would rather have chocolate or icing from a delicious cake, they will take whatever they can find.
Sweet Smells
An ant can smell anywhere from 20-50 feet from their location. That means a spritz of perfume or cologne you sprayed in the morning might be enough to get their attention. While they won’t eat such items, the smell is enough to alert them that there’s possible food nearby.
The same can be said for fragrant soaps and refreshers. These items often mimic the smells of sweet flowers or bakery items, which tricks the ants into thinking there’s a food source nearby. It kind of makes you want to rethink those banana bread and hot chocolate-scented candles.
Stagnant Water and Clogged Drains
It’s not uncommon for drains to become clogged over time. Hair, skin cells, and a plethora of other things get into these tiny pipes and cause them to run slowly. A slow-running drain eventually becomes clogged. Have you ever seen water standing near the surface of your pipes?
Water in the drain is an inconvenience, but it’s also a sign that you need a plumber. However, ants need a water supply, and any water sitting in the pipes is a stagnant pool that will suit their needs.
Dirt and Grime
Did you know that a bathroom can have enough dirt and grime to sustain a large colony of ants? While it may not appear to be filthy, even things in the corners and an overflowing wastebasket can be problematic. When you think about this area of the home from that perspective, it makes you wonder if your bathroom is truly clean.
How Did Ants Get Into the Bathroom?
You must remember the size of the ants before considering how they got into the bathroom. They can squeeze through the smallest cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and pipes. They follow the scent of food or moisture, and once one ant finds it, it leaves a trail for others to follow.
They can nest in the walls, under the floor, or in other hidden spots. When ants are out foraging, they can easily find their way into your bathroom if there are any openings. Even a small gap around a pipe or a crack in the wall can be enough for ants to get in and start exploring.
While they would prefer your kitchen, if you’ve done a great job securing food and cleaning up there may be nothing to appease them in this area. So, going to the bathroom is the next logical place to find shelter and food.
Reclaiming Your Space with Helpful Tips
When you have an ant infestation in your bathroom, there are several things that you can do to get rid of them. However, remember that these tips and tricks listed below can be used for small to medium-sized issues. When you have an infestation, you need professional help. No essential oil or spray will take care of a large-scale problem.
1. Sweet but Deadly Cotton Ball Trick
One of the easiest and most cost-effective methods is an old-school cotton ball trick. Mix two tablespoons of sugar with two tablespoons of borax or boric acid. Put enough water in the dish to make the powders liquify. Soak cotton balls in this mixture and place them in the areas of the problem.
This little gimmick works so well because the ants are attracted to it. After all, it’s sweet. They will take chunks of it back to their nest to feed the others. Any ants that eat this mixture will perish, but their pheromone trail will alert the others to return to the cotton ball for food.
2. Essential Oils
Many people look for environmentally friendly ways to control pests. Ants aren’t viewed as dirty or dangerous because they don’t carry disease and don’t have the stigma that comes with something like roaches or bedbugs.
Some things will work on these tiny insects, while others might not. For instance, essential oils are an excellent way to address an ant problem without chemicals. If you have children or pets in the home, it might be one of the better methods.
Ants loathe the smell of tea tree oil, peppermint, and sweet lemon. You can also add some spices to the mix to make it even more of a deterrent for them. Ants won’t go anywhere near spices like cayenne or black pepper, as the smell makes them unable to breathe. Trial and error will help you find the essential oils that work best and the quantity that can be the most beneficial.
3. Baits
Bait works well for ants because it plays off the ants’ natural behavior and communication. Ants are social, live in colonies, and have a pecking order. When an ant finds food, it leaves a trail of pheromones, which is chemicals other ants can smell.
This trail leads the rest of the colony to the food source. Baits, which usually contain sugary or greasy materials, are designed to attract insects. When ants find the bait, they pick it up and carry it back to their nest, where they feed it to the others. The poison spreads throughout the entire colony, killing many ants and reducing the population.
4. Traps
Traps lure ants inside with bait and contain and kill them. Some traps contain sticky substances that ants get stuck in, while others have small openings that ants can enter but can’t escape. By placing these traps in areas where ants are commonly seen, you can catch many of them. They’re the easiest method that leaves no mess and usually doesn’t have any impact on pets or small children.
Addressing the Source
Finding and eliminating what attracts them is essential to getting rid of the ants in your bathroom. With a bit of investigative work, it should be easy to find.
1. Identify and Remove Water and Food Resources
It’s imperative to check for any food or water sources that can draw them to your home. Clean up any crumbs, spills, or soap residue that might draw ants in. Remember to wipe down counters and sinks regularly, and don’t leave standing water anywhere in the bathroom. Fix any leaks around faucets, pipes, or the toilet, as you must remove the ants’ water supply.
2. Seal off Entry Points
Next, look for entry points where ants might be entering. Scrutinize the bathroom for cracks, gaps, or holes around windows, doors, and pipes. Seal these openings with caulk or weatherstripping to block the ants’ access.
Pay close attention to areas where pipes enter the bathroom, as these can be common entryways. Also, check other rooms connected to ensure ants aren’t finding another way inside.
3. Keep it Clean
Lastly, take steps to prevent ants from coming back. Keep the bathroom clean and dry, and store any food items, like toothpaste or mouthwash, in sealed containers. Regularly empty the trash can and use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid.
If you notice ants outside the house, consider using barriers or sprays around the foundation to keep them from getting inside. By addressing the sources of attraction and entry points, you can reduce the chances of ants invading your bathroom again.
Turning to the Professionals for Assistance
When you’ve tried everything to eliminate ants in your bathroom, and nothing is working, it’s time to call a pest control professional. Pest control companies have the expertise and experience needed to handle severe infestations. They know exactly where to look and how to get rid of ants.
Professionals can identify the type of ants you’re dealing with and understand their habits, which helps them accurately target the problem. Pest control companies can also access stronger and more effective products than you can buy in stores. These professional-grade treatments can eliminate ants more thoroughly and prevent them from returning.
Over-the-counter products might only kill the ants you see, but pest control experts can treat the entire colony, including the queen, which provides a long-term solution. They also know how to use these products safely to avoid harming people or pets in your home. In addition to having access to better products and vast knowledge, pest control professionals can provide ongoing maintenance and advice to keep your home ant-free.
Technicians use their trained eyes to spot potential entry points and can give tips on keeping your home less attractive to ants. By calling a pest control professional, you get a comprehensive approach to dealing with your ant problem, which will ensure it’s fully resolved and unlikely to recur. Ants can be problematic to manage, but when you have the right tools and team working with you, it can be tackled with ease.