You have finally finished your long day at work and you’re looking forward to relaxing. You go up to the bathroom, start running a hot bath, and wait for it to fill up. As soon as the tub is almost full of soapy water, you see some tiny black creatures scurry across the floor, and before you know it, they all run into the bathroom, under the sink, and behind the toilet. You squeal in disgust. How could there be ants in your bathroom? This is a question that many people ask themselves when these creepy crawlers show up in their homes. Fortunately, we’ll reveal all you need to know about why I have ants in my bathroom?
Why Do I Have Ants In My Bathroom?
Ants are attracted to food spills, and a dirty bathroom is more likely to have spills. They are also attracted to moisture, so your bathroom may have ants if it is not properly sealed. if you have ants in your bathroom, it’s likely that they are coming from outside. You can try to keep the bathroom clean and dry to prevent the ants from coming inside. Seal any cracks in the bathroom that may be allowing the ants to come in. You can also install some kind of ant traps or insecticide spray near any entrances that the ants are using.
What Type Of Ants Are In My Bathroom?
- There are many types of ants that can inhabit your bathroom and other areas in your home. The first thing you should know is that there are two different types of ants – indoor ants and outdoor ants.
- Indoor ants are much more difficult to exterminate than their outdoor counterparts. There are about 900 species of ants native to the United States, and most of them are indoor pests.
- Ants in your bathroom can be a variety of species, including Argentine, Asian, Carpenter, Odorous House, and Pharoah ants.
- You may have more than one type in your bathroom. There are several characteristics that let you know what type of ant you have in your bathroom.
- The Argentine ant is reddish-brown, black, or a combination of both colors. The Asian ant is dark brown or black. The odorous house ant is a dark brown or reddish-brown insect with a pheromone scent. The carpenter ant is a metallic blue-black insect. The pharaoh ant is entirely brown or black without any other colors.
How To Get Rid Of Ants In The Bathroom?
Clean Up Messes Immediately
Ants don’t live on sugar alone. They also like protein-rich food and will actively scour your bathroom for anything that could nourish them. If you have some sort of protein-rich food item in your bathroom, like a hair or cosmetic product, they might find their way in and start a colony. One of the best ways to get rid of ants in the bathroom is by cleaning up messes as soon as you find them. Ants will take advantage of any protein-rich food source that is left out for an extended period of time. You also have to be careful about cleaning products, as some of them could be toxic for ants.
Use Boric Acid
Boric acid is a widely used ant killer and is toxic to many types of insects, including ants. It works by being ingested by ants and then causing damage to their internal organs. Boric acid is widely available and can be used in several different ways to kill ants in the bathroom. Here are a few examples: – Boric Acid Trap – You can use a boric acid trap to kill ants in the bathroom, particularly if you have ants that are actively foraging for food, like sugar ants. Boric acid traps are very effective because ants are always on the move and are likely to come across the poison. – Boric Acid Sprays – Boric acid is also commonly used in ant sprays. These sprays can be very effective at killing ants and other insects. There are two downsides to using boric acid sprays in your bathroom, though. First, they are not very environmentally friendly. Second, you have to make sure to keep children out of the bathroom or put the spray high up where they can’t get to it.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural product that is often used to get rid of ants. It is made from the remnants of dead algae and is harmless to humans. Diatomaceous earth works by drying out the exoskeletons of ants and killing them. It can be used in different ways: Sprinkled around your home’s foundation, applied to surfaces in your bathroom, or used as dust that you can vacuum up. Diatomaceous earth is a great natural ant killer and will not leave behind any harmful residues.
Use Natural Sprays
Natural sprays are a great way to get rid of ants in the bathroom. You can either make your own spray or buy a commercial product. When you make your own spray, be sure to follow safe practices and make sure your spray is not harmful to humans. Commercial sprays can be a little pricey, but they are likely to be more effective at getting rid of ants than a homemade solution. These sprays are designed to kill ants and are very potent. Natural sprays are made from plants or oils that ants hate. They are very effective at getting rid of ants in the bathroom.
How Do Prevent Ants From Coming Back?
Keep all food away from your home
Keeping food out of the house is the absolute best way to prevent ants from coming into your house. Ants are drawn to food, and they are capable of finding their way into your home to get it through cracks as small as 1/32 of an inch wide. Besides keeping food out, you should also keep any crumbs swept up and make sure there aren’t any leaky trashcans nearby that ants could crawl into. If you have very small children, you may consider installing a childproof screen on your kitchen cabinets, keeping food out of the kitchen cabinets, and storing food in sealed containers to avoid a food-based infestation. Keeping food out of your house will also help avoid other pests like mice, cockroaches, and even rats from getting in.
Use vinegar and boric acid to kill the ants
You can use vinegar and boric acid to kill the ants. You can create a homemade ant killer by mixing boric acid and vinegar. You can also add some sugar to the mixture. Vinegar is a great way to get rid of ants on a counter or floor. Boric acid is a very effective ant poison, especially against the tropical species that are common in Florida. So be sure to put it in places where children and pets can’t get to it. You can also use a commercial ant spray to kill the ants in the house. These sprays can be very effective, but make sure you follow the directions on the label to make sure you don’t use too much and create a dangerous situation for your family.
Seal up all entry points
Ants can find tiny holes or cracks to get into your home. You can seal up all entry points to keep the ants from coming in. First, you should clean everything, including the window sills, the baseboards, and the wall edges to remove any traces of food. Then, use something like duct tape to seal any cracks you see. For larger holes such as ones that are caused by termites, you’ll need to call in a professional. If you seal up all the entry points, the ants will have no way to get into your home, making it much easier to kill them and keep them out once and for all.
Use natural ingredients to keep ants at bay
Besides cleaning your home and sealing up all the entry points, you can also use natural ingredients to keep ants at bay. Peppermint oil can be used to keep ants away. You can also use cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, or vanilla extract. Just make sure you use them in a non-toxic way, as these are very potent. You can make an all-purpose spray with these ingredients or put them in a bowl of water and put the bowl near the ant problem areas. You can also use citrus peels to keep ants away. Put the peels from oranges, lemons, or limes in areas where you have seen ants or are worried about them. The citrus will leave a smell that ants don’t like, and it will keep them away.
Conclusion
Ants are social insects that rely on their colony to survive. If you want to prevent ants from coming back, you have to exterminate the entire colony, including the queen. Once you get rid of the ants in your bathroom, you have to take steps to prevent them from coming back. You can do this by eliminating food sources, mopping the floor, and using insecticides.
