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The ants go marching one by one… Oh no! If ants have invaded your bathroom, don’t fret. It can actually be quite common for ants to find their way into bathrooms. The key is to find what is attracting them and eliminate it. Once that is done the ants will move on to more appealing habitats.
In this article we’ll take a deeper dive into why ants might be in your bathroom and strategies to get rid of them.
Why Are Ants in my Bathroom?
On the surface, a bathroom may seem like a strange place for ants to show up. Ants are usually attracted to food remains and crumbs, right? There usually isn’t too much snacking going on in the bathroom?
If you take a deeper look though, bathrooms can actually be a great habitat for ants. They often have a food and water source. Bathrooms are warm and have entry points for ants. These are all attractants for these tiny unwanted guests.
Bathrooms tend to have a lot of standing water. Puddles, drains, leaks and shower condensation can all be common-place. As far as food, ants can make a meal out of more than what snack items may have been tossed in the bathroom trash. They can actually be attracted to and eat rotting hair found in your drains – yuck! Ants also aren’t that different from other pests and are always looking for a warm, preferably dark shelter. They are so tiny that it doesn’t take much space for them to make their way into your home. Ants can travel through and along pipes and squeeze through cracks and crevices. All of these things make the bathroom an ideal place for ants to call home.
The good news is that ants will venture off once these attractants are eliminated. Outlined below are several steps to take to reclaim your bathroom and rid your life of ants.
How to Get Rid of Ants in a Bathroom
Now you know why ants might be in your bathroom. The next step is to eliminate what is attracting them and then eliminate the ants. The steps below go into detail about how to get rid of ants in a bathroom.
How to Prevent Ants (And Keep Them Away for Good)
- Remove Clutter
- Vacuum
- Empty and Clean Trash Cans
- Dry Up Excess Water
- Keep Toiletries and Toothpaste Closed
- Clear Sinks and Tub Drains of Hair
Messy and cluttered bathrooms can be an ideal place for insects of all kinds to hang out. Make sure to keep clothes and towels picked up off the floor.
Once the clutter is cleared, the next step is to vacuum. Vacuuming helps to eliminate any crumbs, hair, dust and dirt. If you have ants, you can suck up as many as possible. Another cleaning tip is to take out your trash often. If you are having ants congregate around the trash, you may also need to wash out the trash can with soap and water if you don’t use a liner.
Keep your bathroom as dry as possible. When using the shower it’s important to turn on the fan to remove steam and condensation. It is also a good idea to towel up any puddled water or use a bath mat. Fix leaking facets and pipes as quickly as possible to avoid rot. If you do find a leak you will need to dry everything out very well and replace any damage done.
Perfumes, soaps and toothpaste can be attractive to ants. Make sure to close or cap them when done using them.
Clear bathroom sinks and drains of hair periodically. While disgusting to humans, ants can actually be attracted to the smell of fermented hair rotting in drain pipes.
Ants should be much less interested in your bathroom after you take these preventative steps.
Products to Eliminate Ants
If you have an active ant invasion you will likely need more than preventative measures to eliminate the ants from your bathroom. Our favorite ant bait is the TERRO liquid ant bait stations. These bait stations attract and kill ants. Ants take the poison back to the colony and as it circulates it begins to kill off the ants. Within a few days you will start to see fewer and fewer ants visiting the bait stations.
For an added layer of protection, the TERRO Ant Killer Spray is another good option for long-lasting repellent. The spray can be used indoor or outdoor and kills on contact.
If you notice that these steps are not eliminating your ant issue then it may be time to call an exterminator.
