Ants are a common pest; they are found everywhere.
These tiny insects can crawl into any space with ease and often go undetected. You start noticing their presence only after the infestation becomes severe. We all have seen ants in almost all parts of our home, such as your bedroom or even your car!
Your bathroom might just be the last place you would expect to find ants though!
Not all ant breeds nest in bathrooms. Some of the types usually seen in bathrooms are Argentine ants, pavement ants, Pharoah ants, and carpenter ants. These are the ones typically responsible for causing an infestation inside our homes.
Ants are usually drawn to places where they have easy access to food, water, and shelter.
Seeing one or two ants in your bathroom is no big deal. However, seeing an entire colony means its trouble. You need to take instant steps to eliminate and prevent further issues.
Getting rid of ants in your bathroom can be completed using DIY pest control techniques. So here is my guide for getting rid of them from your bathroom.
Bathrooms are damp and damp spaces. And if you have woody furniture pieces or wooden beams in your bath, it is the perfect place for ants to burrow into the rotting wood and make themselves at home.
These ants make attracted to rotting wood and damp zones. They can easily chisel their way into the wood, making it brittle, hollow, and useless.
And this kind of infestation happens during summers when the environment outside is too dry and hot for these insects.
But you are likely to find red ant infestation during the winter months.
The most common reason you have ants in your bathroom is the moisture!
How To Get Rid Of Ants In Bathroom Spaces
1. With the use of chemical ant-killers
The most convenient and easy way to end infestation instantly is by using chemicals. Though these chemical aerosols are effective, they also have severe risks.
One of the biggest issues with using chemical insecticides is that they are harmful when inhaled. So if you have tiny tots or pets at home, you need to make sure that they are away when you are spraying it.
Remember that few types of aerosol sprays are banned in different parts of the country due to their high toxicity.
So before you buy them, make sure to read the labels to be familiar with the chemical content. Some insecticides are loaded with highly toxic chemicals, which should be applied only by pest control professionals.
If you call in professionals, ensure that they have a proper license and registration.
2. Natural ways to get rid of ants in your bathroom
One of the best ways to get rid of ants from your bathroom is by pouring water. It is not as easy as it sounds. First, you need to find their nest or hive and then pour hot water on it. Enlarge the opening to the nest and pour the water on the entire nest. To get better results add some lemon juice to the water. This technique will kill the whole ant colony and end infestation.
Another method is to remove all pieces of rotting wood from your bathroom. As mentioned before, ants live inside damp and rotting pieces of wood. So if you can get rid of them, you also get rid of the ant problem.
It would be best if you also kept your bathroom clean and dry. Remove everything that attracts them into your living space. If they don’t have access to food, shelter, and water, they will leave your house.
Another natural ingredient that can eliminate ants is neem oil. It is a natural bio-oil that can get rid of many infestations. Neem oil can also drive away mosquitoes and roaches from your home. You need to spray concentrated neem oil on their nests, and they will be gone.
Another unique product used to kill ants is corn products. Ants cannot digest corn. So when they eat it and drink water afterward, the corn bits begin to expand, resulting in death.
There are several household objects you can use to kill ants. The use of boric acid has also been shown to be very effective in killing ants. Make a mixture of boric acid and sugar in the ratio of 1:10. Sprinkle them in your bathroom or on their nests. When the ants ingest this mixture, it will kill the entire colony. Borax can kill ants too.
There are also some household objects.
Deterring Ants From Your Bathroom
Keep your bath area clean and dry. If you have leaky water fixtures such as faucets, you need to get them repaired immediately. If moisture or dampness is present, the drywall or wood in your bathroom will become an excellent source of nourishment for ants and other pests.
Fix all other sources of water leakages in and around your home and property. Get them rectified if there are roof leaks, water drainage problems, or plumbing issues.
Repair and replace all the structural wood damages caused by termites or moisture. Ants are not interested in wood with a water content of less than 15%.
Ensure that you leave enough clearance space between the soil and the structural wood.
Make sure that there is sufficient ventilation inside your bathroom
If you have any wooden debris in and around your home, such as twigs, branches, stumps, etc., make sure they are away from your house.
Trim the plants and trees in contact with your doors, windows, or other home parts.
Install an exhaust fan in your bathroom. It will draw the moist air out while you are showering. It is a good idea to leave the exhaust running for at least 20 minutes after taking a shower. Also, don’t even think about carpeting your bathroom.
An ant infestation is a serious issue. All the methods mentioned above effectively get rid of ants in bathroom spaces.
But if you want to be more effective, we suggest that you find out the species that invaded your bathroom (pro pest control tip) because the solution can depend on the types of ants you are dealing with. This will help you find the right solution to get rid of ants.
After spending the entire night lying awake in a cockroach-infested hotel, I have driven myself to build knowledge on all things pest control. Since then, I've tested pest control techniques to see what works and what doesn't. Now, here I am giving you all the info I have learned!
