In the spring and summer months, ants can be a common sight in and around your home. While most ants are harmless, some species can be a nuisance, particularly when they invade indoor areas like the bathroom. If you’ve been dealing with an ant infestation in your bathroom, here are a few tips on how to get rid of them.
Find Out Why Ants Are Attracted to Your Bathroom:
Many species of ants are drawn to sweet substances. If you have found ants in your bathroom, there is a good chance that they are after something sugary or soapy in your sink or tub. This could be toothpaste residue, soap scum or even urine on the floor around the toilet. If any of these items are left out for an extended period of time, it can lead to problems with ants.
Keeping the bathroom clean and organized will help to keep ants out as well. Removing food wrappers from the floor is important as they can become a source for ants as well as roaches.
Ants Will Travel Through Drainage Systems:
Another common reason why ants may be coming into your bathroom is that they are using the sink’s drainage system as a highway. While ants can travel through small openings, they will often use the sink’s trap for easy access. It is important to be aware of any cracks or openings in this area so that you can repair them if need be.
Ants Can Cause Some Serious Problems:
While it may seem like a simple problem, some species like fire ants are known to cause some pretty serious reactions in people. If you have found ants coming into your bathroom, there may be a greater infestation elsewhere in the house. Fire ants are particularly dangerous as they can release formic acid as a form of defense against predators. Formic acid can cause burns on the skin, which makes it even more important that you get rid of these ants as soon as possible.
Identify the type of ant and use the appropriate method to get rid of them:
Carpenter ants:
These types of ants burrow into wood and can be difficult to get rid of. This is why it’s important to call a pest control service when you notice signs of carpenter ant infestation, such as tiny holes in walls or piles of sawdust near the area they’re entering from.
Red / black ants:
These kinds of ants are usually attracted to sugary substances, making them ideal candidates for getting rid of with ant baits.
Fire ants/sugar ants
Getting rid of these types of ants usually means adding more moisture to the area they’re invading, or by sprinkling borax powder around your bathtub or sink. The ants will ingest the powder and die.
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Use a DIY ant bait to lure the ants to their death:
- Mix 1 tbsp borax powder and 2 tbsp sugar together in a small bowl.
- Add just enough water to create a paste, then spread it around your bathroom where you’ve seen the ants.
- The ants will eat the mixture and take it back to their nest. Once other ants eat this mixture, they’ll be eliminated, too.
- You can also use boric acid instead of borax powder. As long as the ants ingest the substance, they’ll die.
- Repeat this process until you’ve eliminated all of the ants in your bathroom
- Diatomaceous earth is another option you can try. It’s a powder that dehydrates ants, destroying them.
- When using diatomaceous earth, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t get wet. If the powder gets wet, it loses its effectiveness.
Spray vinegar around the areas where ants are spotted:
- Mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Spray this around the areas you’ve spotted ants. The mixture is acidic, so it’ll kill them on contact.
- If you have pets, be sure to keep them out of the room where you’ve sprayed for at least an hour before letting them back in.
- Repeat every day until you’ve eliminated the ants in your bathroom.
Use an ant trap to get rid of ants:
- Place the ant trap where you’ve spotted the ants. The best way to identify their path is by placing a few drops of food on the floor, then watch where they’re coming from and going.
- Leave the ant trap in place for two days.
- Discard any ants you find inside, then replace it with a new one.
- Repeat this process until the ants are eliminated.
Use adhesive tape or double-sided tape to catch them:
– Place some sort of bait on one side of the tape, such as syrup or jelly.
– Place the tape around the edges of your bathtub, then leave it overnight.
– Check the tape in the morning. Any ants that have been caught will be stuck to it.
Peppermint oil
Place a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and leave it near the ants’ nest. They’ll be attracted to the scent and will take it back to their colony where they’ll kill other ants. Repeat this process daily until you’ve eliminated the ants for good.
Citrus Peels:
Put citrus peels near areas where ants are spotted. They’ll be repelled by the scent and won’t return. You can also mix citrus peels with vinegar and water, then spray them around the areas where you’ve seen ants.
Repair cracks or space between walls where ants are getting in:
You’ll need to seal up any entry points, including cracks and spaces between your flooring, baseboards, wall joints, window panes etc. that the ants are using to get into your bathroom. It’s also a good idea to fill cracks that ants could use to get from one room of your home into another. This will prevent the ants from getting inside and multiplying.
Clean up all food debris and crumbs from the bathroom floor and surfaces:
It’s important to make sure there aren’t any leftover crumbs or spills on the floor and surfaces, which will attract ants. It’s also a good idea to wipe down all areas with a mixture of vinegar and water (1:1 ratio), followed by soap/dishwashing liquid.
Use natural pest control in your garden to prevent ants from setting up a colony:
You should also avoid planting fruit and vegetables near ant hills. If you do that, they’ll create a new nest in your garden, then grow into a giant infestation that’s difficult to get rid of. In addition to not planting anything near their ant hill, regular pest control will help prevent ants from entering your home.
Place baits such as sugar and borax near where you’ve seen the ants congregating:
- Borax is very toxic to ants.
- Add borax to sugar when making the bait, then spread it around areas where you’ve spotted them.
The best way to kill ants in your bathroom is to prevent them from even entering your home. If that’s not possible, place traps behind appliances or down near the floorboards.
Spraying vinegar around the bathroom, then sealing up entry points is also an effective way to get rid of ants.
For best results, use natural pest control in your garden so they don’t return after being eliminated.
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