Ants may not just stay in the kitchen but also frequent the bathroom at home, as it provides an inviting environment for them. The bathroom is warm, humid, has a steady water source, and food supply, which attracts ants. So, is there a way to prevent them from invading the bathroom?
According to a report by The Spruce website, entomologist Ngan Nguyen Rawlings from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company in Ohio, USA, stated that the bathroom can offer moisture, warmth, and food, making it an ideal habitat for ants.
Rawlings pointed out that the bathroom has many small holes and cracks that ants can easily use to enter. Additionally, the bathroom provides water, moisture, and food, essential for ants to sustain themselves.
For ants, human hair, dead skin cells, toothpaste, and soapy scum containing fat and body oils serve as food sources. Their sensitive sense of smell also attracts them to scents of products like shampoo.
Rawlings suggested tracking where ants enter from, as they follow specific routes. Once their entry points are found, the following three measures can be taken:
(1) Clean the Bathroom
Thoroughly clean all surfaces of the bathroom, remove soap scum from the tub, shower, and sink. Clean the sink, cover all open containers, especially lotions and toothpaste. Also, empty and clean the trash bins.
(2) Address Plumbing Issues
Remove hair from drains, unclog slow drains, repair leaky pipes and faucets, seal visible cracks.
(3) Handle Infestations
You can use one or more of the following methods to eliminate ants:
– Dish Soap and Water: Use a solution of dish soap and hot water to clean the area around ant entry points to remove pheromone traces left by ants in the bathroom.
– Diatomaceous Earth: Available at home and gardening stores, it acts as a desiccant, absorbing oils and lipids from ants’ exoskeletons, causing them to dry out and die. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on window sills, baseboards, floors, and wall cracks where ants are spotted.
– Borax and Sugar: This homemade mixture is toxic to ant colonies. Mix half a cup of sugar, half a cup of laundry borax, and a cup of water in a glass jar. Label the jar and place it out of reach of children. Dip cotton balls in the mixture and wipe all potential ant entry points in the bathroom. Ants are attracted to the sugar and water, bringing back the borax to the colony, poisoning them.
– Commercial Baits and Insecticides: For larger infestations, targeted commercial baits and insecticides can swiftly eliminate ants.
As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” In the long run, you can take the following measures to prevent ants from entering the bathroom:
– Address Moisture Issues: Repair leaky faucets, toilets, and pipes, keep drains clear to prevent ants from being attracted by water sources.
– Enhance Ventilation: Install and use exhaust fans to reduce moisture. Air dry wet towels and bathmats, and mop up standing water.
– Conduct Necessary Repairs: Replace water-damaged wood, seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and pipes, repair loose tiles and missing grout and sealant.
– Regular Cleaning: Wipe down sinks and tubs daily, thoroughly clean the bathroom at least once a week.
If the above methods are ineffective, or if the infestation is too large for you to handle, seek assistance from professionals.