Did you know your bathroom is vulnerable to pest infestations? The main reason you may find pests in your bathroom is that they are attracted by moisture. The moisture and humidity normally found in your bathroom serve as a perfect habitat for many types of insects. Think about it, where else are they going to find a handy supply of water, food, and shelter? Not only will they have access through drains, but they can also enter through cracks, crevices, and windows.
In this blog, we will help you identify the most common bathroom insects and the easiest prevention methods.
Silverfish
Silverfish are small, pearl gray insects with elongated bodies and antennas whose movements look like swimming fish. Like most insects, they love moist, warm places, including bathrooms, but they can be found throughout your home. Silverfish are attracted to homes because buildings contain some of their favorite food sources, including paper, carbohydrates, and mold. The best way to discourage silverfish is to minimize moisture in your kitchen and bathroom, especially around pipes and plumbing fixtures. Try to seal all cracks and crevices and keep your windows closed. Keeping floors, corners, and counters clean will go a long way in making your bathroom less inviting.
Drain flies
Tiny, fuzzy, brown-colored insects with wings – drain flies (also known as moth flies and sewer flies) often appear around bathroom sinks and drains, and point to a plumbing problem in the main sewer line. These flies prey on decaying organic matter, are annoying and can carry disease.
Is there a way to get rid of drain flies naturally? The simplest method to get rid of drain flies is pouring boiling water down the drain 2-3 times a day. If that doesn’t work well, try pouring in a mixture of baking soda + salt + vinegar and then flush out the pipe with hot water.
Cockroaches
Roaches in the bathroom are very common, particularly in older homes. Cockroaches love warm, moist, dark environments and are adept at entering homes through even the smallest cracks. With heavy rains, cockroaches can crawl up into pipes to escape floodwaters, causing an infestation in your home.
The first thing you need to make sure of is that your bathroom isn’t cockroach-friendly. Removing cockroach access points into your home can go a long way to prevent an infestation. Seal drain pipe, fix broken faucets, maintain dryness, seal crevices, and cover drains with a stopper. Don’t leave any trash, debris, or food out on your countertops at any time but especially at night when roaches are most active.
Spiders
Spiders are predators that feed on small insects such as silverfish, drain flies, and even small cockroaches. An area or room with high humidity will naturally attract a food source for spiders and represents a perfect hunting space for prey. Therefore, the first step in getting rid of spiders is to get rid of their food source. Seal any cracks between the baseboards and the floor and wall with caulk. Get rid of clutter and make sure hard-to-reach areas get cleaned consistently.
We hope this article has given you some insights to help you prevent common bathroom pests. If you fear the infestation is getting out of control, you should call someone who is qualified and trained in pest control. A professional exterminator gets to the bottom of the problem and ensures a safe, effective, and long-term solution.