How Do You Get Rid of Ants?

When you are standing in the shower in the morning, probably the last thing that you want to see is a stream of ants walking through the tiles to join you. Although this is far from a pleasant surprise, it is actually fairly common.

Ants come to the bathroom seeking out moisture and debris in the pipes that they can feed on.

Before you call a pest control company, consider the source of the ants. Pest control measures may kill the ants, but if there are structural deficiencies in your bathroom that are allowing the ants to get in, they will come back again.

Use these plumbing tips to get rid of ants in your bathroom.

Seal the Shower

The wood studs in the walls behind your bathtub or shower stall need to stay dry. If there is a leak around the tub or shower, water will seep into the walls and get the wood studs wet. The warm, damp environment of the wood studs is very appealing to ants, and they will make their way into your home to find that enticing aroma. You may need to call a plumber to seal your shower. 

In order to get rid of ants for good, you need to close up any leaks that could let them in.

• – Inspect the caulk around your tub or shower for cracks.
• – Pay special attention to the spaces between the tiles and around the rim of the tub.
• – Make sure that the shower is completely dry, and then seal the cracks in the caulk to prevent leaks.
• – Add a dab of caulk anywhere that there is a crack or a hole.
• – Gently smooth the caulk over. You can do this by just using your finger (although you may want to wear a glove). Allow the caulk to dry for a full 24 hours before you use the shower again.
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Keep it Clean

Certain species of ants have a very strong sense of smell and are attracted by the scent of hair and skin cells. Of course, your shower is a prime location for skin and hair cells, and this attracts ants to your shower. You can combat this by scrubbing the shower weekly and pulling the stopper to remove hair balls.

Don’t Feed the Beasts

You can deter ants by not providing them with a meal. Keep all food in the kitchen. Beyond that, don’t dump cups of coffee or juice down bathroom drains. That residue in the drain will be a nice snack for the ants.

If you already have ants in your bathroom drain, you can clean out the drain to get rid of them. Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, and then pour ½ cup of white vinegar down the drain. The mixture will bubble and foam, cleaning out the residue that is lining the drain pipes. Wait 10 minutes, and then flush the drain with hot water.

If this solution seems to work temporarily, but then the ants come back, and then it is probably time for you to have a professional drain cleaning. A plumber can use a hydro-jet to thoroughly clean all of the debris and residue from the drain.

If you can’t get rid of ants in your bathroom, call Scott English Plumbing. We will repair any cracks or leaks in your bathroom plumbing and clean your drain pipes completely with our hydro-jets. You don’t have to share your shower with the ants.

Just call Scott English Plumbing to schedule a service visit today.