Ways to Flush Bugs from the Bathroom
If you’re not an entomologist, no chance seeing tiny black bugs in your bathroom can make you happy.
Those tiny creepy crawlers you see coming out of the drainpipe and gathering around the sink and tub drains are drain flies. Other names are drainage moths, filter flies, and sewage flies.
Drain flies look like tiny black bugs with wings and are inclined to crop up around drains in tubs and sinks. They can also show up in quite large numbers when they make their way indoors. These flies reproduce in organic matter that is in a late stage of decay and are often found breeding inside sewers and drains. They frequently enter the structure by escaping from the sewer main through a break in the line or through dry drain taps linked with drains that are seldom used.
Fortunately, unlike some insects, these black bugs won’t spread infectious diseases or harm fabrics and wood in your home. However, they are extremely bothersome and rather repulsive. Plus, you should get rid of them since they may cause allergies or bite you.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to catch a glimpse of these tiny bugs in the bathroom without thorough observation. When not in motion, they remain tight in the group and can give the impression of a speck of dust or dirt from a distance. However, as soon as you move something close by, you’ll scare them, and you’ll see a quick scattering of the crowd.
Unfortunately, however, you can find some other types of insects besides tiny black bugs in the bathroom, such as:
- Cockroaches – These bugs are the most infamous creatures you can find in your bathroom. They can be spotted in bathrooms where they like to dwell thanks to plenty of water. They can also cause worries because an infestation can be quite difficult to control.
- Silverfish – Though more commonly found in kitchens, silverfish can also get comfy in bathrooms as a result of mold growth caused by moisture buildup. In addition to feeding on mold, these silvery-gray pests love moist and humid habitats and usually gather around drains.
- Mold mites – Constant moisture in the bathroom can produce mildew and mold, and when it does, mold mites may grow into a problem. Mold mites are teeny tiny white to tan bugs that feed on mold. Like cockroaches, they reproduce rapidly and produce allergens that can trigger an allergic response in some people.
- Fungus beetles – These bugs are mold-eaters and they will contaminate the bathroom where there is an elevated level of moisture.
- House centipedes – These nasty bugs can be found in your bathroom typically because they are hunting for other bathroom bugs. They usually move into homes by way of cracks and openings, but once they’re inside, they can lay eggs and create an infestation.
- Spiders – Out of all the pests that make themselves welcome in our bathrooms, spiders might be the most contentious. Some people practically embrace them as an ally in the battle against nuisance bugs. However, other persons (including myself) are scared stiff and want them removed asap. Like the centipede, they’re present because they are stalking their prey.
By the way, did you know that entomologists have identified 800,000 different insect species?
So, why are these bugs in my bathroom in the first place?
The chief reason you see these bugs in your bathroom is simple to remember– moisture. Bugs worship moisture and are drawn to any areas where it exists.
The best-case circumstance for an insect is anywhere that has moisture or humidity, plus food. With that in place, they aren’t prone to depart any time soon, even if it involves sharing space with you. Some bugs end up in sinks and tubs because they just fell in and can’t get back out. Others simply come in on their own and avoid these traps altogether.
Then again, your problem could be as simple as a bathroom window with a hole in the screen!
Can bugs come out of drains?
Unfortunately, they can, and this is one of the easiest ways for some of these pests to get into your bathroom. This is particularly true for cockroaches, which can spread all sorts of dangerous bacteria and dirt that belong only in the sewer.
On the other hand, other tiny bugs can also use the drain to procreate. The good news for spider haters? Spiders cannot gain entry to your home through drains.
Remember, insects are fond of cozy homes as much as you are. So, despite your best attempts to dissuade and evict these annoying squatters, you might still find bugs in your bathtub or bathroom. In fact, your bathroom seems like a haven for these insects.
Okay, why do I find them on the bathroom floor?
If you do find insects in your bathroom, a far more likely scenario for their entry involves gaps in the seals around your doors, windows, or even around your foundation. Then, they make their way to your bathroom because they sense that it has higher humidity than the rest of your house. Still, the bathroom drain represents the ultimate destination for an insect because it’s not only moist but also dark and probably has some hair and gunk that could serve as a food source. (Our apologies for such a revolting scene.)
Are these bugs dangerous?
The tiny black bugs you find in the bathroom are harmless in most instances.
Drain flies are definitely the most commonplace bathroom insects. They are normally harmless to humans, aside from a couple of blood-sucking tropical species that can carry several diseases. It’s quite improbable you’ll come across one of these in your bathroom, however.
Nonetheless, some bathroom bugs can present severe threats to people and property. Carpenter ants, for example, can damage wood, while some ants have been acknowledged to distribute any number of disease pathogens such as streptococcus, pyogenes, and salmonella.
Do they come at specific times of the year?
Tiny black bugs in the bathroom can emerge at most any time. Still, they do appear to be more frequent during spring and summer.
Then, too, once some of these bugs are inside your home where it’s comfy and warm, they can persist year-round. So don’t be too alarmed if you find them in the winter.
Now that you’ve learned how to identify different bathroom bugs, you should see how to prevent them from invading your bathroom.
Pest prevention tips for the bathroom
Okay, when all is said and done, you basically despise discovering these creepy crawlers and pesky fliers in your bathroom. One second, you’re washing clean, and the next, you’re screeching at these bad-mannered bugs that have settled on your foot.
That’s actually a “mild” situation. Things can get utterly ghastly if a cockroach opts to make an appearance in your bathroom. Plenty of people have gotten into accidents in the bathroom trying to dodge these nasty bugs.
Bathroom bugs are difficult to keep away because the bathroom offers the perfect climate for them.
Water, moisture, and gunk are three essentials that pesky pests love. But there are ways of managing them, according to pest control experts. Here are some of the more helpful techniques:
- De-gunk your drain every week. You recognize that black film that settles around the interior of your drainpipes? You need to get rid of that as often as you can to help stop drain flies from taking up residence in your bathroom.
- Commercial drain cleaners are useful, but if you don’t feel like heading to the store, try mixing salt, baking soda and vinegar. The corrosive activity from this mixture can help you rid of drain gunk.
- Be sure there aren’t any leaks in your bathroom. Take care of that leaky faucet and the tiny break in your water pipe that discharges a string-like stream of water. In doing so, not only will you make the bathroom less appealing to bugs, you’ll lower your water bill as well.
- Air out your bathroom often. Doing this will lower the moisture in the room and counteract the growth of mold on which mold mites and other bugs might feed on. However, if you already have a severe mold problem in your bathroom, you need to call in the pros for removal because mold spreads and can be quite harmful to personal health.
- Repair any cracks or gaps around the walls, particularly near the floor or ceiling. Broken tiles or splits in the floor can accumulate moisture as well, so it’s best to mend those in a timely manner.
- If your bathroom has a window, be certain screens are tight and keep shades or curtains closed at night so that outside insects aren’t drawn by bathroom lights.
- Fix drain and plumbing issues. If you’re experiencing insect goings-on, it’s possible there is a fundamental plumbing issue that needs repair.
- If your bathroom furniture is old and shabby, it may be time for an upgrade. Carpenter ants eat old wood, and other insects can spread hazardous pathogens. If bugs have encamped in your furniture, swapping it out could settle more “bug” issues than you might think.
- Lower lighting in your bathroom, particularly at night. Keep bathroom doors closed where doable and employ a nightlight that comes with a motion sensor.
- Dehumidify your entire house. Don’t merely ventilate your bathroom to help get rid of the moisture. Use a dehumidifier in various parts of your house. Remember, the drier your home is, the less appealing it is to pests.
- Pests can come into your bathroom from adjacent rooms in your home. Take note of any entry points or moist spaces that require awareness.
Bottom line: Insects don’t access healthy drains!
True, horror movies like to employ hordes of insects swarming up through the bathtub drain as a sort of marching band (now there’s a ghastly sight), but in real life it’s far less probable if you have a commonly used drain in good working order.
Think about the drain system. It should be entirely closed from the bathtub drain all the way to the sewer. If holes occur along the way where these teeny insects can gain access, your plumbing most likely needs repair. If you do suspect these insects are coming into your home this way, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber to assess the leak.
Whether these insects arrive via the sewer or a hole in a pipe near your home, they have to manage their trek without getting carried away by water. Your home includes one main sewer line that all wastewater flows through. Whether you flush a toilet or turn on a sink faucet, it all exits through the identical pipe. The insects would have to crawl up with the aim of entering your bathroom drain. The likelihood of a bug making this journey without getting flushed down the pipe is slim. So, if they do crawl up a pipe, it’s most likely to be an unused or seldom-used one.
Finally, drains have water traps designed to block sewer gas from getting into your home. These traps must be tight in order to stop gas from leaking through. As such, they certainly don’t allow enough space for an insect to wriggle through. Do you see insects and smell sewer gas? Time to call your plumber!
True, many of the issues discussed here might very well require the help of a professional exterminator. However, don’t hesitate to call the plumbing professionals at J&A South Park should you come across plumbing problems that might be contributing to the presence of bugs in the bathroom.
