Hey everyone,
I’ve recently started noticing small trails of ants in my bathroom — near the sink, shower, and sometimes even crawling up the walls. I’ve cleaned the area, used vinegar spray, and sealed what cracks I could find, but they keep coming back.
It’s driving me nuts, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to deal with them. Here are a few things I’d love to get your thoughts on:
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Attraction: Why do ants even go into bathrooms? There’s no food!
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DIY solutions: Have you found anything effective that actually works long-term?
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Store-bought options: Are ant baits or sprays worth it, or just a waste of money?
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Prevention: How do you keep them from coming back once they’re gone?
Would really appreciate hearing what’s worked (or hasn’t) for others dealing with the same issue.
Hey @HomeFixer42! Bathrooms are actually a huge water source for ants. They might not be after food, just moisture. I had the same problem until I fixed a tiny leak under the sink. Once I dried everything out, they disappeared within a week.
Totally agree. They love damp grout lines and any hidden drips. I used a mix of borax and sugar water in bottle caps and placed them near the tub — it wiped out the colony after about five days.
If you’re into natural remedies, try using peppermint or tea tree oil. Ants hate those scents, and it also makes the bathroom smell fresh. Just mix a few drops with water and spray the entry points.
I’ve used Terro liquid ant baits — they worked great at first but the ants came back a month later. I think the trick is finding where they’re actually nesting, not just killing the ones you see.
I swear by sealing every tiny gap. Around the pipes, the toilet base, even window frames. Once they can’t get in, it’s game over. Took a Saturday afternoon but so worth it.
Check your drains too. I poured boiling water down mine a few times a week, turns out some were coming from there. I also switched to using a dehumidifier nearby. Haven’t seen any since.
Vinegar is great short-term but doesn’t destroy the nest. Try mixing boric acid with honey or syrup. It attracts worker ants, who then carry the poison back to the queen. Problem solved from the inside out.
I tried the essential oil trick but had to reapply it often. What finally worked for me was diatomaceous earth, just sprinkled a bit behind the toilet and under the vanity. Totally harmless to humans but deadly for ants.
Funny how ants pick the weirdest spots to invade. I found that keeping the bathroom super dry (especially after showers) and running the vent fan helped a ton. They stopped showing up completely.
Killing visible ants won’t fix the source. Find the entry points, use bait to target the colony, and control moisture. It’s more about maintenance than just extermination.