You’re enjoying a steamy, relaxing shower when—cue the horror movie music—you spot tiny black critters crawling around. Nope, not the kind of guests you invited!
But don’t panic—this isn’t a permanent bug-infested nightmare. Whether it’s drain flies, mold mites, or tiny beetles, these uninvited guests can be evicted for good! First, let’s figure out who they are—then I’ll show you exactly how to kick them out and keep them from coming back!
Read on to learn what types of bugs enjoy living in your bathroom and the steps to get rid of them.
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Why do bugs like the bathroom?
Water within the drain system of your bathroom can contain bacteria. It is these that bugs like to feed on.
So you can think of the drainage water as a bug restaurant.
Besides that, they use the water as a breeding ground. Dirty, stale water is the preference for some bugs that make their way into your bathroom.
When the larvae have matured they can enter the room through plug holes and other gaps.
It’s not only the water within the bathroom that bugs are attracted to.
If you have any type of moisture near the bathroom, the bugs will use these places to reproduce.
What are the black bugs in my bathroom?
Typically the insects are drain flies. However, there is a range of other bugs that can make their way into your bathroom.
Drain Fly
These can be mistaken as moths. They grow to a maximum size of 5mm. The body is covered with small, grey hairs and their wings are semi-transparent.
It’s hard to identify these insects as they can appear to be specks of dirt or a spot on the wall.
Drain flies gather in groups, so you may find a small collection of them together in your bathroom.
Booklice
Booklice love moist locations. The color of these bugs can either be white or grey.
Like drain flies, they are so small that you can mistake them for a mark on the wall.
Moldy areas can attract these insects.
Earwigs
You can easily identify an earwig. It has a slender, brownish body and pincers. They can grow to as long as 14mm.
Blackworms
A leak or flood in your bathroom has the potential to attract blackworms. They love stagnant water and can carry diseases.
Blackworms have very slender bodies and a mature worm can grow to 10cm in length.
Bed Bugs
If you have a towel or piece of clothing in your bedroom, it becomes transportation for bed bugs.
Without realizing it, you have given them a ride into your bathroom.
Bed bugs can be identified by their reddish color. They don’t have wings and are about 5mm in size.
Another bug that can be easily mistaken for a spot on your bathroom surfaces.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants have a liking for leaking water or moist wood. It is what they feed on.
Once one ant has discovered the source of food, they go back and tell the others.
Then you have an infestation happening. These bugs range in size from ⅜ to ½ inches long.
How to remove the bugs from the bathroom
There are a couple of ways to rid your bathroom of bugs:
- Bug traps or sprays
- Pest control
Pest control is required when you have an ongoing infestation issue.
Bug traps/sprays
You can easily pick up a trap or spray at your local hardware store or supermarket. Be awarer that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
You need to match the right solution to the bug that has made its residence in your home.
Also, be careful where you place any traps. If you have young children or pets, bug traps can be a potential health hazard due to poisons.
Pest Control
If the bugs have made their nest in a hard-to-reach location near your bathroom, you will need the professionals to come.
Pest controllers have the equipment and experience required to eliminate the infestation.
To make their job easier, tell them what bug it is that is causing the issue.
How can I stop the bugs from returning?
Once you have successfully taken care of the bug problem, there are several things you can do to avoid repetition.
Give your bathroom a regular deep clean
Make a note of where the insects had initially come from and which part of the bathroom they showed a particular interest in.
Give those locations an extra clean, but don’t ignore the rest of the bathroom.
Pour cleaner down your drains or use bleach. This will wash away any debris that attracts the bugs and the bleach can kill any larvae.
Fix the leaks
When you see a tap or pipe leaking, get onto the problem immediately.
If it’s a job that you can’t tackle by yourself, contact a plumber.
Remove the moisture
Use an extractor fan or air out the bathroom to take the moisture away. To reduce the among of moisture building up while using the bathroom, have a cooler shower.
Additionally, wipe down all the surfaces before leaving the bathroom.
Install screens on your windows
If the insects are coming in through the window, block their entrance with a window screen. You can get magnetic-based screens online.
These are simple to install and effective at keeping bugs out.
Fill the cracks
Cracks and gaps within the walls of your bathroom are entryways for bugs. Block these entrances.
It’s an easy DIY job that can be done in no time at all.
Clean out the trash
Trash is a godsend for some insects. If you don’t remove the trash from out of your house regularly, then you are inviting the bugs to come and have a party.
The bugs can then find their way into your bathroom where it is cozy, warm, and moist.
Stop the bugs from coming, by taking out your trash as often as possible.
A bug-free bathroom
Some insects are drawn to stagnant water in drains. Within this water, they can feed off the bacteria and lay their eggs.
When the larvae mature, you may experience black bugs entering your bathroom.
Bug sprays can help, but if you are dealing with a major infestation, then you need professional help. Call a pest controller.
Keeping your bathroom clean and free from humidity will ensure the bugs don’t come back. Now you can enjoy your bathroom in peace once more.
