Seeing ants come out from under your toilet is quite an unnerving experience that none of us really want to have.
Unfortunately, it happens to many, especially if you live in a warm climate or during a seasonal infestation.
But the good news is that there are ways to get rid of these unwanted ants and keep them away for good.
In this blog post, we will give you three simple steps to get rid of ants coming from under the toilet. Along with simple tips to eliminate their presence – quickly, cheaply, and effectively!
But first, let’s try to understand why ants are attracted to our toilets.
Why are ants attracted to toilets?
Ants are social insects and require water to survive. This is one of the main reasons why they are drawn to our toilet bowl. The water in the bowl provides them with the hydration they need, especially during dry seasons.
Additionally, ants are attracted to organic matter, such as human waste and bacteria, which usually accumulates in and around the toilet. This serves as a food source for the ants, giving them the incentive to stick around.
Identifying the source of the ants
If you’ve noticed ants crawling up from under your toilet, the first step in addressing the problem is to identify the source of the infestation.
There are a few different factors that could be contributing to the problem, so it’s important to investigate thoroughly to determine the root cause.
One possibility is that the ants are actually coming up through the plumbing. This could happen if there is a crack or gap in the pipes that allows the ants to enter your home and toilet.
If this is the case, you may notice other signs of a plumbing issue, such as slow draining or gurgling sounds when you flush.
If you suspect that the ants are coming from the plumbing, it’s important to contact a plumber to fix the problem.
On the other hand, if the ants are only present around the toilet area, it’s likely that they are coming in from outside. Given their small size, ants can fit through very small gaps and cracks, so it’s important to check for any entry points around the toilet or bathroom. This could include gaps in the baseboards, cracks in the tile, or openings around pipes or vents.
To determine the cause of the infestation, it can be helpful to observe the ants’ behavior. Are they coming from a specific area or direction? Are they following a trail or path? This can provide clues as to where they are entering your home and what is attracting them to the area.
Once you have identified the source of the ant infestation, you can take steps to eliminate the problem. This may include sealing gaps and cracks, removing any sources of food or water, or using ant baits or insecticides to kill the ants.
Ants coming from under the toilet – three solutions
Let’s explore three different solutions to get rid of ants from under your toilet.
First, it’s important to clean the affected area thoroughly. This can help to remove any traces of food or water that may be attracting the ants. Next, use a cleaning solution to wipe down the toilet, bathroom floor, and surrounding areas.
Then fix any gaps and seal off entry points to your toilet. After that, you can use any of the three solutions to eliminate existing ants and prevent them from calling your toilet their home.
Solution 1: Use an ant bait station
Ant bait stations are a popular and effective way to control ants in your home. It is one the easiest solution to implement, and that is why I recommend it first on my list.
When using ant bait stations near the toilet, it’s important to place them in a location that is accessible to ants but also out of the way of people using the toilet.
Here are the steps I suggest you follow when using an ant bait station near the toilet:
Identify the ant trail: The first step is to identify where the ants are coming from and going to. Follow the trail and locate the entry point.
Clean the area: Before placing the bait station, clean the area around the toilet with soap and water to remove any scent trails left by the ants. This will help ensure that the ants are attracted to the bait and not another source of food.
Place the bait station: Place the ant bait station near the ant entry point, but away from the toilet bowl and out of reach of children and pets. I suggest placing no less than two bait stations around the base of your toilet. One should be placed behind your toilet bowl, while the other can be placed on either side – you decide!
Check the bait station regularly: Check the bait station regularly to see if it needs to be replaced or refilled. It’s important to continue to use the bait station even after the ant activity has stopped to ensure that the entire colony has been eliminated.
Remember, ant bait stations are designed to be slow acting to ensure that the ants bring the bait back to the colony and share it with other ants. This process can take several days or even weeks, so it’s important to be patient and consistent in your use of the bait station.
Solution 2: Use liquid ant gel
If you have pets or very young curious kids and want to avoid using ant bait stations, we suggest using liquid ant killer.
Simply add a few drops in places that are hard to reach for kids and pets. We suggest adding a few drops to the back of the toilet.
You can also add a few drops to a small strip of paper and rub it around your toilet as shown in the below picture.
Apart from the above two locations, you can add a few drops along the ant trail.
Initially, you may notice an increase in the number of ants due to the bait’s attractive properties.
However, don’t be alarmed.
The sweet liquid in the bait appeals to the ants, who consume it and then leave a trail of pheromones leading back to the colony. As a result, other worker ants can locate the newly discovered food source, resulting in an initial surge of ant activity.
At the same time, borax, the active ingredient in the bait, slowly disrupts the digestive systems of each ant, resulting in their eventual demise.
However, the process of killing the ants is gradual, so please provide enough time for the affected ants to return to the colony and share the bait with others. This slow-acting mechanism is necessary to enable ants to make several trips to the bait, resulting in the removal of both visible and invisible ant populations.
Solution 3: Use lemon and water
If you don’t find any of the above solutions appealing, then we have one final natural solution.
In a spray bottle, mix three parts water with one part lemon juice and spray the solution around your toilet bowl and any existing ant trails. The use of lemon will disrupt the ants’ sense of smell, disorient them and deter them from “hanging” around your toilet bowl.
However, please remember this solution will only work if you have already sealed off all cracks and entry points used by the ants.
Lastly, since this method won’t kill the ants, they might move to another location in your house looking for food.
Tips to keep ants away from your toilet and bathroom.
Tip 1: Replace broken tiles.
Did you know that cracked tiles serve as a perfect haven for ants? Apart from providing them with safety from potential threats, they often keep your bathroom moist.
This could be why your ant problems seem like an unending cycle – those pesky critters may have found their new home in the crevices of broken tile! Don’t let them take over; replace any damaged surfaces and get one step closer to an ant-free toilet.
Tip 2: Keep your bathroom dry.
Ants are drawn to not only food but moisture as well — something your bathroom is likely full of! To avoid giving ants a bathroom to thrive in, make sure you don’t leave any puddles or pools of water lying around for extended periods.
If there’s trouble with your drainage system, it may be time to call a plumber and get that sorted out pronto.
Tip 3: Clean your toilet
Toilet bowls may be home to a variety of food sources – from the residue left behind after flushing urine to fecal matter in the bowl. If you find yourself dealing with an ant infestation near or around your toilet seat, please make it a habit to wipe down the underside of the toilet seat daily with disinfectant sprays; this should help keep them away.
Conclusion:
You now know how to get rid of ants coming in from under your toilet, and we’ve given you three tips to keep them away.
These steps are easy and quick and will hopefully help you achieve an ant-free toilet.
Read this article, if you are facing issues with ants in your washing machine.