How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bathroom Naturally – 11 Remedies

Are you always troubled by ants in washroom? Then read this article on How to Get Rid of Ants in Bathroom and say goodbye to these insects!

A bathroom should be a place of tranquility, not a habitat of ants. To restore harmony to your sacred space, learn How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bathroom below.

Does Epsom Salt Kill Ants? Find out here

What Attracts Ants in the Bathroom? | Why Are There So Many Ants in My Bathroom?

Ants are attracted to the bathroom due to the below reasons:

• Water: Ants need water to survive, and bathrooms usually have plenty of it. Leaky faucets, showers, pipes, and sinks provide a consistent water source that draws ants.
• Food: Any small particles of food, sweets, or hygiene products like toothpaste, soap, or shampoo can attract ants. Even residue in trash cans can be enough to draw them in.
• Shelter: Bathrooms are usually warm, humid, and often undisturbed, making them an ideal location for ants to establish a colony.

How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bathroom?

Below are some natural ways that will help you get rid of ant infestation in the bathroom quite easily. These home remedies are ideal against carpenter ants, black ants, odorous ants, sugar ants, red ants, and moisture ants.

1. Borax

As borax is a desiccant, it’s an excellent product for eliminating ants’ infestation. It works by dehydrating ants’ bodies and disrupting their digestive system upon ingestion. However, to make this bait attractive to ants, you have to add something sweet like sugar, honey, or peanut butter.

Supplies

• 1/4 Cup of Sugar
• A Tablespoon of Borax
• 1 Cup of Warm Water
• Cotton balls
• A Small Jar with Lid

Directions

1. Mix borax, water, and sugar in a bowl until you get a syrup-like consistency.
2. Once it’s done, soak some cotton balls in this mixture.
3. Next, put the cotton balls in a small jar and secure it with a lid. Don’t forget to poke some holes in the lid.
4. Now, place the jar near the ant trails, and you’re done.

Note – Borax is harmful to pets and children if ingested. Make sure to place the borax bait where it’s out of their reach.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is an effective, non-toxic way to deter ants, thanks to its potent smell. It also disrupts the pheromone trails that ants use to navigate. Here’s how you can use vinegar to get rid of ants:

Supplies

• White vinegar
• Water
• Spray Bottle
• Cloth or paper towel

Directions

1. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the vinegar-water solution directly onto the ants, their trails, and any areas where you’ve seen ants entering or exiting, such as cracks, crevices, or holes. Be sure to spray around windows, doors, pipes, and any other possible entry points.
3. Repeat this process until you no longer see ants in your bathroom. You might want to do it a few times a day at first, especially if you have a significant infestation.

Keep in mind while vinegar deters ants and disrupts their scent trails, it doesn’t kill them.

3. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is another excellent remedy to get rid of ants in the bathroom. When ants come into contact with DE, it damages their exoskeletons, causing death.

Supplies

• Food-grade diatomaceous earth
• A Face Mask and Gloves

Directions

1. Identify and clean the ant-infested areas in your bathroom.
2. Wear a good quality face mask and gloves.
3. Spread diatomaceous earth in identified areas and along ant trails.
4. After applying the diatomaceous earth, wait and observe. You should see a reduction in the number of ants in your bathroom over the next few days.
5. Reapply diatomaceous earth if it gets washed away or ants persist.

4. Baby Powder

Baby powder is a cheap, non-toxic deterrent for ants. While it doesn’t kill them, baby powder can disrupt their scent trails and deter them from the area.

Supplies

• Baby Powder
• Soapy Water

Directions

1. First, identify where the ants are coming from. This might be a crack in the wall, around a window, or a gap in the flooring.
2. Next, lightly sprinkle baby powder along ant trails and entry points.
3. Over time, the effectiveness of the baby powder can wear off, so reapply the powder as needed. If you see ants again, repeat this hack.

5. Cinnamon Essential Oil

According to this research, the cinnamon essential oil has potent insecticidal and repellent activity against ants. It means this oil is the perfect tool to eliminate ants’ infestation.

Supplies

• 15-20 Drops of Cinnamon Essential Oil
• 1 Cup of Water
• Spray Bottle

Directions

1. Fill a spray bottle with water and cinnamon essential oil.
2. Shake well and spritz this solution around the problematic areas of the bathroom.
3. Respray every few days or when the smell starts to fade.

6. Dawn Dish Soap

Dawn dish soap is a great homemade ant killer solution because it breaks down ants’ exoskeletons and disrupts their scent trails.

Supplies

• 1/4 Teaspoon of Dawn dish soap
• 2 Cups of Water
• Spray Bottle
• Small Funnel

Directions

1. Combine Dawn dish soap and water in a spray bottle using a small funnel.
2. Spray the prepared mix directly on the ants and their trail.
3. After spraying, wait for a few minutes and then wipe up the ants using a damp cloth or paper towel.
4. Redo this process if needed.

7. Garlic

Packed with a strong aroma, garlic is a natural, non-toxic way to deter ants. You can either make a spray or use its cloves to banish the pesky ants.

Supplies

• 5-6 Cloves of Garlic
• 2-3 Cups of Hot Water
• Knife and Cutting Board
• Small bowl

Directions

1. Peel 5-6 garlic cloves and crush them slightly.
2. In a pot, pour 2-3 cups of water and crushed garlic cloves.
3. Let this mixture boil for 3-5 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave it to cool down.
4. After that, strain out the garlic pieces and store the garlic-infused water in a spray bottle.
5. You can now use this garlic water as a deterrent. Spray it under the bathroom sink, bathtubs, and around the cabinets.

8. Tea Tree Oil

The strong scent of tea tree oil repels all kinds of ants quite easily. Follow the below hack to get rid of them inexpensively:

Supplies

• 15-20 Drops of Tea tree oil
• A Cup of Water
• Spray Bottle

Directions

1. Fill a spray bottle with water and tea tree oil.
2. Close the spray bottle and shake it well to ensure the tea tree oil is properly mixed with the water.
3. Observe the ants’ movement in your bathroom and identify their trails or points of entry.
4. Spread the solution all over the ant trails, entry points, or areas where ants are commonly seen in your bathroom. Focus on areas such as windowsills, baseboards, cracks, and crevices.
5. Repeat the application until the ant infestation is under control.

9. Citrus Peels

Citrus peels contain a compound called D-limonene, which emits a strong odor that ants find repulsive. Thus citrus peels are the best home remedy to get rid of ants in the bathroom.

Supplies

• Dried Citrus Peels (orange, lemon, or lime)
• Blender
• A Lidded Jar

Directions

1. Gather a handful of citrus peels and dry them completely.
2. Once dried, grind them in a blender to make a fine powder.
3. Transfer the powdered citrus peel into a lidded jar.
4. Sprinkle the powder on the ant trails, entry points, or around windows, sinks, or cracks.
5. The potency of the citrus peel powder diminishes over time, especially when exposed to moisture. Reapply the powder regularly.

10. Peppermint Oil

Just like tea tree oil, peppermint oil is a wonderful ant deterrent thanks to its powerful aroma that ants despise the most.

Supplies

• 10-15 Drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 1 Cup of Water
• Spray bottle

Directions

1. Add peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle using a funnel.
2. Gently shake the spray bottle to ensure the oil and water are well mixed.
3. Spritz the mix in the bathroom, where ants tend to accumulate.
4. Reapply this solution if the issue persists.

11. Clove Oil

According to this reputed source, clove oil is a brilliant ant repellent compared to conventional insecticides. Learn how to get rid of ants in the bathroom in a few simple steps below:

Supplies

• 10-15 Drops of Clove essential oil
• 1-2 Cups of Water
• Empty Spray bottle
• Small Funnel

Directions

1. Grab a spray bottle and fill it with tepid water and clove oil.
2. Shake the spray bottle and spritz the solution on the potential entrance points.
3. Repeat the application when needed.

How to Prevent Ants in Bathroom?

After learning how to get rid of ants in the bathroom, it’s vital to follow the below tips to prevent their infestation in the first place:

• Seal Entry Points: Seal cracks, crevices, and any other potential entry points with caulk.
• Fix Leaks: Ants are often attracted to moisture. Fix any leaks in your bathroom and ensure there’s no standing water.
• Regular Cleaning: Keep your bathroom clean to prevent ant infestations.
• Use a Dehumidifier: If your bathroom is humid, consider using a dehumidifier to make the environment less appealing to ants.
• Empty Trash Regularly: Be sure to empty bathroom wastebaskets frequently. Small bits of trash or even residues on discarded containers can attract ants.
• Keep the Bathroom Ventilated: Ants are attracted to moisture, so make sure you have good ventilation in your bathroom. Turn on the exhaust fan when you’re showering and leave it on for a while afterward to remove damp air.
• Regular Inspections: Regularly inspect your bathroom and other areas of your home for signs of ant activity. Catching the problem early can significantly reduce the damage and make the elimination process easier.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Bathroom: Conclusion

Controlling ants in the bathroom is a cumbersome task. However, with the above home remedies, you can banish them easily. Also, don’t forget to take necessary measures to prevent future infestations.