2 Pests That Love Your Bathroom As Much As You Do (And How To Get Rid Of Them)

Ah, your bathroom. When you aren't corralling kids to the potty or cleaning the nooks and crannies, you might use your bathroom to get ready for work or to take a relaxing, bubbly bath. In fact, the average American spends a staggering 2 weeks every year holed up in their bathroom—which is why a pest problem here can be such a devastating blow. Unfortunately, some pests are drawn to the moist, warm environment that your bathroom offers. Here are two pests that love your bathroom as much as you do, and how you can get rid of them:

1: Drain Flies

No, that wasn't your imagination. There really might be tiny flies living inside of your pipes and flying out of your drains occasionally. These bothersome pests are called drain flies, and they live off of the grime that accumulates inside of your pipes. Drain flies are about 1/8th of an inch long, and they have a light-gray or brown colored body. Adults are also covered with long hairs, giving their body a furry look. Unfortunately, fuzzy flies are probably the last thing you or your house guests want to see when they wash their hands or take a shower.

Drain flies lay their larvae inside of organic matter, which means that your pipes might also be filled with entire colonies of tiny, wriggling worms. Although you might assume that dumping boiling water or drain cleaner down those pipes will resolve the problem, you might be disappointed when those flies return later. Unless you remove the actual grime where the drain flies feed and breed, you might end up with a never-ending pest control problem.

Before you swear off baths altogether, you should know that professional exterminators can target drain flies that might be hiding deep inside your plumbing system. After using a metal pipe brush to sweep out your drain opening and the inside walls of your pipe, an exterminator can shoot safe, yet powerful, aerosol pesticides down the drain to fumigate the pests. These aerosols target drain flies in all stages of life, including unhatched eggs. Once the drain is pest-free, you can prevent new problems from forming by keeping your drain clean and dry.  

2: Cockroaches

Nothing can give you the creepy-crawlies faster than watching cockroaches scatter around your bathroom when you switch on the light. Unfortunately, your bathroom is the perfect breeding ground for cockroaches—which is why they can be difficult to eradicate on your own.

Cockroaches can only live without water for one week, which is why they might set up shop underneath your sink or bathtub. Cockroaches are also attracted to paper products, like stored toilet paper, because it absorbs a pheromone that attracts their buddies. Cockroaches use this scent trail to find their way back and forth to your restroom, which is why they might seem pre-programmed to head back to their hiding spots. Fortunately, you might be able to avoid full-scale cockroach infestations by doing these things:

  • Look for Leaks: Analyze areas around your toilet, bathtub, shower, or sink to look for leaky pipes or dripping water. If you spot problems, have a professional repair the area immediately.
  • Empty Trash Regularly: Don't let that trash pile up in the corner. Makeup sponges, paper trash, and organic materials can act as a food source for cockroaches.

If your changes don't seem to be helping your cockroach problem, don't despair. Professional exterminators can lay gel traps, which contain food and water to attract roaches. To catch roaming roaches, your exterminator might also use powdered boric acid near pest hiding places.

By recognizing bathroom pests early and working with an exterminator, you might be able to fend off problems and keep your personal paradise pristine. So talk with a professional pest control service, such as Ace Walco & Sons Termite & Pest Control, today if you notice signs of these pests.

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