7 Bathroom Terrors You’re Ignoring and How to Keep Them Out

Unwanted pests are always lurking outside, just waiting for the right moment to invade your home. Whether it’s tiny ants or even larger creatures like snakes, they constantly seek opportunities to slip inside when you least expect it. Often, it only takes the smallest crack or gap in your home’s structure for these intruders to find their way in. This is why ensuring your home is well-sealed and fully protected is crucial in keeping these pests at bay. Regularly inspecting and reinforcing your home’s defenses can make all the difference in preventing these unwelcome guests from making themselves at home.

1. Rats

The first sign that mice or rats have infiltrated your walls often comes as subtle noises or the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps in the dead of night. These nocturnal rodents are notorious for gnawing on electrical cords and insulation, which is another clear sign of their presence. Additionally, discovering chewed food packages or rodent droppings scattered around your home serves as a strong indicator that these unwelcome guests have moved in. Mice, in particular, are highly adept at navigating your home, and spotting even a single dropping usually means there are many more lurking nearby.

What to do: Start by thoroughly inspecting your home’s exterior for any holes or cracks and seal them immediately. If you have ivy or climbing plants on your walls, consider removing them, as rodents can use them as a natural ladder to access your home. Maintaining cleanliness is crucial—ensure that your home is free of clutter and that all trash is properly disposed of. The scent of garbage and unclean environments are powerful attractants for mice and rats, so keeping your living space tidy is one of the best ways to prevent an infestation.

2. Snakes

Snakes are naturally attracted to environments that are cool, damp, and dark, making toilet pipes an appealing destination for them. Their journey often begins in the sewer, where the presence of food remnants lures them in for a meal. Once they’ve had their fill, they instinctively seek an exit, and toilet pipes offer a convenient and direct escape route. Fortunately, if you reside in a colder climate, this is less of a concern, as snakes are more commonly found in toilets in warmer regions.

Typically, the snakes that find their way through these pipes are harmless species, such as garden or tree snakes. These snakes are generally slimmer, which allows them to navigate the narrow confines of plumbing systems more easily than their venomous counterparts. However, there have been rare but alarming reports of much larger snakes, like anacondas, making unexpected appearances in toilets, particularly in South America and Australia.

3. Lizards

In the Southwest United States, it’s not unusual to encounter lizards making their way through toilet pipes. These reptiles are attracted to water sources and will go to great lengths to find food wherever it’s available. If your plumbing isn’t regularly maintained and cleaned, crickets, flies, and other insects can accumulate within the system, creating an enticing buffet for these lizards. The lizards that manage to squeeze through the pipes are typically small, making it easy for them to navigate the narrow spaces within the plumbing. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your plumbing system can help minimize the likelihood of these unexpected visitors.

4. Spiders

Dealing with spiders in your bathroom can be a bit more complicated. Unlike some other pests, spiders can’t swim through your pipes, but they can still find their way into your bathroom through small gaps and cracks. Once inside, they may settle outside the toilet seat, waiting for prey. However, it’s important to note that only black widows have been known to actually crawl inside toilets and spin webs across the seat.

This behavior is most commonly observed in outdoor toilets that lack plumbing or sewer connections. In these environments, venomous spiders like black widows thrive due to the plentiful supply of flies for food. For this reason, it’s crucial to inspect the toilet seat carefully before using an outhouse or outdoor toilet. Venomous spiders, including the black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spider, can bite with ease if disturbed, making it essential to exercise caution.

5. Opossums

Opossums are skilled climbers, making it easy for them to gain entry into homes by accessing roofs or other elevated entry points. This is why it’s crucial to regularly inspect the exterior of your home, paying close attention to areas like the roof where they might find a way in. Opossums are also known for their loud vocalizations, including hissing and shrieking, which can make their presence unmistakable. If they become trapped inside your home, they may scratch at walls in a desperate attempt to escape. Once outside, they often go after your pet’s food, and the foul odor of their feces can quickly alert you to an infestation.

To prevent opossums from entering your home, start by conducting regular inspections to identify and seal any gaps or holes that could serve as entry points. Ensure that vents and other openings are securely covered with mesh to keep these creatures out. If, despite your best efforts, opossums still manage to infiltrate your home, it’s advisable to contact professionals who can safely and effectively remove them, minimizing the risk of harm to both you and the animals.

6. Frogs

These slippery little creatures can also find their way into your bathroom uninvited. In 2020, the UK experienced a surprising phenomenon—a mass invasion of frogs in toilets, which was linked to frogspawn being laid in the sewage system. Beyond this unusual event, frogs are also known to enter homes through vent pipes, making their way inside through unexpected routes. While finding a frog in your bathroom can be startling, it’s a reminder of the various ways wildlife can intrude into our living spaces, often through openings we might overlook.

7. Bats

Bats are nocturnal creatures, spending their nights actively outside and resting during the day. If you happen to hear them in your walls, it’s likely to be just before dusk as they prepare to venture out for their nightly activities. However, unless you have a significant infestation, you might not notice any noise, as a small number of bats usually won’t generate much sound. While bats are often attracted to cool, dark spaces like attics, they can also find their way into the walls of your home.

To deter bats, you can try illuminating potential resting spots with bright lights, as they are naturally averse to light and will avoid it when possible. However, if bats have already established themselves in your walls, this method may not be effective. In such cases, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance to handle the situation safely and efficiently. Be prepared that professionals might need to cut open sections of your wall to fully remove the bat infestation and prevent them from returning.

Prevention and response to these incidents

• Maintaining a clean toilet is crucial for ensuring proper hygiene in your home. While disinfecting cleaners are highly effective for this task, more budget-friendly alternatives like white wine vinegar or baking soda can also deliver excellent results. To enhance the freshness of your bathroom, consider using toilet fresheners that stick to the side of the bowl, releasing a pleasant scent with each flush.
• For additional prevention, installing a one-way flap in your toilet can be a smart move to stop anything from re-entering the bowl after flushing. This simple device can help keep your toilet cleaner and more secure.
• To deter pests from making their way into your bathroom, you can create a homemade solution by mixing equal parts sugar, water, vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap. Pour this solution down the toilet or bathroom sink to keep pests at bay. Alternatively, pouring boiling water into the toilet can also be an effective deterrent.
• If you prefer not to handle pest control on your own, hiring professionals can be a wise choice. They have access to powerful cleaners and can thoroughly treat your home to eliminate any issues. After their visit, maintain a pest-free environment by periodically pouring water mixed with a cleaning solution down your drains to prevent pests from returning to your toilet.

How to keep other bugs away

• Ants: Ants have a strong aversion to the smell of cinnamon. To keep them out of your home, sprinkle cinnamon powder in areas where you suspect they might be entering. For an extra boost, mix some essential oil with the cinnamon powder—this will not only enhance its effectiveness but also leave a pleasant, earthy fragrance in your home.
• Cockroaches: A simple yet effective remedy for cockroaches involves chopping one onion and mixing it with a teaspoon of baking soda. Place this mixture in the corners of your home where roaches are likely to lurk. Reapply the mixture daily, and with time, your home should become roach-free.
• Drain Flies: To eliminate drain flies and prevent them from coming back, it’s important to clean and sanitize your sinks. Create a mixture of 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour this mixture down the drain, and follow it with warm water to flush it through.
• Dust Mites: To tackle dust mites, mix 6 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil with 1.5 teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent in a bucket of water. Soak washable items in this mixture before washing them as usual. For non-washable items, spray the solution directly on them and wipe with a clean cloth. If you’re not a fan of the eucalyptus scent, you can substitute it with tea tree oil, which works just as effectively.
• Weevils: Weevils are deterred by the smell of bay leaves and cloves. To keep them away, place a bay leaf or a clove on top of your stored food and around containers. This simple method will help keep weevils out of your pantry.
• Ticks: To protect yourself from ticks, create a natural repellent by combining 20 drops of rose geranium essential oil, 10 drops of sweetgrass essential oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of citronella or lemon essential oil with one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Dilute this mixture to 100 ml using either vinegar or water, and pour it into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray it on your clothes before heading outdoors.

On the topic of hygiene, be sure to check out our other article where we share transformative showering tips that can revolutionize your daily routine. From techniques to products, these insights will help you maximize your shower time and leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized every day.