7 Repulsive Creatures Who Are Always Searching for Ways to Enter Your Home

There are so many pests that live outside and can’t wait to find the perfect moment to enter your home. From tiny ants to larger snakes, there is always an opportunity for them to intrude when you least expect them to. It could be the smallest hole or crack anywhere in your house that could prompt them to enter. That’s why it’s important to keep your house sealed and fully protected.

1. Snakes

Snakes just love cool, wet, and dark places and that’s why your toilet pipes can be very intriguing to them. But, what drives them there in the first place is the sewer that has food remnants that they can feed on. When they are finished with their food in the sewer, they will look for a way out and the pipes are the easiest and quickest route. However, you shouldn’t be afraid if you live in a cold environment, since snakes will only sneak up in toilets in warm countries.

It’s usually harmless snakes that crawl through the pipes, like garden or tree snakes. That’s because these snakes are slimmer than venomous ones and can fit through the pipes. Although, some anacondas have appeared in people’s toilets in South America and Australia.

2. Rats

The first sign that mice or rats have entered your walls are noises or very small footsteps late at night. These rodents are also known to chew on electrical cords and insulation, so that should be a clear indication of their presence. Another sign is food packages that have been chewed on or droppings around the house. Mice find their way around your home very easily, and if you notice even one dropping, there are probably many of them living very close to you.

What to do: First, you need to make sure that there are no holes or cracks in the exterior of your home. Also, if you have ivy on your walls, you might need to reconsider since rodents can climb through them and into your home. But, the main advice is to keep your home generally clean and throw all of your trash away. Dirt and the smell of trash attracts mice and rats more than anything else.

3. Spiders

With spiders, things get a bit more complex, since they can’t swim in your pipes, but they can appear in your bathroom through another passage. And when they get in, they will probably sit outside the toilet seat. Only black widows will crawl inside the toilet and weave their web from side to side. But, that will happen only in an outdoor toilet that doesn’t have plumbing and that isn’t connected to a sewer system.

That’s where these venomous spiders thrive since there are many flies that they can catch for food. That’s also why you need to always check the seat thoroughly before using an outhouse toilet. Spiders, like the black widow, the brown recluse, and the hobo spider won’t have any trouble biting you.

4. Lizards

In the Southwest United States, lizards coming through the toilet pipes are a quite common occurrence. That’s because these creatures love water and they try to find food wherever they can. Crickets and other insects (like flies) can be found a lot in your toilet’s plumbing if it’s not kept decently clean. The lizards that can achieve this are usually small enough that they can fit through the pipes.

5. Opossums

Opossums enter houses by climbing, so you may need to check the exterior of your house for entry points, including the roof. They also are quite loud, making themselves noticeable through hissing and shrieking. It is very possible that they will start scratching your walls if they are trapped inside, and if they manage to get out, they will run for your pet’s food. The last and most unpleasant sign that you have an opossum infestation is the smell of their defecation, which can be appalling.

What to do: In order to prevent their appearance in your home, you can start by inspecting your house frequently. You can also fix any gaps or holes that could be entry points for them. Your vents might also need to be covered with a mesh covering. However, if they still manage to get inside, you should contact professionals to deal with the issue.

6. Frogs

These slimy little creatures can also visit your bathroom without permission. Last year, a mass toilet invasion happened in the UK, and it was explained by frogspawn that was laid in the sewage system. Also, sometimes frogs are believed to get into houses through vent pipes.

7. Bats

Bats are nocturnal beings that spend their time outside during the night and sleep during the day. This means that if you ever hear them in your walls, it will be right before dusk as they are preparing to leave. But the only way you will hear them is if you have a large infestation of them, since only a few bats won’t create any big noises. While they are usually attracted to attics where it is cool, they might also find their way into your walls.

What to do: Bats hate light and will try to stay away from it as much as possible. So, if you can put bright lights in spaces where they may try to rest, this would be a good first step in your effort to get rid of them. However, if they are already in your walls, this will probably be hard to do, so asking for a professional’s help might be your only option. Keep in mind that they might need to cut the wall open in order to remove the bat infestation.

How to prevent and react to these occurrences

• You really need to clean your toilet often and neatly. Disinfecting cleaners are perfect for that job and if you want something cheaper you can resort to white wine vinegar or baking soda. You can also get one of those fresheners that stick on the side of the toilet and release a nice smell every time you flush.
• As for preventive measures, you can install a one-way flap that will ensure that after the flush, nothing can come back into (or climb up to) the toilet.
• In a bowl, add equal parts of sugar, water, vinegar, and 5-10 drops of dish soap. Mix all of this together and pour it down the toilet or in your bathroom sink. You can also pour some boiling water into the toilet.
• If you don’t have the time or courage to deal with pests yourself, call professionals and let them use their heavy cleaners. After that is done, you can occasionally throw water mixed with a cleaning solution down the drain to make sure no pest will climb up into the toilet.

How to keep other bugs away

• Cockroaches: Chop one onion and add one tsp of baking soda, and put this mixture in the corners of your house. Reapply it daily and your home should be roach-free very soon.
• Ticks: Mix 20 drops of rose geranium essential oil, 10 drops of sweetgrass essential oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of citronella or lemon essential oil, and one tbsp of rubbing alcohol, and dilute it to 100 ml with vinegar or water. Then transfer it into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray it on your clothes before leaving your house.
• Ants: Apparently, ants absolutely hate the smell of cinnamon. Put some cinnamon powder in the areas of your house where you think the ants enter from. For more effective results, you can get some essential oil and add it to the cinnamon powder. As a side effect, you’ll get a very nice earthy smell in the air.
• Dust mites: Mix 6 tsp of eucalyptus oil with 1.5 tsp of liquid laundry detergent in 1 bucket of water and soak the washable items, then wash it as normal. For anything unwashable, just spray and wipe it with a clean cloth. If you don’t like the smell of eucalyptus oil, you can substitute it with tea tree oil, which is just as effective at getting rid of the pest.
• Weevils: Apparently, weevils really don’t like the smell of bay leaves or cloves. Drop a clove or a bay leaf on the top of your food and around containers to keep these things away from your home.
• Drain flies: To get rid of them and prevent them from reappearing, you have to clean and sanitize your sinks first. Mix 1/2 a cup of baking soda and salt with 1 cup of vinegar, and use warm water to flush the mixture.