Why are insects in the bathroom and what to do at the same time

Insects are inevitable companions of any human dwelling, where a microclimate favorable for them has been created. The constant dampness and humidity of the bathroom attracts a special group of insects, the appearance of which is disliked. However, getting rid of them is quite simple if you follow certain recommendations.

Where do insects in the bathroom come from?

The reasons why insects appear in the bathroom can be roughly divided into two groups:

• External. The insect spread can be located in another room, and over time they simply moved to the bathroom. They could also fly or crawl into the room through cracks from the basement, through ventilation pipes from neighbors or from the street, especially if the house is located near a reservoir.
• Internal. In this case, insects appeared in the bathroom due to the formation of an appropriate microclimate. The main reasons for this phenomenon are high humidity or temperature and unsanitary conditions. Having correctly established the cause, it will be easier to deal with its consequences.

Note! A frequent reason for changes in the microclimate is a small but incessant pipe leak under the bathtub, which causes the development of increased dampness.

The bathroom is a favorable habitat for insects for the following reasons:

• high humidity;
• availability of food and water;
• almost constant absence of people;
• lack of daylight, which is uncomfortable;
• no pets.

Most often, insects live in the following places:

• hard-to-reach places like hidden communications and distant corners;
• water pipes, which are a place of accumulation of condensate;
• Dusty areas such as shelves, bathroom floors, and cabinets
• wet hygiene products - washcloths, sponges, towels, floor mats, etc.
• constantly wet vessels and jars with gels, shampoos, balms and others.

Than dangerous and harmful

In fact, most of the possible inhabitants of the bathroom do not pose a real threat to humans, bringing only psychological discomfort. However, most of them can be carriers of various diseases that are dangerous to humans. A small part is also capable of biting or stinging, which is not only painful, but can also cause the development of allergies.

In any case, it is not worth ignoring the appearance of such living creatures, since it is prone to rapid reproduction and can easily spread to other rooms.

Note! The appearance of insects also precedes the formation of another, not very pleasant problem - mold. It almost always spreads around the room following the living creatures.

What insects can appear

White bugs

Before fighting white insects in the bathroom, you need to understand what it is. Silverfish have a white, light gray or silver color. They have a small, up to 10 mm, elongated body, 12 pairs of legs and three hairs at the posterior end of the body.

Until the third molt, they retain their black color at a smaller size. They do not carry infections, do not release allergens and do not bite. They reproduce rather slowly, but they move quickly, so it is difficult to catch them.

In their natural environment, they feed on plant substances that contain starch and polysaccharides. In an apartment, food for them can be:

• flour;
• starch;
• sugar;
• book binding;
• wallpaper glue;
• fabrics containing starch;
• Photo;
• baby and natural cosmetics.

Thus, the only danger of silverfish for humans is damage to property, including memorable ones. Also, food products can be contaminated with the remains of their vital activity or eggs.

Woodlice

During the molting period, woodlice acquire a transparent or white color, and therefore they are sometimes confused with silverfish. The rest of the time, they have a gray or brown color of the shell, sometimes with camouflage spots. These are crustaceans with a convex back covered with a chitinous shell of seven plates, seven pair of limbs and two pairs of antennae, one of which is underdeveloped. Part of the head is hidden under the carapace and bears the eyes located on the sides. Body length does not exceed 20 mm.

In their natural environment, woodlice feed on organic debris such as fallen fruits and leaves, rotten roots. With an increase in numbers, healthy plants can also attack. In human conditions, they feed on the following:

• organic residues in the trash can;
• crumbs and particles of skin in dust, fallen flowers and leaves of houseplants;
• rotten vegetables in basements and cellars;
• mold spores that form in the bathroom with increased humidity.

For crustaceans, a warm (23-25 ​​° C), dark and damp place is preferable, so the bathroom is perfect. They can settle only in places with violated sanitary standards regarding air humidity, which is especially important for the lower and outer floors. They enter dwellings through cracks from attics and from basements.

Woodlice do not pose a threat to humans, since they do not tolerate infections and do not bite. However, if their paws come into contact with the skin, irritation may occur. When they appear, it is worth fearing for plants and vegetable stocks, since these active crustaceans with a high reproduction rate can be unusually active.

Worms

Thin worms of a pale or pale pink hue up to 50 mm long are called tubules. They love warmth and dampness, feed on decaying particles of stagnant water.

They live in large colonies, they can appear in the bathroom along with the water that is pumped from the pond. There they live in silt and other contaminated places, and therefore they have little chance of getting into the water supply system. If this does happen, then the worm can be used as food for aquarium fish, or simply washed off.

They are often almost the main food for the inhabitants of home aquariums, as they cleanse the water from pollution. However, in places where human hygiene procedures are carried out, they can be dangerous, since they are capable of accumulating and transferring toxic substances over the surface. Also, tubules absorb substances with anaerobic bacteria, and therefore are carriers of pathogenic microflora.

Centipedes

Several species belong to this class of arthropods, however, in the bathrooms are usually labipod scooters. They have a flattened body, divided into several segments, along which long legs are located. The body length can reach 60 mm, the carapace is light brown or gray, covered with blue or purple stripes.On the head are faceted eyes, as well as antennae, which are half the length of the body.

They live mainly in rotten leaves, but with the onset of cold weather they move to damp and warm places. They are active at any time of the day, hunt based on sight and develop tremendous speed. Worms, larvae and flies are used as food sources, which is why their popular name - flycatchers - appeared.

Thanks to the destruction of other living creatures, millipedes are even considered useful inhabitants, especially considering that they do not spoil paper, furniture or wood, and do not feed on waste.

And yet, for humans, scooters are dangerous, since as a defensive behavior they can bite through the skin and inject poison. It causes redness of the skin, the appearance of swelling and itching. This does not cause much harm to health, but it causes severe, mainly psychological discomfort.

Butterfly flies

Butterflies are two-winged insects that look like moths. They differ in small hairs covering the wings and body, which makes them appear velvety. The body size is from one to four millimeters, the color is most often steel or silver.

They are also attracted by dampness in bathrooms. Colonies can be quite numerous, but most of them remain in basements, where larvae develop in sewer pipes, in places where dirt and constant condensation accumulate. Butterflies do not harm people or household items, but they cause anxiety for pets.

Other pests

The following insects are less common:

• mosquitoes and their larvae;
• sewer beetle;
• spiders, ants and midges;
• crunchy, or flour beetles;
• cockroaches.

Control methods

Physical methods

Such methods of struggle include the following:

1. General cleaning. It is necessary to remove all garbage and all existing objects from the bathroom, remove condensation deposits, dust and dirt in all hard-to-reach corners.
2. Room processing. First, bleach or another disinfectant is used, after which it is necessary to apply a solution of copper sulfate.
3. Reduce indoor humidity. This can be done by regular airing, as well as drying using electrical appliances.

Note! To prevent insects from returning to the bathroom, it is necessary to ensure that the ventilation and heating systems are working well at all times so that the air is sufficiently dry. In case of interruptions in the supply of hot water or heating, you can install an electric heated towel rail or a forced ventilation system.

Traps and baits

The most common types of traps are as follows:

• Electrical mechanisms. They attract insects with a special scent or artificially created moisture, and then kill them with a strong discharge.
• Adhesive plates. Animals are attracted by light, bait, or special chemicals. Once on the plate, it sticks and cannot free itself, dying after a while.
• Valve boxes. These are miniature traps with a damp and dark space inside. The insect crawls into them, but because of the protective membrane it cannot get out.
• Wet birch broom. It is installed in the corner of the bathroom at night, and in the morning it is taken out of the room and thrown away or burned.
• Glass jars.Their outer surface is wrapped with paper or tape, which has a rough texture. The insect will easily rise along it and fall into the jar, but sliding glass will prevent it from getting out. You can put some sugar or fruit on the bottom of the jar as bait.
• Paper. A roll of toilet paper or tissue paper is moistened with water and left overnight. In the morning, it is thrown away or burned in a twisted state. This method will be most effective in the fight against silverfish, since they not only love moisture, but also eat paper.

Chemicals

The most effective method of control, which gives lasting results with regular treatment. Pesting is best done throughout the apartment, as insects can spread outside the bathroom. The most popular and effective aerosols include the following:

• Mosquitall;
• Raptor;
• Antimole;
• Combat;
• Raid;
• Dichlorvos;
• Clean house;
• Extramit;
• Armol.

Important! It is necessary to handle the room in thick rubber gloves, goggles, a respirator or a mask.

After processing, the room is closed for the time specified in the instructions, after which it is ventilated and subjected to wet cleaning. Particular attention should be paid to cleaning surfaces that come into contact with your hands.

Folk remedies

The most famous remedies are the following:

• Diatomite, or diatomaceous earth. It is a rock with abrasive properties and high absorption. This insecticide is scattered in dark areas and corners of the bathroom. After contact with it, lipids that enter the chitinous layer of insects are destroyed, and they die.
• Orthoboric acid. It is a powder that causes paralysis when ingested by an insect. It is diluted in water or mixed with boiled yolk, after which cracks, pipes and cracks are treated with a solution or paste.
• Clove seeds or zest. They are laid out around the perimeter of the room and in communication nodes, which causes the silverfish to escape.

Features of disinfection in the bathroom

Cleaning and disinfection in the bathroom should be carried out according to the following plan:

1. Elimination of unnecessary. Hygiene products are placed in a basin, a rug and towels - in a wash, a curtain is soaked in soapy water.
2. Tile washing. The detergent is applied with a sponge to the damp wall surface. An anti-mildew spray can be used to clean the tile joints.
3. Cleaning of pipes. A thick gel is poured into the drain holes to clean the pipes, removing dirt and blockages.
4. Washing the toilet and bath. The cleaning agent is applied to the surface of the bath for a while and then rinsed off. Water is removed from the toilet, then the lid, walls and surface under the rim are washed out. For disinfection, the agent is left on the surface and then removed.
5. Cleaning mirrors. Rinsed with detergent and wiped with a soft cloth.
6. Washing the floor. The floor is washed with a disinfectant, after which it is rinsed with clean water and wiped down.

Note! For cleaning it is necessary to choose products without abrasives.

Prevention of the appearance of insects

To prevent the appearance of bugs in the bathroom, the following measures are taken:

• maintaining cleanliness in the room;
• removal of dust and condensation on pipes;
• installation of high-quality ventilation and periodic cleaning of mines;
• elimination of cracks and holes in the walls, on the floor and near the baseboards;
• quick repair of taps in the event of a leak;
• drying wet corners with a fan heater;
• chlorine treatment and drying of places where mold began to appear;
• regular checking of stocks of cereals and thorough cleaning of crumbs;
• timely disposal of garbage and food waste.

If insects appear from dampness in the bathroom, then this is not a reason to panic. Getting rid of living creatures does not require serious efforts, but a responsible approach to observing sanitary and hygienic standards will avoid such a meeting.

Video: 10 ways to get rid of insects in the house without harm to health