You walk into your bathroom and catch movement out of the corner of your eye—tiny ants marching across the sink, around the faucet, or along the edge of the tub. It's not just annoying; it’s unsettling. Why are ants showing up in a room with no food?
While it might feel random, there’s always a reason. Bathrooms provide ants with exactly what they’re looking for: moisture, warmth, and quiet corners to hide. And once they’ve found a reliable water source or a way inside, it’s only a matter of time before more follow.
If you live in Longview, you’ve probably seen this before. Our wet climate, older homes, and proximity to wooded areas make bathrooms a prime target for ant activity. The good news is that once you understand what’s attracting them, you can take steps to get rid of them and keep them out for good.
What Attracts Ants to Bathrooms?
Ants are always looking for three things: water, food, and shelter. Your bathroom checks all three boxes.
- Moisture: Leaky faucets, damp floors, and leftover condensation from a hot shower all provide ants with a steady water supply.
- Residue: Even a small amount of toothpaste or soap can leave behind something ants are drawn to, especially sugar ants.
- Access: Small gaps around plumbing lines, cracked caulking, or loose tiles give ants an easy entry into walls, cabinets, or flooring.
- Drain gunk: If your sink or shower drain hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it may be harboring organic debris that ants consider food.
Once a few ants find a good source of water or food, they’ll leave a scent trail that leads the rest of the colony straight in.
Common Types of Ants Found in Bathrooms
You’re most likely seeing one of these:
- Sugar ants (odorous house ants): Small and dark-colored, they’re often drawn to sweet or scented substances.
- Pharaoh ants: Tiny and yellowish, they prefer warm, humid environments like bathrooms.
- Carpenter ants: These larger ants may indicate a moisture issue inside your walls or woodwork.
If you’re not sure what kind of ant you’re dealing with, a pest control expert can help identify them and let you know if there’s a larger infestation at play.
Could Plumbing Problems Be Contributing?
Leaky plumbing or excess moisture often plays a role in recurring ant issues. Bathrooms naturally have more humidity than other rooms, and even minor plumbing problems can create the perfect environment for ants.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Leaky faucets or pipes under the sink
- Standing water near drains or in shower corners
- Cracked caulking or grout where ants can sneak through
- Clogged or dirty drains that offer a hidden food source
If you’ve addressed surface-level issues but ants keep coming back, a plumbing inspection may be worth considering.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Bathroom
If you’re ready to clear them out, here’s what works:
- Clean thoroughly. Wipe down surfaces, scrub the sink, and clean inside drains.
- Dry the area. Keep the bathroom as dry as possible. Run your fan, open a window, and wipe up water after use.
- Use ant bait. Place traps near the source of activity. Bait can help eliminate the colony by targeting ants at the source.
- Seal entry points. Re-caulk around sinks, tubs, or floor edges. Close up any small gaps where ants might be entering.
- Keep it ventilated. Better airflow can reduce the humidity ants thrive in.
These steps help reduce what ants are looking for—and prevent others from following the trail.
What to Do if They Keep Coming Back
If you’ve cleaned, dried, sealed, and baited—and ants are still showing up—it may be time to dig a little deeper.
Persistent ants might point to:
- A hidden leak inside a wall or cabinet
- Excess moisture behind tile or under flooring
- A clogged or rotting drain line
- A nearby nest that wasn’t eliminated
This is where a plumber or pest control specialist can help. If there’s an underlying plumbing issue contributing to the problem, getting it fixed can stop the cycle.
Tips for Keeping Ants Out Long-Term
Once the ants are gone, here’s how to keep them from coming back:
- Dry your sink and counters after each use
- Don’t leave damp towels or bathmats on the floor
- Clean drains regularly to prevent buildup
- Store soaps, lotions, and toothpaste with lids closed
- Fix plumbing leaks quickly before moisture builds up
- Seal any cracks or gaps in grout, caulk, or flooring
Keeping your bathroom dry and sealed goes a long way in making it less attractive to pests.
Need Help Finding the Source of Moisture?
If ants are a frequent visitor in your bathroom, your plumbing system could be creating the conditions they love. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Portland, we inspect for leaks, check drains, and resolve hidden moisture issues that can attract unwanted pests.
Give us a call or schedule an appointment online. We’ll help you get back to a clean, dry, ant-free bathroom—no stress, no guesswork.
