Unfortunately, it’s a sight that’s all too real for many of us. Considering our city’s old architecture, closeness to the water, and wildly fluctuating weather, pest control can be a major hassle in Red Oak homes – especially in our favorite room of the house, the bathroom.

Want to help prevent creepy-crawlies from getting into your bathrooms this spring? Here are a few simple ideas to help make sure your bathroom is as bug-free as can be:

Seal Up Holes

While we tend to take the area around our bathroom appliances for granted, many homeowners are surprised to learn just how much of a gap there may be between our pipes and the walls they feed into.  

The little gaps and cracks around your bathroom, however small, are the perfect entryways for roaches and other bugs ready to invade your personal space. Be sure to caulk the areas around your bathroom sink, toilet, and shower. And look out for your drains, as well, making sure to keep the plug on your bath drain when not in use.

If your bathroom has a small window, seal up its loose edges with a foam weather strip (fairly easy to find in any DIY or hardware store). For the truly vigilant, you can even stop up your bathroom’s electrical outlets when your electric razor or hair dryer isn’t plugged in: Plastic outlet covers (often intended for baby-proofing) are easy to come by and can help fortify against a potential entry point for ants or other small insects.

Leave Bugs High and Dry

While many of us tend to think that bugs are the most attracted to our open food or garbage sources, the real site for annoying pests – especially mosquitoes – is around water. Bugs tend to be attracted to moisture and dampness, which makes our bathrooms a prime spot for invasion.

With that in mind, taking excellent care of your plumbing system is actually one major way to keep your bathroom dry and prevent bugs (in addition to being one of the most important things you can do for your home). Be sure to stay on the lookout for, and be ready to fix, any leaky pipes, promptly clear clogged drains, and repair or replace any dripping faucets.

And to generally create a dryer environment in your full baths, frequently run your bathroom fan to clear humidity after showering or bathing. This helps clear away moisture, making your bathroom less hospitable to pests.

Keep it Clean

In addition to making sure your bathroom stays dry and functional, keep it clean and tidy to help identify and prevent bug outbreaks.

Garbage – particularly the sorts of damp tissues and old bottles that tend to be left in bathroom wastebaskets – does attract bugs, so make sure you regularly take out the trash and try to use can liners and keep a garbage container with a closed lid, rather than one exposed to the air.

It also couldn’t hurt to make sure your bathroom is decluttered and organized. While this won’t necessarily prevent bugs from getting in, it may cut back on their hiding places, letting you spot – and promptly cut off – any potential infestations.

Have any other questions about keeping your bathroom clean, functional, and working the way you want it? Got any ideas on bug control in the bathroom or kitchen? We’d love to hear from you! Drop Combat Plumbing a line, day or night. Our team is here and ready to help with all of your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line needs.