Why Are There Bugs in My Bathroom? What They Are and How to Stop Them

Tiny black or gray bugs in a bathroom are usually drain flies if they fly, or springtails if they jump. Drain flies breed in the slime inside drains, so scrub the drain with a brush and use a drain gel for several days. Springtails mean moisture — look for a leak or wet spot nearby. If they're crawling in a line, they're probably small ants.

Small silver, wingless bugs that wiggle like fish are silverfish. They live where humidity is high and hide behind baseboards, under sinks and in wall gaps, coming out at night. They don't bite or spread disease, but they can damage paper and fabrics. Run the exhaust fan, use a dehumidifier, fix drips and seal gaps to make the bathroom less attractive.

Most bathroom bugs, including silverfish, centipedes and roaches, are nocturnal. They hide in wall voids and under fixtures during the day and come out in the dark to look for water and food. Seeing a few at night usually means they're living close by, often in a damp wall, under the tub or in the basement below.

No, bathroom bugs are mostly a sign of moisture, not dirt. Even spotless bathrooms have drain film, humidity and gaps around pipes. That said, cleaning drains and drying the room are two of the best ways to get rid of them. The exception is roaches: they can come in from neighbors or on things you bring home, no matter how clean you keep things.

Yes, some can. Drain flies breed inside the drain itself, and large roaches can climb up through tub and floor drains from the sewer line, especially when a trap has dried out. Keep traps full by running water in unused drains, use drain covers, and scrub out buildup. Bugs that come out of drains are usually solved at the drain.

To get rid of drain flies for good, remove the slime they breed in. Scrub the inside of the drain with a stiff brush, then use a drain gel made for organic buildup daily for about a week. Pouring bleach or boiling water usually isn't enough. If flies continue after a week, the source may be a broken pipe or a different drain, and an inspection helps.

House centipedes are not dangerous to most people. They rarely bite, and a bite is usually compared to a mild bee sting. They don't damage your home and actually eat other bugs. But lots of centipedes means lots of moisture and other insects, so drying the bathroom and basement and sealing gaps is the best way to cut their numbers.

Yes, lowering humidity is one of the most effective fixes. Silverfish, springtails and centipedes all need damp air to survive. Run the bathroom exhaust fan during and after showers, keep the door open when you can, and use a dehumidifier in basement bathrooms. Pair it with fixing leaks and sealing gaps for the best results.

Call an exterminator when you see roaches, when bugs return after two weeks of drying, cleaning and sealing, or when you can't identify the bug. A professional can find hidden sources like wall voids, pipe gaps and the unit next door. Silver Bullet Pest Control is based in Garfield and serves Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties; same-day visits are often available.

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