Nothing can be more nauseating than entering your toilet and spotting some creepy-crawly worms! Despite this being a disgusting situation, the first few thoughts that raid your mind are: How did they get there? How to get rid of worms in the toilet?
Well, getting rid of worms in the toilet is not going to be a big deal, if you read through this article. Once you have read the last syllable of this article, you will be in a better position to identify different types of worms, ways to get rid of worms in the toilet and also prevent future infestation of worms in the toilet.
Types of Worms You May Find In Your Toilet
Worms are of different types and they can be differentiated on the basis of their size, colour etc. One thing to keep in mind about worms is that not all pose health hazards, but there are reasons behind their appearance in the toilet, which need attention.
The most common worms you might find in your toilet are;
- Drain Fly Larvae
- Bloodworms
- Earthworms
- Horsehair Worms
Now you are familiar with all types of worms found in toilets. Let us see how to get rid of worms in the toilet.
01. Drain Fly Larvae
Drain flies are the most common type of worms found in bathrooms. However, many people are not able to recognize them. They have a dark stripe on their dorsal area and also have an easily noticeable dark breathing tube. Though these worms are not harmful to humans, it is certainly a discomforting feeling to have them around. While a drain fly a larva showing up in your bathroom does not mean you have an untidy or unhygienic bathroom, it signals at a drain fly infestation.
How to Get Rid of Drain Fly Larvae from Your Toilet?
To get rid of drain fly larvae, you’ve got to first identify the breeding area of the drain flies, the wet places, including sewers, drains, and septic tanks.
Once you have identified these spots, you would next need some salt, vinegar, baking soda and a sticky tape.
Take a sticky tape and stick it (with sticky side down) on the top of the drain and leave it there overnight. The flies trying to move out of their abode will meet their end on reaching the sticky tape.
Once the flies are captured, there is some more work to be done. The existence of the flies itself means there are larvae left in the targeted area. So, the next step to do is to get rid of the larvae.
Here is how to do it using natural solutions;
- Make a mixture of a cup of vinegar, ½ cup of baking soda, and ½ cup of salt.
- Pour the mixture into the drain and leave it overnight
- In the morning, sterilize the targeted area by pouring boiling water. The boiling water will kill any larvae that may have survived.
- Repeat the process after a week, just in case you notice the drain fly or the larvae.
If Do It Yourself (DIY) mixtures are a hassle for you, then there are commercial drain cleaners available to eliminate the drain larvae from the toilet. Use a scrubbing brush to clean your toilet bowl thoroughly. This washes away the slime and gink that the drain fly feeds and survives on. Make sure you scour under the toilet bowl rim and inside the toilet tank too.
02. Bloodworms
Another common variety of worm found in the bathrooms is the Bloodworm. A very high amount of iron-porphyrin in the worm’s body gives it a bright red colour and this colour gives the parasite its name!
Found primarily in contaminated water, they can be easily identified because of their distinct colour. If you spot a bloodworm, it hints at two things- there is something wrong with your water and that there is lack of hygiene in your toilet.
How to Get Rid of Bloodworms In Your Toilet?
Bloodworms like to live in stagnant and contaminated water. While they can be found even in sinks, toilets and bath tubs, they prefer unused toilets.
To get rid of bloodworms, ensure that you clean and disinfect your toilet thoroughly. You can do this by using baking soda and vinegar solution. How?
- Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar. Fill this mixture into a spraying bottle. Make sure you have prepared enough mixture as per the requirement.
- Spray the solution on your drains and toilets.
- Then use boiling water to rinse any remnant of organic matter.
It is essential to maintain a clean and hygienic toilet to keep the bloodworms at bay because these worms cannot survive in clean and hygienic conditions.
03. Earthworms
Earthworms are the long, brown worms that mostly live in soil, feeding upon organic matter. Considered to be of great significance in farming, finding them in your bathroom is not a pleasant sight at all.
Presence of earthworms in the bathroom means your sewer pipe has cracked, making room for the earthworms and other foreign bodies to invade your bathroom.
How to Get Rid of Earthworms In The Toilet?
Although it is rare to find earthworms in toilets, you need to get rid of them once they make an appearance. It would also be wise to find the root cause too.
You can use powdered salt, toilet lotion or curry salt to get rid of earthworms. However, the best way to keep them away is to seal the cracks in the plumbing system.
04. Horsehair Worms
Horsehair worms live mostly inside insects, including grasshopper, cockroaches, crickets, and beetles. These parasites have long, thin body, which is roughly as thick as horsehair and they can be easily identified.
They get into your toilet through the insects mentioned above after they ingest a string of eggs from a nearby pond. It feels like they have appeared all of a sudden because they usually reach your toilets in the form of eggs!
How to Get Rid of Horsehair Worm In Your Toilet?
You can deal with horsehair worm the same way as earthworms or bloodworms. Use a baking soda and vinegar solution and spray it once you feel that these parasites have infested your bathroom. If you suspect that they still exist around, clear the bathroom and spray the solution all over. This will kill all the eggs and prevent the appearance of these worms.
Here’s a video to sum up all the points mentioned above & below:
How to prevent worm infestation in your toilet?
Although the prevention of worm infestation in your toilet depends on their species, listed below are few universal steps, which will help you do away with them for good.
- Always ensure that you flush unused toilets at least once a day.
- Don’t leave your bathroom to stay damp for too long.
- Ensure that your bathroom is well ventilated. Having fresh air in your bathroom would prevent moisture and mildew, which encourages worms.
- Spray your bathroom with baking soda and vinegar at least once a week and keep it clean all the time.
- Since worms find their way into your bathroom from the outside, make sure you plug any potential entries.
Clean the air conditioners and vents every month. Worms are disgusting and no one would be comfortable in their presence. Although they’re harmless to humans, you can’t keep these moisture-loving creatures in the toilet at all. You’ve got to do whatever it takes to get rid of worms in the Toilet, Pronto! Everyone desires a neat and clean residence.
However, smells of toilets and inadequate sanitary facilities would never be accepted despite the esthetic appearance of your home. Click on the link below to learn how to get rid of odour from your toilet and bathroom –
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Author Bio
Fidelis Kinai – Fidelis Muti possess a bachelor’s in English and Journalism and have over four years of professional experienced writing and proofreading materials for print and online platforms, including newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, and social media accounts. He also have over three years of experience as a marketing assistant and social media manager.
He is versatile and diligent and will produce exemplary content within time to meet your deadline.
He can deliver most work within 2-3 days; rush orders are accepted whenever possible. He is based in the Kenya but travel often and work for clients all over the world.