Have you ever had that unsettling experience of waking up to find ants sharing your bed? If so, you’re not alone. Ants in bed can be a real nuisance, disrupting your sleep and leaving you wondering how they got there in the first place.
In this blog, we’re going to delve into this common problem, exploring the reasons behind ants invading your bed and, most importantly, how to get rid of them for good.
How to get rid of ants in a bed?
Pro tip: You must first identify their hiding places if you want to get rid of ants in your bed successfully. Check your mattress and the bed to know exactly where to start. Begin by inspecting the joints under the mattress, then finally look for any holes and cracks in your mattress. After that, use the following steps to get rid of ants in your bed:
- Remove all the bed sheets, duvets, heavy blankets, and the mattress
- Take the mattress out for aeration
- Wash all the bedding and ensure they are well dried
- Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of soapy water and use it to clean the bed
- Be generous on the joints and ensure they are well-cleaned because that is where ants hide
- Clean the bedroom in general and remove dirty clothes
- Ensure the hidden dark corners are well-moped and cleaned
- Leave the windows and doors open for aeration after cleaning
Ensure you leave the bedroom to be aerated for as long as possible. You will get the best results if you give it at least 6 hours.
Repeat this after every two weeks until the last ant is gone. Even after they are all gone, always do this because it keeps other pests like lizards that feed on ants away from your bedroom.
Causes of ants in your bed
If ants are in your bed, there is definitely a reason why they are there. They will also end up crawling on you at night. They will keep coming back if you do not eliminate what attracts them. Here are some of the main causes of ants in bed:
Food particles and soup
Ants will also crawl on you at night if you go to bed without washing your hands properly after eating. They have good food detectors which can pick up the scent of food from quite a distance.
When you go to bed with food or soup droplets on your clothes, ants will crawl on you while trying to find that meal. They may come in large numbers. While you sleep and turn, they may bite you, thinking you are trying to attack them.
Warmth
Tiny ants in a bed may crawl on you while you are asleep because they are looking for warmth. This is common, especially when it is extremely cold, and there is an infestation in the bedroom.
Old wooden beds
Old Wooden beds that are moist can attract carpenter ants to your bed even if there is no food. Carpenter ants naturally dig into moist wood to nest and make a habitat. This does not mean they feed on the wood because ants do not eat wood.
In most cases, wooden beds provide a very nice hiding place for ants, especially at the joints. They will hide and nest in the joints, so ants may suddenly appear on your bed at night. This happens especially if you eat on your bed while watching a movie.
If they start nesting in large numbers, you will notice wood particles on the floor. These are the ones they drop while making and creating more space for their expanding colonies.
Cracks and holes in the mattress
Ants can infest your mattress and make a nest in it. This is common, especially when your mattress is placed on a cold floor, and the mattress is the only warm place they can find.
A metallic bed will also drive them into holes and cracks in a mattress since the metal frames are always cold while the mattress is always warm and moist.
Some ants, i.e., fire ants, can be deadly and bite and sting you as you sleep if you are not lucky. You should never ignore any signs of ants in your bedroom, bed, and bedding, especially if you also have young ones in the house.
What Attracts Ants to Your Bedroom Even When There is No Food?
It’s puzzling when you maintain a spotless bedroom yet still find ants. These persistent pests might be drawn by the scent of body oils and dead skin cells on your bed linens. Alternatively, your potted bedroom plants could be the real party place for ants.
How Can Tiny Ants Enter My Bedroom?
Tiny cracks and holes, often unseen by human eyes, are all an ant needs to gain entry. Windows, doors, walls, and even electrical outlets can serve as highways for these pint-sized intruders.
How To Prevent Ants In Your Bedroom? – The Natural Remedies
Preventing ants in the bedroom is more effective than trying to eliminate them later. To ensure your efforts are not in vain, follow these steps for ant prevention in your bedroom.
Keep Ant Baits Where You Noticed Ant Trails
Similar to odorous house ants, numerous species of house ants follow trails as they navigate. These ant trails typically lead to either their nesting place or a source of food.
To effectively combat ants, place ant baits in areas where you’ve observed ants or their trails.
For optimal results, deploy bait stations in your kitchen, particularly beneath sinks and inside the pantry.
Ant bait stations function by enticing ants, and once the ants partake of the bait, the poison contained within it eliminates them.
You can find ant baits available in either liquid or sticky trap forms. Sticky traps release an enticing scent that attracts ants.
As ants tread upon these adhesive traps, they become immobilized. Subsequently, you should dispose of the sticky ant traps, along with the trapped ants.
Spray Peppermint Essential Oils
Ants, along with a multitude of other insects and pests, have an aversion to the scent of peppermint.
Hence, employing a peppermint oil spray within various areas of your home, such as the bedroom, kitchen, basement, garage, windowsills, and around the house’s perimeter, is advisable.
While the aroma of peppermint is pleasing to us, it proves overpowering for ants and other pests. Consequently, ants tend to steer clear of areas saturated with the peppermint fragrance.
By strategically applying peppermint oil to locations such as windows and the perimeter of your home, you can effectively deter ants from using these points of entry into your residence.
Seal The Entry Point
It’s crucial to decrease the ant population in your home by sealing entry points like cracks and gaps.
Insects often infiltrate homes through openings in walls, crawlspaces, doorways, windows, and doors.
To block these access points effectively, use a silicone-based sealant. These sealants are sturdy, long-lasting, and impervious to water, making them impervious to insect damage.
Maintain Cleanliness In Your Kitchen And Home
Maintaining cleanliness is essential to deter ants, as it removes the food sources they seek in homes.
A well-kept, dry kitchen is crucial in making your home unappealing to ants.
Dispose of kitchen food waste daily to prevent the buildup of rotting materials in garbage bags or bins, which emit odors attracting ants, flies, and roaches.
Avoid leaving leftover food on counters or in sinks, and wash dirty dishes before bedtime to prevent ants from finding a reliable food source.
To prevent ant and roach infestations, keep kitchen surfaces free of food remnants and crumbs. Store grains, dry foods, and pet food in airtight containers to discourage ants and pantry pests.
Regularly clean kitchen surfaces with dish soap or disinfectant to remove food stains and crumbs that attract ants.
Use Natural Ant Repellants To Keep Away Ants In Bedroom And House
Natural ant repellents consist of coffee grounds, ground cinnamon, boric acid, peppermint, and bay leaves.
Store them in your bedroom if you’ve spotted ants there, but they work best when placed in areas where ants initially invade.
Therefore, consider using them in locations like your kitchen, as the scents of these household items effectively deter ants and other insects.
Eliminate Ants In Your Yard Or Garden
To keep ants out of your home, it’s crucial to eliminate them from the outdoor areas they typically enter from.
Managing ants in your yard is a comprehensive endeavor.
Begin by removing organic debris, maintaining proper moisture levels by avoiding overwatering, and ensuring the appropriate disposal of yard waste.
Items like foliage, decomposing mulch, decaying wood, and tree stumps are all attractive to ants and termites, necessitating their removal from your yard to discourage ants from establishing a presence outdoors.
Trimming excess vegetation near your home’s exterior walls is essential, as ants can exploit these plants as entry points.
Address ant hills by pouring hot water into them, as these mounds often provide access to underground ant nests. This action can disrupt their pathways effectively.
Use Insecticide Granules To Prevent Ants From Entering Your House
Insecticide granules, designed to penetrate the soil and repel moisture-loving pests like ants and termites, are a robust preventive measure against ant invasions in your home.
Spread these granules along your house’s perimeter. In some cases, you may need to create a trench, place the granules inside, and lightly moisten them.
Alternatively, you can choose liquid ant barriers as an effective way to keep ants at bay.
Control The Moisture By Fixing Water Leakages
Excess moisture attracts ants and can harm your home, providing the perfect conditions for carpenter ants and others to form colonies.
Leakages under sinks, faucets, and pipes add to indoor moisture levels.
To combat this, promptly repair any leaks.
Also, be mindful not to overwater your yard or garden, as excess moisture can make your property attractive to ants, including red fire ants.
In humid or tropical regions, a dehumidifier can help maintain indoor humidity levels.
Which Types of Ants Can Be Found in Your Bedroom?
In bedrooms, you’ll typically encounter one of three ant species.
Sugar Ants
The tiny sugar ant is a sweet-toothed creature. If you ever left a juice box or candy wrapper in your bedroom, you might have unknowingly rolled out the welcome mat for these guys.
Carpenter Ants
Unlike their sweet-loving cousins, carpenter ants prefer a diet of proteins and fat. They can chew through wood and might be attracted to wooden bed frames or furniture.
Odorous House Ants
These ants have a distinct rotten coconut smell when crushed. They’re omnivorous scavengers and can eat anything, so even a microscopic food particle can attract them.
You can get rid of ants in your bedroom by keeping it clean and dry, sealing entry points, and using natural or chemical ant repellents. If the infestation persists, it’s time to call a pest control professional. Remember, a bedroom is a place of rest and peace, and nothing, especially not ants, should compromise that.
FAQs
Before we wrap up, let’s address some common questions about ants in the bedroom.
Are Ants in the Bedroom Dangerous?
Generally, ants found in bedrooms aren’t dangerous and won’t cause harm. However, some people may experience allergic reactions to ant stings, so caution is still advised.
Why Are Ants in My Bedroom Carpet?
Ants in the bedroom carpet could be foraging for food, moisture, or simply exploring new territories. Keeping the area clean and using preventive measures can help resolve this issue.
How to Get Rid of Ants on My Bed?
If ants have invaded your bed, wash your bedding in hot water and vacuum any remaining ants. Employing the prevention methods mentioned earlier should stop them from returning.
Why Do Ants Suddenly Appear in My Bedroom?
Ants are resourceful creatures. They can appear in your bedroom suddenly if they detect food, water, or a suitable nesting site. Regularly cleaning and implementing preventive measures will discourage them from invading.
Now armed with these strategies, you can confidently reclaim your bedroom from those pesky ants and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.
Conclusion
Dealing with ants in bed can be a frustrating and uncomfortable experience. However, armed with the knowledge and tips we’ve shared in this blog, you can take proactive steps to prevent and eliminate these tiny intruders from disrupting your sleep. Remember, a clean and vigilant approach goes a long way in keeping ants at bay.
If you found this blog helpful, be sure to explore more articles at Pestweek.
Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.
All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.