If you’ve ever had a shower or taken a bath and noticed black slimy worms floating around in the water, then you’re probably wondering what’s causing them.
These tiny black worms are called ‘blackworms’ and normally live off decaying organic matter such as food scraps, hair, dead insects, and other decaying food items.
They are also known to breed in stagnant water and dark areas with high concentrations of decomposing organic matter.
Why Do the Little Black Worms in the Shower Prevail?
These worms are not parasites but hairworms or nematodes. They like warm water and will multiply when they find it. They can be found in showerheads, tub drains, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and under sinks. They are tiny, about 1/4 inch long, and live for only one day. They feed on dead skin cells and human hair.
Are the Small Black Worms Existing In the Shower Dangerous?
Usually, drain worms don’t cause any health issues. However, if you don’t clean out your drain regularly, you could run into clogged pipes, sewer backups, and other plumbing problems.
Drain worms are beneficial for the environment; however, they can cause damage to your home if you don’t clean them out properly.
How Do the Black Worms Found in the Shower Look Like?
The larvae look similar to grains of rice that float through your toilet bowl without sticking to anything. This type of worm has an elongated body and three pairs of legs.
It’s essential to know how to identify these types of pests because they often hide inside your waste pipe, causing severe blockage and backup. The adult form looks different from the immature stage; this worm has two back fins and no visible front section.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Black Worms in the Shower?
Use A Handheld Vacuum
Using a handheld vacuum is one way to remove these little creatures from your home. You can buy an inexpensive handheld vacuum for less than $20 at any local hardware store. Turn on the suction power by squeezing down on the handle with both hands while holding onto the hose.
The result should be that all of those annoying black worms float away into oblivion. To make sure they don’t come back again, empty out the contents of the vacuum bag when it’s complete.
It is recommended to empty out the entire thing because this may include some dirt particles which could find their way back into your house if left inside. For extra safety measures, it is suggested to wear gloves when using a handheld vacuuming device.
Just simply hold the nozzle between your thumb and index finger, keeping your fingers clear of the opening, so no debris falls into them.
A simple handheld portable vacuum cleaner works great for removing black worm infestations in a bathroom or kitchen sink area. It won’t work well, though, in larger bodies of standing water like swimming pools or ponds. So remember not to use this method anywhere near any type of body of water.
Spray Down Your Bathroom Area With Bleach
Another effective way to eliminate these disgusting black worms is to spray bleach solution over the affected area. Be careful, though! Bleach can actually kill certain types of bacteria and parasites, but unfortunately, it has absolutely zero effect against blackworm larvae.
Clean Out Any Standing Water You Can Find
If possible, try cleaning up any standing water you see in a bathroom or kitchen area. Standing water attracts tiny organisms, including blackworms. Once you clean it up, the chances of having another problem go down significantly.
Try Adding Baking Soda Into An Empty Sink Or Tub
When adding baking soda into the tub or sink, add only half of the amount recommended. In my experience, about 3 tablespoons of baking soda per gallon of warm tap water seem to do the trick.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t impact large amounts of standing water, especially since most places containing standing water already have plenty of natural bacteria present.
But even if you added too much baking soda, you’d still notice almost immediately a noticeable reduction in the numbers of blackworms.
Run Hot Soap Through The Drain
This is similar to the idea behind washing dishes before bedtime. After running hot soap through the drain, wait 15 minutes after doing so. During this time period, the heat will cause the eggs laid by the adult female worms to hatch, killing them instantly.
Add Borax Powder
Borax powder is made with boric acid and sodium tetraborate decahydrate. This compound kills off the immature stages of blackworms, making it one of the best solutions available today.
Make sure, however, that you’re buying organic borax powder at least. You want to get rid of tiny black worms in the shower quickly without harming anyone.
The Bottom Line
Black worms existing in your bathroom shower are also called “water mites.” They live in moist areas like bathrooms and kitchens. They look a lot like tiny white maggots, but there’s no way they’re parasites.
They don’t even burrow under the skin. Instead, they feed on bacteria that live on top of surfaces like sinks and tubs. That means they reproduce quickly, leaving behind a large population very quickly. Therefore, you need to take immediate steps to get rid of them.
