The appearance of little black worms in shower grout is just so disgusting. They are drain worms, for sure. Are you also tired of seeing these worms in the shower and finding no way to get rid of these worms? Then, you have arrived at the right place to get all your answers.
First of all, we need to know what shower grouts are, so they are nothing but a mixture of cement and other ingredients, such as sand and water, that is used to fill in between the tiles to secure and cover the space and gaps between two adjacent tiles. They are water resistant, sense, and uniformly colored material.
When, after prolonged use, these grouts start shedding off, then the left-out space becomes a perfect home for moisture and decaying matter for these worms to feed on and flourish hassle-free.
Let us now see what you can do to eliminate these worms.
1. Identify the type of worm.
Before planning something against the worms, we first need to know their type, which will make it easy to plan accordingly and remove them quickly.
For that, you can do the duct tape method, in which you have to place a piece of tape where you often see worms or where there are higher chances of finding worms. You can leave this duct tape for overnight. The following day, you will see the worms are stuck on the sticky surface of the tape. Now, you can carefully examine them and look for the next step.
2. Clean the shower grout.
Keep the bathroom clean. For that, you can use several methods, out of which the easiest way is to pour hot boiling water into the shower. It will not only clean the bathroom but also remove the debris from the spaces. A gentle brush can also be used to clean the debris accumulated in between the spaces. Other options that are available to clean the shower grout are-
- White vinegar – pour some white vinegar, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, then brush it off gently.
- A mixture of salt, baking soda, and white vinegar – you can prepare this mixture by mixing a fixed amount of all of these (half cup salt, half cup baking soda with two to three caps of white vinegar)
- Bleach –take one cap of bleach and pour it directly on where worms and their larvae reside.
- Mineral oil – mineral oil is the least used method of all.
- (Note – the floor may get slippery; be careful while walking)
- Chemical-based cleaners – various types of drain cleaners are available in the market; they have a fixed composition of chemicals. The best part is they are easy to use. You can refer to the user manual. Generally, you have to pour it over the floor, leave it for a few minutes, and brush gently at last clear with the normal water.
3. Apply new shower grout.
If your older grout is damaged and removed, there is a lot of space for the fungus and mold to grow, which invites the black worms. Then, you can fill these spaces by applying a new shower grout. You can apply it on your own or hire a professional plumber to fill the unnecessary spaces.
Final words
Shower grouts are the mixtures of cement sand and water used to fill the spaces between tiles; they are water-resistant and available in various colors and qualities. When, after prolonged use, this grout starts shedding off, these little black worms reside inside these spaces. So to prevent the growth of these worms, first of all, identify the type of worms, clean the shower grout with chemicals, and then at last apply a new layer of grout.
Frequently asked questions
What are the things to remember before and after applying shower grout to prevent the growth of little black worms?
To prevent the growth of worms, there are a few points that you need to keep in mind before applying the shower grout.
Firstly, keep the spaces clean, dry, and free from any excess tile adhesive, as they can interact and discolor your grout. Then, you can carefully start filling them in the spaces in an even manner. Remember not to leave any space as it can invite the growth of tiny worms.
When the work is finished, ensure the grout is completely dry before touching it. Leave it overnight to dry thoroughly, and keep it away from the water for a few hours. Because it can prevent the grout from settling entirely, it will fall off after some time.
What are the other places other than shower, where you can find these worms in your home?
These tiny worms grow only in damp and moist areas, and they need dead and decaying matter to grow. Therefore, you can also find them in your basement where water has been standing for a long time, around your garden or plants, around leaking pipes, and in poorly sealed water containers.
