Nobody wants cockroaches in their house, much less the kitchen where their food is stored because they are so repulsive. Your skin will start to crawl just by seeing a cockroach in the wild. It’s a nightmare to find one in your kitchen, though.
If you need to know how to get rid of cockroaches in kitchen cabinets, the steps below can help you get rid of the pests and make sure they don’t come back.
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Why Do Cockroaches Live In My Cabinets?
Cockroaches are frequently found in kitchen cabinets, particularly if they’re located there. However, why do roaches adore these settings so much?
- Roaches love dark, closed spaces
- Your cabinet is a source of food & water
- There are multiple potential food sources
- They’re nocturnal (kitchens are normally empty at night)
- Crumbs & small spills are common
- You don’t come into contact with your cabinets too much
Cabinets are like incredible grocery stores for cockroaches, stocked with food and beverages.
Check to see if you’re keeping your kitchen cabinets clean and in good shape if you have a roach problem that keeps coming back so that the issue doesn’t recur.
Having Cockroaches In Kitchen Cabinets Might Be Dangerous
Cockroach control is essential to protect your home, just like it is for other similar pests. Here are a few risks of having cockroaches in kitchen cabinets to show why this is important:
- Asthma and Allergies — Cockroaches release allergens into the air in the form of saliva, feces, and shed body parts. These might aggravate someone with asthma or allergies, who already has a sensitive respiratory system.
- Sign of an Infestation — Although you might not think that seeing a few cockroaches is a big deal, they typically coexist with other organisms. Even one cockroach can be a sign of a possible or existing roach infestation.
- Roaches Carry Disease — When it comes to disease transmission, cockroaches are among the deadliest pests. They have a history of spreading dangerous diseases like typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, salmonella, gastroenteritis, and many others.
- Food Contamination — Cockroaches can not only infect you if you come into contact with them, but they can also contaminate your food and water with germs. You could get very sick if you eat anything that they’ve contaminated.
How To Get Rid Of Roaches In Kitchen Cabinet?
1. Use Natural Remedies
A whole host of health problems due to cockroaches can wreak havoc on your home. There are alternatives you can explore if you’re on the fence about using pesticides.
Sugar And Baking Soda
Although it might seem counterproductive to put something sticky and sweet down for the roaches, the sugar’s only purpose is to draw them in. Actually, baking soda kills them. Put equal parts sugar and baking soda in a small bowl and store it in your cabinets. Every few days, check it and refill as necessary.
Borax Powder
The first natural remedy you can use to ward off a cockroach infestation is borax powder, a cleaning agent that repels these insects. It can be used to clean cabinets or as a deterrent by sprinkling it inside of them. Borax is a potent cleaning agent that can make you ill if ingested or absorbed through the skin, so make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling it.
Bay Leaves
Cockroaches won’t be killed by bay leaves, but they will flee because of the unpleasant smell. Bay leaves are available in your neighborhood grocery store’s spice section. The roaches should leave the kitchen cabinets where you’ve seen them if you place a few leaves there.
Dish Soap And Water
Spraying the inside of your cabinets with a solution of water and dish soap is another easy and affordable way to deter and get rid of roaches. Use more than a few drops of soap; a ratio of about 3 parts water to 1 part soap should be adequate to ensure that there is enough soap in the mixture. If you see any roaches, you can also spray the mixture directly onto them to kill them by obstructing their airways.
Eggshells
Many people use eggshells as a natural pest deterrent in their gardens. They function as a pesticide in much the same way that diatomaceous earth does in your garden. Simply clean off any egg residue, crush up the shells, and scatter the powder under your cabinets.
2. Put Out Traps
Gel cockroach traps are an efficient way to get rid of an infestation. The gel from the traps will be carried back to the roaches’ nests by them, where the poison will decimate the entire colony. Glue traps can help you determine whether there is still an issue even though they are not an effective method of roach extermination. Install glue traps in your cabinets, and if you still discover bugs inside of them, carry on with your treatment.
3. Remove Food Sources
Cockroaches only settle down in a place if they have access to the resources they need to survive. By removing what attracts roaches to your home, you eliminate what can sustain them.
In addition to preferring to eat carbohydrates, meats, and sweets, cockroaches can also survive on the decomposing matter, other insects, books, and even hair. Every time you cook, do a thorough cleanup and keep your cabinets as tidy and uncluttered as you can to remove their sources of food.
4. Get Rid Of Water Sources
Once more, roaches only stay in places where they can survive. They must seek out alternative accommodations if there is no water available. A leak under your sink, in the cabinets, or even under the refrigerator should be sealed.
5. Seal Off Access Points
Make sure you don’t get another infestation after you’ve eliminated the roaches that are currently residing in your cabinets and removed their nests. With a caulking gun, you can fill in holes and seal off cracks between walls, doors, and windows.
6. Contact The Pros
If you haven’t had success getting rid of the cockroaches yourself or if you’re not comfortable trying these methods, it might be time to call in a local pest control company or a roach control pro near you. Some of them offer a free assessment and treatment plan recommendation that may include traps and spraying. The cost to exterminate cockroaches is around $150.
The Bottom Line
This is bad news for many homeowners in roach-prone areas because cockroaches adore your kitchen cabinets. However, if you apply these suggestions, you might be able to end your roach problem once and for all.
It’s important to keep in mind that getting rid of just one or two cockroaches won’t always solve your roach problem in the long run. Try to employ methodical techniques that make it impossible for roaches to reappear after they have been eliminated.
The best way to avoid further infestations is to do that.
