Dishwashers are one of the places that cockroaches love the most. These spaces are dark, damp, have tons of moisture, very low human interference, and lots of food residue. All of this and more make this just the most suitable place for cockroaches to start their infestation.
But that being said, you cannot possibly live with it, and have to get rid of them as soon as possible. In fact, even if you don’t have cockroaches in your dishwasher, and you just happened to stumble upon this article, take a minute to skim through so you get to know how you can prevent cockroaches from infesting your dishwasher in the first place.
In either case, it is never too late to know about how to get rid of roaches in dishwasher, or read up on them so you don’t have to deal with them over and over again.
Why Cockroaches Infest Dishwashers
There are many reasons why cockroaches choose to stay in your dishwasher as opposed to other places. As we have mentioned before, it is primarily because of the dark and damp atmosphere paired with food residue.
Cockroaches naturally like to stay in the dark, and they can be usually found in dark corners of the home. And the dishwasher is yet another dark place.
They also love damp spaces, and this is why they can often be found in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry zones, or the basement. And the dishwasher is another space that mimics this atmosphere.
Of course, they love food. Another reason why they are always in the kitchen. And the same goes for the dishwasher as well, as it often contains residue from the food that is being washed away inside it. And this is even more the case if your dishwasher filter is not clean.
Cockroaches also try to avoid humans and try to stay in places where we would not interfere normally. And since we don’t always check every nook and corner of the inside of the dishwasher, this makes it their perfect hiding place.
How You Can Get Rid Of Roaches In Dishwasher
Now to the main point, how do you get rid of these pests if they have infested your dishwasher? You start with some simple supplies, and then start the process, which has bend detailed below.
Supplies:
- Dishwasher Detergent
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Boric Acid (Boric acid is toxic to children and pets, and must be used with caution if you have children or pets around)
The Process:
Seal The Dishwasher
This is an important point as sometimes cockroaches make their way into the dishwasher through loose doors and corners. Always check to make sure that the corners and doors are sealed shut and that there are no cracks in the sealing. If there are, get them fixed by calling a professional or by calling the manufacturer.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a very powerful acid that can kill cockroaches and prevent them from coming back the same. You can use it underneath the dishwasher and all around it. Place it in a line so that when the cockroaches try to enter or leave, they come in contact with it, and this will kill them.
Apply this acid for a few days even after you stop noticing the cockroaches, because there are some which appear later on, and multiply again. Repeating the process will ensure that does not happen.
One thing you do have to be careful about when using boric acid is that this is highly toxic. If you have pets or children in the house, lock the kitchen door or use this when they are not around.
Vacuum
Once the boric acid part is done, vacuum the entire home to ensure that there no more cockroaches around which can come back into the dishwasher to create an infestation here. If you want, you may apply boric acid in other places of the home too as a precaution, of course with caution.
Clean The Dishwasher
Start by removing all the utensils, pots, and pans from the dishwasher, and then remove the racks so you have better access to the interior space. This will allow you to thoroughly clean the space.
Make sure to clean the drain and the filter as well, so that there are no spots left that could have possible food residue or cockroach eggs waiting to hatch. Pay extra close attention to the drains, as this is often the source of the infestation.
Once you are done cleaning, run a wash cycle to ensure that there are no cockroaches present.
Sanitize
For sanitization, use vinegar. Take one cup of vinegar and place it on the top rack. Then pick the highest temperature your dishwasher has to offer and run it again for an hour. The high temperatures paired with the acidity of the vinegar will kill cockroaches and sanitize the interior.
Sanitization is highly needed for cockroaches. They are one of the filthiest pests out there, so even if you get rid of them, you might still have their lingering germs and bacteria all over the dishwasher, which might get to your plates and dishes.
Preventive Measures
Preventive measures to keeping roaches out of your dishwasher are pretty simple and easy, but they require perseverance and timeliness!
1. Regular Cleaning
Cleaning the dishwasher every once in a while is required so that these roaches cannot build themselves up or lay eggs. Cleaning removes the food residue so there is less motive for the cockroaches to stay there.
2. Vacuuming
Vacuuming is important because even when you don’t see the cockroaches, there are cockroach residues present which you cannot always see. Vacuuming ensures these are cleaned out so that you don’t risk getting these mixed up with your plates.
3. Air Circulation
You need to allow the insides of the dishwasher to dry completely before you close them. Now, this can also be an outlet for them to enter, so keep an eye out, or do so in daylight with lots of people around so they don’t come in.
4. Remove Dishes Asap
After running a wash cycle, remove the dishes from the washer as soon as possible, and don’t let them sit inside. This way, even if there are a few cockroaches present, they won’t be all over your dishes. But if they are, you just took out an entire batch of dishes that got infested.
5. Natural Repellants
Of course, you cannot use Boric acid all the time, it is not safe for you, your kids, pets, or even the surroundings in general. What you can use however are natural repellants.
This includes things like lavender oil, peppermint oil, tea tree essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil. Use them as you would with the boric acid, but on a more frequent basis to keep roaches out permanently.
How To Get Rid Of Roaches In Dishwasher Door
One space that a lot of us tend to forget or overlook is the door. The door of the dishwasher can be a big threat if you are not paying attention to it.
To get rid of roaches in the door of the dishwasher, make sure to properly clean the dishwasher door. This especially applies to the sealing, which often gets torn or scratched, and allows roaches to enter.
Take a toothbrush, and dip it in vinegar, and brush the edges of the door clean. Vinegar also acts as a sanitizer to clean it up. Follow up with some dishwasher detergent to clean it down completely.
And if you have damage in this area, it is best to get it fixed by a professional so that it does not allow roaches to enter again.
What To Do When Nothing Works
If all else fails, and you cannot seem to get rid of these roaches at any cost, or any DIY, it is time to call in professional exterminators. Since this is an issue of hygiene and health, you should look to professional help if you can’t get rid of them yourself.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it, folks, a complete guide on how to get rid of roaches in dishwasher. In this article, you will find everything from the ways to remove them, to prevent them from coming back, and what steps you can take for complete maintenance of the dishwasher.
We hope you found this helpful, and we hope this lets you get rid of these filthy pests which are the source of numerous diseases. So clean your dishwashers, maintain proper hygiene, so we can all stay healthy!
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