How to Get Rid of Cockroaches Inside the Dishwasher
Cockroaches enter homes seeking a source of food and water. The water and dirty dishes left in a dishwasher attract them. They enter the dishwasher through tiny cracks and crevices found in the seals that are all around your dishwasher door. Eliminate your roach problem with roach baits that you can buy in most grocery stores. The bait comes inside a plastic container and consists of an insecticide and a food that attracts the roaches. They eat the bait, then go back to their hiding places to die. Borax is toxic to roaches, but not humans or pets, and will aid in the elimination. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- All-purpose household cleanser
- Over-the-counter roach bait
- Borax
Instructions
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Clean the inside of the infested dishwasher with a good household cleaner. Clean around the seals and all areas you can reach. Wipe the inside dry with a paper towel.
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Place four roach baits inside the dishwasher in the four corners.
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Close the dishwasher and don't use it. Check on the baits every 3 days and replace them when the bait is gone.
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Remove 1/3 of the powder from any size box of Borax, because this gives some head room in the box to create a fine dust that you can puff out. Close the box, and shake it. Point the top under your dishwasher and puff a very fine, barely visible, powder onto the floor under your dishwasher.
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Puff Borax in the area under your kitchen sink. Cockroaches that are entering a dishwasher are most likely walking under the kitchen sink also, and placing pesticide there will help eliminate them. Place four bait boxes in each corner and check on the boxes every 3 days and replace the boxes when the bait is gone.
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Resume using the dishwasher after all signs of cockroaches are gone. Rinse off food from all dishes before you place them in the dishwasher, unless you plan to run it immediately.
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Check the rubber seal around the dishwasher for signs of wear and tear. Replace it if there are holes where the cockroaches can enter.
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Seal cracks and crevices around the dishwasher, and around your home, to keep cockroaches from entering. Clean the sink strainer and garbage disposal frequently to avoid accumulation of food that will attract roaches. Sweep the floor of crumbs and remove pet food bowls when the pets are finished with a meal.
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Tighten loose pipes under the kitchen sink to eliminate a source of water for the roaches.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid clumping or piling the Borax when applying it under the dishwasher. Roaches will avoid walking in thick piles, but will walk over a thin layer. When they groom themselves, the Borax will eliminate them.
Avoid leaving dirty dishes or food and beverage containers in the sink to prevent roaches from returning.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
