How to Get Roaches Out of Electronics

Cockroaches may invade electronics when infestations are large.

Unfortunately, by the time you notice roaches scurrying around inside your electronics, you already have a larger infestation elsewhere in your home. You can kill the electronic intruders, but unless you also attack the main infestation, they will return in short order. The good news is that an old-fashioned spring cleaning and a bit of vigilance can go a long way toward solving your roach problem and keeping the little pests from invading your DVD player or computer in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bag
• Freezer
• Paper towels
• Vacuum cleaner
• Steel wool
• Caulk
• Adhesive traps
• Boric acid power

Instructions

1. Seal the electronic device in a plastic bag and place the bag in the freezer for five days. Check the owner's manual first to make sure that low temperatures will not harm the device.

2. Remove the bag from the freezer and take it outside. Clean the device thoroughly by wiping it off and vacuuming out any dead roaches you can reach. Remove the cover and vacuum the interior if you can do so without damaging the device.

3. Clean and de-clutter the rest of the house. Remove any unneeded boxes--a favorite haunt of roaches--and vacuum all floors, furniture and cabinets. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner contents outside.

4. Seal all gaps around plumbing or wiring with steel wool and apply caulk to any wall cracks or other gaps in which roaches might congregate. Pay special attention to closets, cabinets and other dark, hidden places.

5. Remove trash daily. Clean up all food scraps and water sources like spills and puddles promptly. Track the roach population by placing adhesive traps against the walls in cabinets and other roach-prone areas.

6. Sprinkle a thin film of boric acid powder around all cabinets, cracks, wall voids and behind appliances if roaches persist. Boric acid provides longer-lasting roach control than sprays or bug bombs.

Tips & Warnings

• Cockroaches travel along the junction of the wall and the floor, so place adhesive traps flush with the wall to get an accurate idea of the roach population. Adhesive traps are not effective for controlling or eliminating roaches in most circumstances.

• Roaches can carry human disease organisms, so contact a professional exterminator if basic control methods do not work.

References

• University of Rhode Island: Cockroaches
• University of Minnesota Extension: Cockroaches