Cockroaches in the kitchen: what to do, what measures to take

If cockroaches appear in the refrigerator, try to remove them immediately. Otherwise, you may be left without a refrigerator. If cockroaches appear, fight with all available means. The article contains tips and a step-by-step plan for removing cockroaches.

The refrigerator contains all your favorite foods and drinks, but it may contain something you never want to see anywhere in your home - cockroaches!

Opened the refrigerator and saw an uninvited guest?

Want to know how he got there?

Let's discuss in detail how cockroaches got there, how to get rid of mustachioed pests in the refrigerator, and what preventive measures can be taken to avoid them in the future.

Can cockroaches live in a refrigerator?

Winter can be called the best example of the fact that cockroaches do not live very comfortably in cold temperatures. With enough food, a cockroach can survive anywhere. But the refrigerator is no place for Prussians, because they simply cannot survive in cool temperatures. Where does the cockroach come from?

So, if you see a whiskered insect in your refrigerator, it probably wandered in there by mistake to forage for food. No cockroach would want to “live” in the inside of a refrigerator due to the climate. Adult cockroaches take cover when the lights are turned on. Nymphs do not respond to such distractions and move slowly. This is why nymphs may appear to be living inside the refrigerator when in fact they are located elsewhere in the appliance.

How to remove cockroaches from the refrigerator?

The refrigerator is one of the favorite habitats of cockroaches. It’s warm there, there is access to food, water and, what is much more important, a large number of crevices and secluded places where you can hide without problems.

Where are they hiding

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There are also many different gaps at the back of the refrigerator (where the grill is installed) and at the bottom.

In very rare cases, cockroaches may crawl through the rubber gasket and live inside the freezer. This applies to old units produced back in Soviet times.

How to get them out

What should be done?

After we have determined the habitat of the insects, we can begin to remove them.

To do this, you need to unplug the refrigerator (required) and remove all food from it. Next, you need to clean all accessible places from waste products of cockroaches and thoroughly wash the back and bottom of the unit using detergents.

After this, all external surfaces should be treated with a special insect repellent. Gels are very suitable for this task. They are easy to apply in hard-to-reach places and remain effective for a month.

If cockroaches were noticed inside the refrigerator compartment, then in this case you need to check the condition of the rubber bands that are located on the inside of the door. It is likely that the rubber bands have lost their properties and are no longer able to tightly close the space between the “frame” itself and the door. In this case, it must be replaced with a new one, and the entire inside of the refrigerator must be thoroughly washed using detergents.

The use of any insectoacaricidal agents to treat the inside of the refrigerator compartment is not entirely justified, because there is also food there. Manufacturers of modern drugs for cockroaches claim that they are “harmless” to humans, but it is not at all clear whether this substance will have an effect on people not immediately, but after some time.

If treatment of the internal part is necessary, then use folk recipes, for example, boric acid. They are harmless to humans and have a fairly good effect.

About prevention

After cleaning the inside of the chamber, try to avoid contaminating the refrigerator. Do not store stale food in it and promptly wipe the shelves from crumbs, since cockroaches will primarily feed on them.

What to do if cockroaches appear in the refrigerator

What to do if cockroaches appear and how to get rid of these annoying pests? Below we have outlined a step-by-step action plan for you.

Visual inspection and preparation of the refrigerator to fight cockroaches

Perform a visual inspection of your refrigerator and surrounding areas. Extend the refrigerator against the wall, as the bottom is the most common hiding spot. If you find cockroaches during your inspection, take note of any characteristics to try to identify the species so you know exactly what you're dealing with.

Empty and disinfect the refrigerator

As you begin to wash everything inside and outside the refrigerator, look for signs of egg laying. Their presence suggests that you have a fairly serious cockroach infestation. Sweep under the refrigerator, clean the motor, and empty the condensed water tray underneath. Place all trash in a sealed bag and throw it away immediately.

The best way to clean the inside of your refrigerator is to use a microfiber cloth and warm water with a little detergent or pH-neutral cleaner. After cleaning, rinse with clean water and dry the walls and shelves with a cloth.

You've probably come across some home advice about cleaning with vinegar: we don't recommend doing this, as vinegar can damage the plastic. This also applies to rough sponges and other aggressive products and cleaning agents. It is much more important to regularly clean your refrigerator every four to six weeks.

To be safe, follow these rules that you should avoid when cleaning your refrigerator:

Do not use steam cleaning equipment.
Do not use concentrated detergents.
Do not use scrubbing or scratching sponges.
Do not use abrasive sand, chloride or acidic cleaners.
Do not damage or remove the information plate on the inside.
Keep water away from gutters, vents and electrical parts.

Cleaning the outside depends on the material the refrigerator is made of.

Stainless steel door surfaces or side panels are usually equipped with a surface coating which should be handled with extreme care and should be wiped clean with a soft, clean cloth. For heavy soiling, use a little water or neutral detergent.

It is also preferable to wipe painted side walls with a soft, clean cloth.

After cleaning and after all parts are dry, reconnect the device and turn it on. Using appropriate devices, you activate the SuperFrost function to prevent frozen food from cracking during storage. Once the appliance is cool enough, reinsert the food.

Seal all cracks

Inspect the area around your refrigerator (and ideally the entire house) and seal any cracks larger than 5mm with caulk. If there are any holes or gaps around electrical outlets, apply sealant to those areas as well.

Prepare your traps

After cleaning, start placing traps in all areas where cockroaches are found most often. These sticky traps are great for sticking pests. Place several traps in the area around the refrigerator and also where you previously found feces.

Consider calling in specialists

Any homeowner can kill or eradicate a few cockroaches from their home. However, without the help of a professional pest control company, the entire infestation will never be eradicated. The most effective way to get rid of all pest infestations is to hire a professional to help you in no time!

Industrial products

Unlike traditional methods, industrial products are more effective. But the latter contain chemicals that are quite aggressive and dangerous to humans. In stores you can find insecticides in various form factors:

spray/aerosol;
gel/paste;
capsules;
pencil;
powder.

Many manufacturers assure that their products are safe for humans and pets. Indeed, there are effective drugs on the market with a minimal content of aggressive substances, but they are much more expensive than ordinary chemicals.

In any case, it is better to treat the internal chambers of the refrigerator with the above-mentioned folk remedies, while gels can be safely applied to the body, sprayed with aerosols and sprinkled with powder. If we are talking about sprays, then before use you need to take precautions:

remove all vegetation and accompanying containers from the kitchen: tabletop vases, flower pots, etc.;
remove children and pets from the apartment;
Pack food in an airtight container.

To avoid getting a chemical burn, you should take care of protective equipment: mask, gloves and goggles. It is better to choose clothes with long sleeves and shoes with hard soles. After treating the refrigerator, it would obviously be a good idea to spray other hot spots in the kitchen where pests can hide. Upon completion, you need to close the room (doors, windows) and leave it for 2-3 hours.

Cockroaches in the microwave: where and how to get rid of them
Where do cockroaches live?

Before loading food into the refrigerator, you must wash it thoroughly to get rid of chemical residues. The same should be done with other interior items.

Gels do not require such strict safety measures as sprays or aerosols. It is enough to treat problem areas and wait until the active substance begins to act. As a rule, gels work on a viral principle: pests that come into contact with the bait become a source of infection for their fellows.

Another important point is the duration of action of the drug. Unlike aerosols, which disappear after a few hours, gels can remove Prussians for a month. The same can be said about crayons and powders.

How can you get rid of cockroaches in the refrigerator?

Cleanliness can be the main way to fight. At a minimum, you should provide lids on food items. We said earlier that cockroaches cannot withstand cool temperatures. But that doesn't mean they won't come in. To avoid this, the refrigerator and areas around the refrigerator must be properly cleaned.

If there is a serious infestation in your apartment and the measures mentioned do not help, you may need to seek professional help. After their help, you should remember all the preventive measures and use them to avoid cockroaches in your environment.

Cockroaches in household appliances: reasons for their appearance

This is not to say that cockroaches in household appliances are very rare. This is one of their most common nesting sites. More often, they choose devices in the kitchen, where crumbs, food scraps and other sources of nutrients are always within easy reach. Sometimes cockroaches make nests in the washing machine, where it is warm and humid.

The reasons for the appearance of Prussians under the casing of the back wall of a refrigerator, stove and other equipment do not differ from the standard ones. A cockroach infestation may be due to one of the following factors:

The apartment is not kept clean, there is unsanitary conditions, garbage and unnecessary rubbish are stored.
For active reproduction of Prussians, all that is required is a comfortable temperature, high humidity and the availability of accessible food supply. If there is always food waste in the sink, garbage rotting under the sink, bread crumbs lying on the floor, uncovered cookies and fruit on the table, and sweet tea on the cabinet, sooner or later cockroaches will definitely inhabit such an apartment.
If unsanitary conditions and the conditions listed above are typical for your neighbors, some of the Prussians from their apartment will suddenly begin to crawl towards you.
This happens when cockroaches are actively breeding, and the previous territory and amount of food is no longer enough for them. Some insects go in search of new nesting places. They crawl into the apartment through a ventilation hole, a balcony, windows, and through sewer and drainage pipes.
If your apartment is located on the first or second floor, while treating the basement for insects, cockroaches may crawl towards you in search of a safe place
. To prevent this from happening, before disinsection, you should apply an insecticide to the ventilation grille, door and window openings, and seal vulnerable areas - cracks and crevices - with sealant.

Eliminating the cause of the appearance of cockroaches in an apartment is the first and mandatory step towards the complete destruction of synanthropic insects.

Is it possible to use insecticides, which ones, how to use them safely

There are various ways to remove cockroaches from the refrigerator. Remember that these measures should not include any chemicals if they will be used inside the refrigerator.

Insecticides are artificial substances. The active ingredients that kill cockroaches can become poisons to humans. Some toxins break down very slowly. If poison comes into contact with your food in the refrigerator, the food may contain toxic residues that can cause cancer, or the immune system may be weakened. Insecticides can also seriously disrupt embryo development. The toxic effects of individual substances can not only accumulate, but also reinforce each other.

What folk remedies will help against cockroaches in the refrigerator

Repellents that can be used inside the refrigerator to remove cockroaches can be:

Neem: A preventive and safe method that can be used for proper removal and its scent will be an excellent repellent.
Bay Leaf: Since it is used in cooking, it will be safe enough for baiting and repelling, so can be used as a repellent.
Peppermint oil: This can also be sprayed on cockroaches to remove them from the refrigerator.

Methods of disposal

The appearance of cockroaches in an apartment in the kitchen is a common occurrence, since this place is susceptible to contamination by cats and the remains of other food. This is a comfortable environment for insects, so when they get into the kitchen, they begin to multiply en masse and spread throughout the apartment.

Today there are many ways to get rid of them, which have a detrimental effect on adult insects and insect eggs. When considering the question of how to remove cockroaches from the refrigerator, it is worth noting that methods of eliminating them using chemicals can have a detrimental effect on both apartment owners and their pets. Therefore, when getting rid of cockroaches, all circumstances should be taken into account.

Household appliances, such as refrigerators and microwave ovens, become frequent places for cockroaches to settle.

The best methods for eliminating parasites living in these household devices are:

cleaning. This method is effective if one or two individuals are found in household appliances. A wet rag, broom, or vacuum cleaner are suitable for this. However, if a colony of insects is found, this method is ineffective; you will have to use chemicals;
freezing. This method is effective in the cold season, when it is possible to open the refrigerator, a window in the kitchen, and leave the room in the cold for several hours. Since Prussians are sensitive to cold temperatures, they will leave the apartment or simply die out;
use of insecticides. To do this, it is recommended to temporarily empty the refrigeration equipment of food, after which you can use aerosols, crayons, pencils, gels, and traps.

Despite the large number of methods for getting rid of cockroaches, it is necessary to take precautions during baiting, since the action of harmful components of chemicals can pose a serious threat to the health and lives of owners and their pets.

Therefore, a rather serious point before getting rid of insects is the preparation stage and further actions.

Preparation

When wondering how to get rid of cockroaches in the refrigerator, the first step is to carefully prepare for their destruction. Any insect that has consumed the poison you have prepared can survive if it reaches the water in a timely manner.

Therefore, the first thing to do after thoroughly cleaning the kitchen is to ensure that cockroaches do not have access to it. To do this, it is necessary that all kitchen utensils are not only clean, but also dry. Thoroughly dry spoons, forks, knives, plates, and other kitchen utensils; do not allow moisture to remain on cutting boards or other eating utensils.

Before chemically treating household appliances, you must follow the recommendations step by step:

empty the refrigerator of any food in it;
if you find parasite feces on any of them, throw them away;
If there are loose seals in the refrigerator, it is recommended to replace them;
remove all drawers, lower and upper shelves, side partitions;
disinfect all removable panels with cleaning products;
also thoroughly clean the refrigerator compartment, being careful not to leave a single centimeter dirty. It is advisable to thoroughly wash the joints and junctions where the door comes into contact with the tank;
If the refrigerator has a removable back cover, it is recommended to move it away from the wall, remove the cover, carry out a thorough wet cleaning, and then wipe all parts dry. Since the back wall heats up from the motor, this creates comfortable conditions for the existence of parasites;
Remove dirt from the condenser, compressor, and other hard-to-reach places where dust accumulates with a dry brush.

Only after thoroughly drying household appliances can you begin to disinfest them.

For this, all kinds of aerosols, gels, crayons, powders and other means are used.

What to poison

When cockroaches appear in the refrigerator, any housewife wonders what to do? If you use etching gels, which are available in syringes or small-volume tubes, you need to distribute a few drops throughout the refrigerator, not missing hard-to-reach places.

When using sprays and aerosols, you should adhere to safety measures, protecting your respiratory system from toxic substances.

Crayons are considered less popular in the fight against insects, since they are applied to the hard surfaces of the refrigerator, and crawling on food, after contact with a harmful component, cockroaches leave toxic substances on them, which is harmful to health.

Solutions are considered the most effective insecticides for controlling insects. They have a nerve-paralytic effect on the body of parasites, which contributes to their speedy destruction.

Common drugs for controlling cockroaches are:

boric acid;
Globol paste;
Regent;
Combat;
Dohlox;
Get.

When using any anti-parasite product, you must take personal safety precautions, since inhaling chemical reagents when poisoning cockroaches can result in a serious dose of intoxication, resulting in serious harm to health.

Preventative measures against the appearance of cockroaches in the refrigerator

You can always take precautions to keep cockroaches out of your refrigerator.

Here are some of the precautions you can take to prevent cockroaches from getting into your refrigerator:

Cleanliness must be present both inside and outside the refrigerator.
The refrigerator door should not be opened unless necessary.
Boric acid can be placed around the refrigerator to keep cockroaches away.
You can also use bay leaves and neem to repel insects.
Food should always be covered.

Thus, all these preventive methods can be used. But it should be borne in mind that cleanliness is the main prevention to avoid cockroaches.

How to get rid of and remove cockroaches from the refrigerator

The most common pests living near humans are cockroaches. These are cold-blooded insects, whose life activity is largely influenced by climatic conditions. They are thermophilic and feel most comfortable at temperatures from +20 to +28 °C. But they are able to survive at lower temperatures:

at -5 °C they die after 30 minutes;
at -10 °C – after 2 minutes.

They also need food and water to live comfortably. Therefore, it is not surprising that insects often choose the refrigerator as their habitat in apartments. Although it is cool in the refrigerator compartment, the temperature is still positive - approximately from +3 to +5 °C. And cockroaches do not always settle directly inside the device. What are their main locations, what insecticides and folk methods are the most effective in controlling pests? How to prevent cockroaches from appearing in the refrigerator?

Where can cockroaches hide inside the refrigerator?

Most often, insects choose a place under the casing behind the back wall of the refrigerator:

behind the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant into a gaseous state;
behind the condenser, in which the refrigerant coming from the compressor is converted into liquid, giving off heat to the surrounding environment.

This creates a dry and warm environment favorable for pests. In addition, this place is hidden from human eyes, has many different cracks and recesses that make it safe, and is located next to food and water. Sometimes cockroaches get inside the device. This usually happens in older devices, in which the rubber seals on the inside of the door wear out over time, fit worse, and form gaps between the chamber and the door. Insects crawl through them.

What to do if cockroaches appear in the refrigerator

If “uninvited guests” appear in the refrigerator, you need to try to get rid of them as soon as possible, because:

Upholstered behind the back wall, they can cause various breakdowns. The presence of cockroaches in refrigerator units can even lead to a short circuit.
Penetrating inside, cockroaches crawl on the products, soiling them with waste products. This is not only unpleasant, but can also be hazardous to your health.

Before you begin the disinfestation procedure, you need to properly prepare for it.

Preparing the refrigerator to fight cockroaches

After identifying the location of the pests, it is necessary to prepare the refrigerator for disinfection.

Important! Before treating your refrigerator with cockroach repellents, be sure to unplug it!

Necessary actions:

remove all food;
throw away those that are contaminated with insect feces;
if there are loose seals, replace them with new ones;
remove the shelves, bottom drawers, side liners on the door;
thoroughly wash all removable parts using detergents;
also thoroughly wash the refrigerator and freezer compartments, the outer side and top surfaces, paying special attention to the areas of joints and abutments;
move the device away from the wall;
if present, remove the back cover;
clean the lid using the above method;
Use a brush to sweep away any existing dust from the condenser, compressor, other parts, and from the entire rear surface.

After completing all these steps, you can begin disinfestation.

Reference! When cleaning the refrigerator before treating it for cockroaches, in addition to detergents, you can use aqueous solutions of vinegar or ammonia hydrate (ammonia).

How can you get rid of cockroaches in the refrigerator?

Pesky arthropods are destroyed indoors using chemicals (insecticides), special traps and electronic devices, as well as using various folk remedies. Can they all be used in the refrigerator?

Is it possible to use insecticides, which ones, how to use them safely

Insecticides are available in various forms:

aerosol, spray;
gel;
pencil, chalk;
powder.

Many manufacturers claim that their drugs are safe for humans. But there is no 100% guarantee that the substance will not subsequently end up on products and will not affect health after some time. Therefore, it is better to treat the outside of the refrigerator with insecticidal preparations, and to treat the inside, use folk remedies that are poisonous to insects, but completely harmless to humans.

Fast-acting and effective chemicals are various aerosols and sprays, for example, dichlorvos. This is a toxic substance, so be sure to take all precautions before use:

remove flowers;
remove children and animals from the home;
Carefully package or remove food to another room.

The person spraying the drug must wear protective equipment: a mask, goggles, gloves, long sleeves to prevent the aerosol from getting into the respiratory tract, eyes, or skin.

You need to spray the product throughout the apartment, otherwise cockroaches may hide in kitchen cabinets and other hard-to-reach places. After 2-3 hours, you need to thoroughly wash the refrigerator and the room, return food, flowers, and pets to their place.

Gels are easy to use. They:

easy to apply to the surface to be treated, the back panel of the refrigerator and hard-to-reach places;
do not require compliance with the above security measures;
are valid for about a month.

Insects eat bait containing a toxic substance and die.

Pencils and crayons are also easy to use - just draw a line with them on the surface to be treated. The principle of operation is that the toxic substance gets on the pest, from which the poisonous powder can be transferred to other individuals and poison them.

Attention! Insecticidal pencils and crayons should be used with caution if cockroaches are found not in the lining of the refrigerator, behind the back wall, but inside the chamber, since the toxic substance can get from their bodies onto the food.

One of the most effective drugs that helps completely get rid of cockroaches for several years is Thiuram. It is a white, grayish-yellow powder or granules. Can be purchased in online stores. Mode of application:

Take sheets of paper and plastic lids for jars. Pour powder (granules) on them in pure form or mix with raw yolk.
Lay out the sheets and place the lids behind the refrigerator. Leave for 3 weeks.
After the specified time, change to a new portion of the product. This must be done to destroy the new generation of pests.

Like aerosols, Thiuram is a toxic substance (hazard class 2), the handling of which requires extreme caution, the use of protective measures, and the absence of children and animals in the room at the time of processing.

What folk remedies will help against cockroaches in the refrigerator

The most popular and safe folk remedy for cockroaches is boric acid. Acid powder is tasteless and odorless, so in its pure form it does not attract insects. It needs to be mixed with something tasty. This could be vanillin, egg yolk, mashed potatoes, etc.

One of the recipes for acid balls:

boil 1 chicken egg;
take out the yolk;
add a little flour, powdered sugar, boric acid;
to stir thoroughly;
form balls from the resulting mass.

Place the balls in and around the refrigerator.

An effective remedy is ammonia. Insects do not tolerate it well. But not all people can stand its smell. If ammonia is well tolerated, then you can prepare a simple remedy: take half a teaspoon (10–15 drops) of alcohol per 1 liter of water. When cleaning, treat the external and internal surfaces of the refrigerator, including shelves, doors, and walls.

In winter, freezing can be an excellent method. It will completely get rid of pests for a long time. To do this, you need to take the refrigerator out into the cold and leave it open for at least 3-4 hours. The freezer door also needs to be opened.

Further actions:

bring the device into the house;
remove the back wall;
use a vacuum cleaner to remove dead cockroaches;
Wash all surfaces thoroughly.

It is advisable to apply a gel, chalk or pencil insecticide.

Advice! After the freezing procedure, do not immediately plug in the refrigerator. Let it stand in a warm room for about 2 hours and only then connect it.

Preventative measures against the appearance of cockroaches in the refrigerator

To prevent cockroaches from appearing in the refrigerator, it is necessary to take a number of preventive measures:

Keep the device clean. You need to get into the habit of regularly washing cameras, wiping shelves, removing crumbs and stains.
Try not to keep food open or without packaging. Throw away stale or spoiled food supplies promptly.
Rub the walls with a clove of garlic and lemon juice. Place mint leaves on the shelves. Cockroaches do not like sharp, strong aromas.

Even if you managed to get rid of unpleasant insects, there is a risk of their reappearance if your neighbors have cockroaches. In this case, you must definitely pay attention to the ventilation duct. There should be a grate or fine mesh in it. If it is not there, you can close the hole with a piece of gauze. Gauze must be changed or washed frequently.

The appearance of cockroaches in the refrigerator is a very unpleasant phenomenon. You can get rid of them in different ways, choosing the most optimal option for yourself. Equally important are preventive measures aimed at preventing their occurrence.

Destruction of cockroaches. How to get rid of cockroaches quickly and forever?

A modern refrigerator is an ideal refuge for hiding and breeding cockroaches, so at the slightest suspicion that there are cockroaches in your refrigerator, you should immediately take measures to destroy them .

If there are few cockroaches behind the refrigerator - just a few individuals - then you can limit yourself to your own efforts. You should carefully but gently wipe all accessible areas and go through the vacuum cleaner several times. It is advisable to repeat this procedure several times until you are completely sure that there is not a single pest left in the refrigerator. You can also buy a cockroach repellent and carefully follow the instructions to treat the areas where cockroaches may be hiding.

How to get rid of cockroaches in the refrigerator?

If there are a lot of cockroaches in the refrigerator , then only professional cockroach baiting . To do this, you should contact a specialized SES service and call a disinfectant to your home .

Professional fog treatment of the kitchen allows you to destroy cockroaches not only in the refrigerator, but also in all other secluded places where pest nests could be located. And thanks to the residual effect of modern drugs, cockroaches will not be able to settle in a treated apartment for a very long time.

For all questions regarding the prompt extermination of cockroaches in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, feel free to contact our SES Control service . We will answer all questions related to insect control, advise on the most optimal solution to the pest problem in your apartment, and, if necessary, we will immediately come to you to carry out professional treatment for cockroaches.

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