It is not uncommon for people to get roaches in their refrigerator. The most common way this happens is when the roach crawls up the wall and into your refrigerator motor which it thinks is a great place to hide. If you have found t
hat your fridge’s motor has been invaded, then there are some steps that you can take to try and evict the unwelcome guests.
Could a refrigerator motor be ever a place for roaches?
Roaches are the last thing you want in your refrigerator. They can cause a lot of damage to food that is stored there, spread bacteria and contaminate work surfaces. A cockroach infestation inside an appliance such as a fridge or freezer usually indicates that roach populations have built up over time due to poor sanitation practices by the occupants. Thereafter, cockroaches will become attracted to these appliances because they offer warmth and moisture; two factors which suit them perfectly for breeding purposes.
How roaches get inside?
There are many ways that cockroaches can get into the refrigerator motor. Many times, cockroach populations will travel through refrigerant tubing and then find their way inside. Other cockroaches may enter your fridge by squeezing in between door gaskets and finding shelter within crevices around doors and drawer fronts.
In addition, cockroach migrations are usually seasonal, as they coincide with warm weathers when outside temperatures allow them to easily enter the premises. It is important not to completely rule out household appliances when considering preventive measures to combat cockroach entry points.
Signs of a cockroach infestation
It is usually easier to spot the obvious signs of cockroach infestation than the pests themselves. If you suspect you have cockroaches, look for visible signs such as cockroach droppings, smears, and any small damage inside the refrigerator. To find out more about the signs and control of cockroach infestation, you can consult on the Internet, at sites like this.
How to prevent roaches in a fridge?
The first step to cockroach prevention is establishing a cockroach-free environment. Ensure that the entire house is clean and free of clutter so as not to provide cockroaches with hiding places. After this, there are several preventive measures you can take in order to safeguard your refrigerator motor from future infestation.
- Clean out the ways and surrounding
First, it would be helpful if you could check areas where their hotspots may or have been previously detected by cockroaches that allow them to enter the refrigerator motor area. These can be gaps at floor level, for example, between wall surfaces and other appliances under counters; cracks around door gaskets on doors leading out; cracks along the fronts of boxes, etc., all of which must be sealed with silicone sealant. Also make sure you clean the inside of your refrigerator regularly. Also clean the area surrounding the fridge.
- Use traps to capture and kill the cockroaches.
Cockroach traps can help remove cockroaches from inside your refrigerator. Roach motels or sticky roach traps are ideal for this purpose. These devices attract cockroaches with a bait and once they enter the trap, it is impossible to escape; killing them in the process.
- Use natural repellants.
There are safe, non-toxic cockroach repellents that can help you repel cockroaches effectively without resorting to chemicals or poisons. For a start, white pepper and water in equal amounts are enough, put them together until they form a thick paste. Apply it around the area of the refrigerator where cockroaches can enter, as well as on other appliances that can serve as entry points for cockroaches, such as door seals along the walls surrounding the refrigerator motor block at floor level. You should see results within two weeks of applying, as this natural method of fighting cockroaches works by blocking their sensory receptors, which normally allow them to find food in your home or home shelters.
- There are other roach repellents made from natural ingredients without the use of pesticides.
To make it, mix crushed bay leaves with finely crushed peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle or spray bottle to form an effective cockroach repellent. It won’t harm people, but it will work for several months to protect the refrigerator motor from cockroaches.
- You can also use boric acid to dust your refrigerator’s corners and seal cracks.
Boric acid is an effective cockroach repellent; however, it should only be used in small amounts to avoid contamination. Should cockroaches come into contact with boric acid powder while foraging, they will end up ingesting the toxin and die within about two weeks. Mix boric acid powder (which can also be found in cockroach bait) with flour or confectioner’s sugar to increase its efficacy, then dust in areas where cockroaches are most likely to appear. Boric acid can also be used around cracks and crevices at floor level along the walls surrounding the refrigerator motor block.
Do NOT use any kind of chemical pesticide or roach foggers INSIDE your refrigerator!
You should never use cockroach sprays or cockroach foggers inside your fridge as these contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and pets alike. In addition, their effects on cockroaches will be short-lived, so it is best not to waste time or money on them if you want a more permanent solution for getting rid of roach infestations in the long term.
Use gloves while cleaning the refrigerator and be careful with cockroach traps
As cockroaches often like to hide in the crevices of appliances such as refrigerators, you need to make sure that they do not escape while cleaning up, and that no roach eggs are left behind waiting for more cockroaches – so use gloves! Another aspects of using gloves could me found here. Also remember never to let cockroach bait touch your skin or mouth.
Hire a professional
If you have enough time and patience though, then perhaps going at it yourself might turn out cheaper.
But, if all else fails, hiring a professional exterminator would certainly do the trick – especially one with proven experience in getting rid of cockroaches around refrigerators. You may opt to hire a pest control company with experience in cockroach removal from appliances such as refrigerators; however, this would cost significantly more than other methods described above.
This article has given you some great tips to help get rid of the roaches in your refrigerator. If these steps don’t work, then it might be time for a professional pest control company to come and take care of the problem! We hope this helps you keep them out, and stay tuned for our next blog post!