Perhaps you’ve just noticed that your refrigerator motor is becoming a favorite roach spot. Of course, the last place any homeowner wants to see these pesky pests is in the place where they store their food. So, how can you get roaches out of the refrigerator motor?
If you’ve noticed roaches infiltrating your refrigerator motor, we’ve got several ways you can get rid of them;
- Clean your refrigerator
- Use boric acid
- Apply diatomaceous earth
- Use traps
- Apply essential oils
- Seal all food containers
- Hire a professional exterminator
Beware that the process can be daunting. But with proper steps, a tad of patience, and some persistence, you can bid adieu to those pesky critters and say hello to a pest-free appliance.
In our today’s blog post, we’ll delve into each of these elimination methods, providing a step-by-step guide on winning the battle against roaches once and for all. Follow closely to learn everything there’s to know about fighting off and keeping these unwelcome guests from your appliance’s motor.
What Attracts Roaches To Fridge?
Before we examine the ways to solve the problem, you could be wondering, “Why the refrigerator? Are they immune to the freezing temperatures?”
Well, you see, roaches need four fundamental things to survive;
- Warmth
- Moisture
- Food
- Good hiding spot!
Does your fridge offer all these?
That’s a resounding YES!
Of course, the inside of your fridge is too cold for roaches to thrive. In fact, exposed to the inside temperature of your appliance, most cockroaches would die in under 10 hours, and you’d not even need to look for a way to get rid of them.
But then, that’s not the case with the appliance’s motor.
In fact, your appliance’s motor is the exact opposite of what happens inside your refrigerator. I mean, this part generates heat, creating a warm and cozy environment that also serves as a perfect hiding spot for cockroaches.
Additionally, the fridge contains a constant source of food and water. Spills, crumbs, and uncovered food are all favorite delicacies for roaches, prompting them to occasionally sneak in through tiny gaps in the fridge’s seal.
So, if you’ve recently noticed roaches in your refrigerator’s motor, know there’s more to their presence than just the warmth they get from the motor. It should tell you that high chances are that you’re sharing your fridge goodies with these critters!
That’s why you should take immediate action before they contaminate your food and spread deadly diseases like Salmonella and E.Coli.
7 Amazing Ways To Get Roaches Out Of Fridge Motor
A roach infestation is not only unsanitary but also a health hazard. Here are some tried-and-true ways to keep roaches off your appliance!
1. Cleaning Your Refrigerator
Before you bring in any product to help with the removal, clean your refrigerator. Tidying your refrigerator will make the appliance a less attractive spot for the current roaches and will even curb future infestation.
So, take time and remove any food debris, odors, and spills that could be sending a powerful invitation message to roaches!
Don’t know how to go about it?
It’s easy!
Follow these steps:
- Disconnect the refrigerator from the power source
- Transfer all food items to a cool place or another refrigerator
- Remove the shelves and drawers and give them a thorough wash using soap and water
- Clean the inside of your fridge with warm water and soap, ensuring that you pay attention to the crevices and corners. As usual, begin from the top and work your way to the bottom.
- Using a damp cloth, clean the door seal and ensure to remove any food crumbs or debris.
- Leave it to air dry, and place back the shelves and drawers
- Reconnect it to power and let it cool before returning the contents.
Of course, cleaning your refrigerator is something you have to do regularly. The rule of thumb is to do it every 3 to 4 months. It will keep the roaches away, prevent food spoilage, and keep the fridge free from bacteria and other threats.
2. Seal All Food Containers
Cleaning your refrigerator alone isn’t enough. Go ahead and ensure that you have all the food containers tightly sealed. The goal is to ensure that you totally deny roaches access to food. That way, you’ll make the fridge a less favorable spot for their stay.
Use plastic containers with tight-fitting lids, resealable plastic bags, and glass jars. Additionally, ensure that they’re well sealed to keep roaches from smelling the contents thereof.
Also, wipe them down to remove any food residue or grease stuck on the exterior. Lack of something to eat will eventually force them to relocate to an environment that supports livelihood.
3. Use Boric Acid
Boric acid isn’t just too good at killing yeast infections! It’s one of the fiercest weapons you can adopt in your fight with roaches!
Once applied, this insecticide will stick to the wings and legs of the roach, maximizing the chances of ingesting it while cleaning itself.
Once consumed, boric acid disrupts a roach’s nervous and digestive systems, eventually killing it.
Get boric acid from any home improvement store or purchase one online. Once you have it, application is a straightforward process.
Procedure:
- In a bowl, mix three parts of boric for every one part of water to create a paste.
- Apply the paste around the motor area
- Leave the product to sit for days
- Clean up dead roaches
- Use a damp cloth to clean up the paste
- Repeat if necessary
Usually, it will take up to 72 hours for boric acid to kill roaches after ingestion. Of course, it’s not the fastest roach killer. But if utilized properly, it will destroy every cockroach in your refrigerator’s motor.
If possible, add a little sugar to the paste to make the mixture more attractive to roaches for consumption.
But then, remember that boric acid is considered a dangerous poison that should be kept away from pets, children, and plants. Ensure to read the manufacturer’s instructions keenly on safely using the product.
4. Use Diatomaceous Earth
If you’re a gardener or a landscaper, you might have used this natural powder for controlling pests in your garden or lawn.
But did you know it could still come in handy in your current battle with roaches?
That’s right!
Diatomaceous earth will work by absorbing the moisture from the exoskeleton of the roaches, causing them to dehydrate and eventually die from it.
Even more, unlike boric acid, this powder is non-toxic to humans, pets, and plants. And, of course, it’s easy to use!
Procedure:
- Buy diatomaceous earth from nearby pet stores, garden centers, or health retailers.
- Apply a fine layer of the product on the affected area
- Leave it for a few days for maximum exposure
- Clean up dead roaches
- Vacuum up the powder
- Repeat as necessary
One thing to remember is that even though this product won’t harm humans, it’s always a good idea to keep yourself from inhaling it. So, ensure you’re equipped with a face mask before applying it. Otherwise, inhaling a large amount of it may cause respiratory irritation.
5. Use Sticky Traps
Sticky traps aren’t just for catching mice in your garage. They can also serve as an effective way to trap roaches causing havoc in your refrigerator.
These traps work by glueing the pest onto the trap’s surface, keeping it from escaping. They’re easy to use, non-toxic, and an effective way to get rid of roaches and determine the severity of the infestation.
Procedure:
- Purchase sticky traps from a nearby home improvement shop.
- Remove the protective film and place the trap where the roaches like to hide.
- Keep a close eye on the trap and replace it when full
- Seal the used trap inside a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash
- Repeat as necessary
With proper placement, these adhesive traps can help solve your current problem with roaches. Just ensure that you keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
6. Use Baking Soda & Sugar
You already know a plethora of uses for baking soda. But have you ever thought of it as an effective roach eliminator?
Well, outside the culinary world, baking soda is a deadly roach killer!
That’s right!
Just combine baking soda and some sugar and sprinkle on your refrigerator’s motor. The sugar will act as bait for the pests, while the baking soda serves as the poison.
Once roaches ingest this mixture, it will trigger gas production immediately after they drink water. But roaches can’t release gas, which results in its buildup in the stomach and eventually death.
You can consider bringing yeast on board for an even more potent mixture. The mixture will cause the roaches to look for water sources, ultimately causing their death.
7. Use Professional Extermination Services
Once you’ve tried all these methods but neither seems to yield a positive outcome, the best move you can make is to acquire professional extermination services.
Professional exterminators have the tools and expertise to successfully eliminate roaches from the motor of your refrigerator. They’ll use baits, sprays, dust, and other methods as they may find necessary to help combat the infestation.
Of course, using professional services is more expensive than any of the DIY methods discussed earlier. But again, it’s the most effective way to fight the infestation. Even more, the experts may provide some handy tips on how to avoid future infestations, whether by roaches or other pests.
Only ensure that you choose a reputable company. Ask for references and try reading online reviews from the company’s previous clients before making a decision.
It’s also good to ensure that the company deploys safe methods that won’t endanger your health, that of your family or your pets.
Conclusion
Eliminating roaches from your refrigerator can be daunting. You have to choose a method that won’t endanger the appliance’s internal components but also one that’s potent enough to get rid of the infestation.
Fortunately, there are several ways as seen that you can use to keep your refrigerator free from roaches. But most importantly, always keep your appliance clean and seal all the food containers to keep the food from the roaches’ reach.