Cockroaches in your dishwasher door can be an annoyance and even a health risk if they crawl out onto clean dishes. The last thing you want to see in your coffee mug is a cockroach crawling around.
Luckily, you can get rid of this gross bug fairly easily! In this article; we discuss why you have cockroaches in your dishwasher or other appliances and how to get rid of them once and for all!
Why Are Cockroaches In My Dishwasher Door?
Having a cockroach problem doesn’t necessarily mean you are an unclean person, and anybody can be susceptible to crossing paths with these disgusting little critters at one point or another.
Here are the most common reasons why you may have cockroaches in your dishwasher door.
1. Food Particles
Food particles and food residue in your dishwasher attract cockroaches because, like every other living thing, they need food to survive!
Leaving dirty dishes in your dishwasher for long periods of time and not removing leftover food debris from the dishwasher drain can make your dishwasher look like a buffet to a cockroach.
To help prevent cockroaches, try to run the dishes in the dishwasher immodestly after loading them.
Your sink drain can also be why you have roaches in your dishwasher door, as they can use your plumbing as entry points to the dishwasher.
2. Stagnant Water
Just like food, cockroaches also scrounge for water and moisture. What is a great place to find water? Your showers, sinks, and dishwashers! Stagnant water in your dishwasher can attract cockroaches like the plague.
If you have drainage issues, you may need to work on fixing that issue, or cockroaches will keep coming back.
Drainage problems can be due to a problem with your dishwasher or even not cleaning your dishes adequately before putting them in.
Alternatively, you may have a problem if your drying function isn’t working properly. This can cause the inside of your dishwasher to stay wetter longer than it should, and the humidity attracts roaches as well.
3. Not Cleaning Your Dishwasher Regularly
Another big reason you may have cockroaches is not cleaning your dishwasher regularly. Over time, leftover food and grease build up on the inside of your dishwasher.
If you have a lot of buildups inside your dishwasher, you should give it a deep clean first, then follow through with regular cleanings.
Cleaning your dishwasher once a week or bi-weekly should be enough to help ward off the little bugs. You can easily use vinegar to clean your dishwasher on a regular basis. Just place a cup of vinegar on the top rack and run your dishwasher on the hottest cycle.
4. Cracks, Crevices, And Other Openings
Cockroaches are extremely resourceful and can crawl through even the tiniest of spaces. Loose door panels may be the reason you have cockroaches in your dishwasher door.
It could also be due to an old or damaged seal or any other crack or opening in your dishwasher.
Seal off any openings using caulk and replace any damaged dishwasher seals. Also, check for loose screws or dents on your dishwasher door that may be making it not close properly.
How Do I Get Rid Of Cockroaches In My Dishwasher Door?
Cockroaches carry all sorts of diseases and can transfer them to you. They can also spread whatever other bacteria or viruses they may be carrying on their tiny legs when they crawl onto your clean items.
Because of this, it is essential to remedy your cockroach problem as soon as possible, so it doesn’t turn into a massive infestation. If you want to learn how to get rid of those pesky insects hiding in your dishwasher door, keep reading!
1. Remove Them Manually
The best way to eliminate cockroaches from your dishwasher door is to remove the front panel from your dishwasher and remove the roaches.
This is the panel that is on the outside of your dishwasher and is usually held on with screws.
Unscrew the panel and remove and unhook the wires. It is a good idea to take a picture of the wiring, so you know how to put it back together correctly.
Next, remove any visible cockroaches. You can do this by using a wet cloth to wipe them up or using a vacuum. Next, clean the panel and dishwasher door thoroughly. Bleach is the best option because it will kill any diseases left on the surface.
If you want a more natural alternative, you can use white vinegar and baking soda. If you clean the door with bleach, use soap and water to remove any remaining bleach from the door. Now, replace the dishwasher panel.
2. Diatomaceous Earth
Another good way to remove roaches from your dishwasher and dishwasher door without causing any issues is Diatomaceous Earth. This is a natural insecticide powder that kills roaches by causing damage to their outer shells and dehydrating them.
Simply sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth on the surfaces of your dishwasher and leave it for at least a day.
3. Boric Acid
Boric acid naturally occurs in plants and doesn’t harm humans, but it acts as a poison to roaches, destroying their nervous system.
To use borax as a roach trap, sprinkle some on a disposable plate or bowl, put a piece of fruit in the middle to lure them in, then place it inside the dishwasher and let the boric acid work its magic.
4. Essential Oils
Essential Oils don’t kill roaches, but they act as natural repellents to ghetto move elsewhere. Rosemary, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea tree, and citrus essential oils are known to repel cockroaches.
To use them, just add around ten drops of essential oil to a cotton ball. Just be sure not to get undiluted essential oil on your skin because you could have a reaction to it.
You can also ass citrus essential oil to your dishwasher regularly to prevent them from invading your dishwasher in the first place. I would also recommend adding soil to your mop water.
This will leave the oil on the surface of your floors, and the roaches won’t travel across them. Please note if you have pets or kids, take caution using essential oils. Some oils are not safe for use around pets and children.
5. Glue Traps
Glue traps, or gel baits, are a super easy way to get rid of roaches in your dishwasher. You can buy them in strips or plastic squares.
They use glue to trap the roaches, leaving them unable to move. You can put them in your dishwasher, however, they take longer to work, so I only recommend it if you are ok handwashing dishes temporarily.
The best way to use these sticky traps is to set them in areas around your dishwasher and places like under your sink and behind your refrigerators. If you have children, these are a great option! They are mess-free and poison free, so it’s ok if your kids accidentally find them.
6. Bait Stations
Bait stations work by luring the roaches in and poisoning them slowly, so the roach has time to travel back to where it lives with its roach mates.
When the roach dies, the other roaches eat it, poisoning them in the process. I don’t recommend bait stations if you have children, as they are extremely toxic and could be fatal if ingested.
They also leave dead roaches around your home, and that can be unsanitary.
7. Pest Control Services
If you think you may have a cockroach infestation and it is too much to handle on your own, it may be time to call professional exterminators.
You might have a roach infestation if you didn’t get your roach situation under control when you first began to see them. Over time, cockroaches will breed and lay eggs, setting you up for thousands of cockroaches! Ick!
One of the biggest signs of an infestation is the sighting of a baby cockroach. If you don’t get the infestation under control, it could turn into a major problem, and you may have to move your home.
Conclusion
Ultimately, an oz of preventative measures is worth a pound of cure! After ridding yourself of cockroaches, it is essential to take the appropriate measures to keep your dishwasher door and home a hostile atmosphere for roaches!
Also, don’t forget to clean up dead roaches that may be in your dishwasher after using some of these methods.
Have you had roaches on your dishwasher door? How did you get rid of them? Let us know in the comment section below! We love to hear from our readers.
