Cockroaches are scary (in a way) for most of you. Not only that, they also leave a bad odor around your house which turn everything smells so disgusting.
Both the living and dead cockroaches can smell really bad. You can find them in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and almost every space in your home. Even worse, they often build their nests in hidden spots so eradicating them can be quite a challenging job.
Furthermore, cockroaches can carry some dangerous diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and fever. That being said, you can’t just leave the cockroaches to invade your house.
Why do cockroaches leave smells around your house?
There are three reasons why cockroaches can smell really bad, which include:
- Pheromones – Cockroaches naturally release pheromones that smell really bad. They use the pheromones to communicate with each other.
- Feces – Of course, their feces release a bad odor and it worsens the problems since they move around your house. The feces which are left here and there can really make the entire house feel so unpleasant.
- Carcasses -Their dead bodies leave oleic acid which also has a bad odor.
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How to Get Rid of Cockroach Smells
Besides the three things above, the biggest source of the cockroach smells is their nest. You need to thoroughly clean the nest to get rid of the smell. In some cases, you may need to ask for help from an exterminator to solve the problems.
Inspect the nest
Of course, the very first step that you need to do is to find the nest. You can examine the behavior of the cockroaches that may tell you where they actually come from.
Vacuum the nest
Once you have successfully located the nests, use the vacuum to get rid of them. But first, you have to wear some safety gear, at least, you can wear plastic or rubber gloves. Keep in mind that cockroaches’ nests can carry dangerous bacteria that may be the source of allergens.
Vacuum the nests, dropping, and shed skins that may be present around their zones. You also have to run the vacuum inside or outside of your cabinets, drawers, furniture, and other areas that you think the cockroaches may run around.
Dispose of the cockroach
Now the nest has been removed, the next thing that you have to do is to dispose of the cockroaches. Get rid of the cockroaches once you notice each one of them running around.
Disinfect your home
When you are sure that those cockroaches and the nests have been removed, grab a powerful disinfectant (get one that is specifically manufactured to handle cockroaches) and apply it to the areas where you have cleaned. You can follow the manufacturer’s instructions to do so.
Usually, you need to spray the disinfectant, leave it for around 10 minutes, wipe the residue, and let it dry. The next step is to apply an all-purpose cleanser or degreaser. The last step is to reapply the disinfectant to eradicate the bacteria thoroughly.
Getting rid of cockroach smell in cupboard
If you are sure that the cockroach smells come from your cupboard, you can follow the steps below:
- Remove all of the items from the cupboard until it’s totally empty.
- Check the corners of the cupboard to find the nests and remove them with a vacuum.
- Spray the entire cupboard with a disinfectant and leave it for around ten minutes.
- Apply a degreaser to the various parts of the cupboard, especially in the spots where the nests were invested, and leave it for around five minutes. Keep in mind to use a non-scratch scrub to handle the painted or wooden areas.
- Once you are sure that everything is cleaned up, let the cupboard dry completely.
Getting rid of cockroach smell in microwave
Your microwave is not immune to cockroach smells, you can handle the problem by following the steps below:
- Make sure that you have unplugged everything.
- Empty the microwave, including the dish.
- Apply the all-purpose disinfectant which contains bleach to ensure that the germs are cleaned completely. Leave it for around 10 minutes.
- Wipe the disinfectant with a clean cloth.
- Now, bring your microwave outside and apply an anti-roach solution. Follow the instructions to get the job done.
- Some dead cockroaches may hide in the corners of your microwave. Check those areas and remove them. Spray with disinfectant, leave for an hour, and wipe with a clean cloth.
Getting rid of cockroach smell in the refrigerator
The cockroach smell can really make your fridge so disgusting. The steps below will show you how to solve the problem.
- Remove all the items inside the fridge until it’s totally empty.
- If necessary, take out the containers and shelves.
- Dampen a napkin with disinfectant and wipe the interior of the fridge and containers thoroughly. For safer and easier cleaning, turn off the fridge.
- Let the disinfectant sit for a few minutes.
- Turn the fridge back on and if it smells, you may need to repeat all the steps above.
- Put the items back in the fridge if you are sure that the smell is completely gone.
Getting rid of cockroach smell on clothes
The smell of cockroaches can really stick on your cloth and disturb everyone around you. Of course, it’s also not healthy to carry cockroach germs on your body.
Washing the clothes which are affected by cockroach germs is always the easiest method that you can do. However, if you are in a rush, you can spray the affected areas of the cloth with distilled white vinegar.
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So those are the steps on how to get rid of cockroach smells that you can apply easily all by yourself. The steps are not really difficult and you can simply use some easy home supplies to get the job done.
