Have you ever heard that cockroaches may infest your refrigerator? As cockroaches are fond of food and water, you can find them around your refrigerator. However, removing them from the refrigerator requires some tactics. Now, the question is; how to get rid of cockroaches in the deep freezer?
The best way to remove cockroaches from the refrigerator is to know the reason for their presence first. After that, you can get rid of them by using boric acid around your fridge and regularly cleaning and wiping them.
To learn more about cockroach removal strategies from your fridge, stay in touch till the end of the article.
Why Do You Have Cockroaches In Your Deep Freezer?
Eliminating the primary cause is one of the most efficient techniques to deter cockroaches from your deep freezer. Cockroaches attack your deep freezer because of the following reasons:
Due to Uncleanliness
Cockroaches may attack your deep freezer if it is not clean or if you are not removing the trash regularly. Moreover, cockroaches may live in your dirty kitchen cabinets, and from there, they move into your refrigerator. Once they start their infestation, it becomes easy for cockroaches to make their way into any moist and dark place in your fridge.
Cracks or Holes In the Refrigerator
Cracks or holes in the pipes or exterior of your freezer are other factors contributing to a cockroach infestation in your refrigerator. These cracks may be in the loose components of your refrigerator. As cockroaches can pass through even a tiny gap, you should block them to protect your freezer from them.
Food Storage in Open Jars
Besides the presence of debris in your kitchen, food storage openly is another reason for cockroach existence in your kitchen and refrigerator. If you store food openly in your fridge, it may attract German cockroaches. Therefore, you must store food in a tight plastic container to keep away cockroaches.
Dampness In the Kitchen and Basements
Moisture in your basement and kitchen may attract cockroaches, especially oriental cockroaches. Cockroaches are looking for water, and if they find an open supply of water, they may reside there to fulfill their thirst. Thus, you wipe any standing water in your home and kitchen to prevent cockroaches.
Open Doors
Sometimes the door of your freezer may leave open mistakenly, which gives an open invitation to cockroaches to live in your fridge. Check the door of your freezer carefully after closing it so that cockroaches will not infest there.
Expired Door Gasket and Internal Components
The door’s gasket seal may become worn out in an old freezer. As a gasket is used to keep your deep freezer’s door closed and air-tight, after a few years of tearing, it may wear out and let cockroaches enter your fridge by leaving gaps. Moreover, internal parts like the metal components of your freezer may wear out with time, which may cause the infestation of cockroaches.
Signs of Cockroaches In Deep Freezer
According to the Maseno University Foundation of Excellence, cockroaches spread diseases in urban areas by contaminating food. And the main root of their infestation is your refrigerator. Before moving forward to remove cockroaches from your freezer, it’s important to know the signs of their presence.
Nevertheless, before you notice one crawling across your countertops, other symptoms may let you know they’re there. The most common sign of a cockroach’s presence is its black droppings. These excrements resemble pepper or coffee grinds in appearance. When you find such droppings in your kitchen remove them immediately to prevent further infestation and infection.
How Do Cockroaches Enter into Deep Freezer?
Cockroaches can enter your deep freezer in a variety of methods, but the following are some typical ones.:
- One of the most common reasons for cockroaches in your fridge is the cleanliness issue. If your refrigerator is not cleaned properly and has some leftover food, there must be a chance of cockroach existence.
- Furthermore, the fridge door not shutting properly or a worn door gasket both make it simple for roaches to enter.
Thus, you should adopt preventive measures to prevent the entry of roaches into your deep freezer.
[10] Easy Ways to Remove Cockroaches from Your Refrigerator
Although there are many approaches, the methods listed below have been successfully used to get cockroaches out of refrigerators.
Thoroughly Inspect Your Refrigerator
First, check your home and refrigerator for cockroach activity before applying any treatments. It will assist you in determining the size of an infestation and taking preventative actions against cockroaches. For this, inspect the opening and loose parts of your freezer, and if you find any, treat them immediately to prevent cockroach infestation.
Moreover, check the presence of cockroach droppings to take early preventive measures.
Use Boric Acid
According to the Journal of Economic Entomology, boric acid ingestion by German cockroaches increase their mortality rate by 2%. Therefore, you can use it to prevent a cockroach infestation in your home and freezer.
You can use boric acid by simply sprinkling a thin layer of it along the walls of your freezer. Or make a solution by mixing 1 tbsp of boric and milk with 1 tbsp of wheat flour, then pour this mixture along the suspected areas of cockroach presence. Repeat this procedure twice a day for excellent results.
Clean Your Kitchen Regularly
One of the most important things you can do to keep away cockroaches from your kitchen and refrigerator is proper cleaning of your kitchen. For this, vacuum your kitchen floor regularly, clean your cabinets, and wipe out any food crumbs from the shelves.
Additionally, it’s important to get rid of old food because it spreads fatal germs and attracts cockroaches.
Use Baking Soda & Sugar
Another remedy to prevent your freezer from cockroaches is the use of baking soda and sugar. Because of its natural acidity, it effectively kills and gets rid of cockroaches and other pests. You can use it to kill cockroaches by mixing 1 tbsp of baking soda and sugar in a bowl, then sprinkle this mixture on the suspected areas of cockroach residence.
Store Food in Tight Boxes
If you keep your food openly in your refrigerator, there must be a chance of cockroach attack. Thus, you should store food in a tight plastic box before leaving it in your refrigerator. Further, keeping your refrigerator tidy will make it simpler for you to plan your meals and result in reduced food waste.
Properly Clean Your Deep Freezer
Cleaning or vacuuming either the kitchen or refrigerator is the most vital step in removing cockroaches. It not only comprises the surface area but also relocating the freezer from its location to clean below and behind it.
To clean your refrigerator remove any shelves in it the wash out each separately to remove any food crumbs. After that, clean the interior of your fridge with a sponge, then place the shelves in their places again.
Use Natural Cockroach Repellents
The fastest and easiest method to ward off cockroaches from your freezer is the use of natural cockroach repellents like neem, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil. To use them effectively, mix 10-15 drops of essential oil into a small amount of water, then splash this mixture around your freezer to prevent cockroaches.
Employ Insecticidal Dust
Insecticidal dust is a powerful cockroach repellent. You can buy it easily from your local market. However, you need some care while using it. You can spread it around, behind, and below your fridge where you think the presence of a cockroach. Remember that, don’t use it inside your freezer because it may poison your food.
Use Cockroach Baits and Sticky Traps
Sticky cockroach baits or traps are one the most efficient ways to kill cockroaches. These baits trap cockroaches by attracting them. As the cockroaches move near the sticky trap, they get stuck in its glue. The more they move, the more they get lodged into it and the process continues until they die.
Moreover, you can use these traps by placing them around your deep freezer to prevent the entry of cockroaches into it.
Seal Any Gaps in Your Deep Freezer
The smallest gap or hole may be the point of the cockroach entrance in your deep freezer. First, inspect your fridge thoroughly for the presence of any gaps. If you find any, close them immediately with a caulk gun to prevent the entry of cockroaches into your freezer.
Precautions to Follow While Eradicating Cockroaches from Your Deep Freezer
While removing cockroaches from your deep freezer, you must follow the below-listed precautions.
- Firstly, don’t sprinkle any insecticide inside your refrigerator since it may contaminate and poison your food.
- While on vacation, don’t turn off your freezer because cockroaches like warm temperatures.
- Further, while cleaning your refrigerator, always wear gloves to avoid direct contact with anything.
- If you find any cockroaches inside your refrigerator, dispose of all the food items to prevent infection.
FAQs
Can Cockroaches Survive in a Deep Freezer?
No, cockroaches can’t survive in a deep freezer. However, if the temperature is not too low and if you turn off your refrigerator, you may find them inside your deep freezer. Your refrigerator can be the ideal location for a cockroach infestation because of the dampness next to the fans and motor and the food particles on its floor.
Can You Kill Cockroaches in the Freezer?
Yes, you can kill cockroaches in your deep freezer. For doing so, first, find any cockroaches inside your refrigerator. If you succeed in locating them, lower the temperature of your fridge to 0 degrees. In this way, cockroaches will die within half an hour.
Can Cockroaches Destroy Refrigerators?
Yes, cockroaches may harm your refrigerator with their droppings. First, the contamination of every area of the cooling system for the refrigerant occurs. Moreover, cockroaches can block the coils of your refrigerator by running them up. Additionally, they may cause electrical fires by chewing the wires of your freezer.
How Long Can Cockroaches Live in the Freezer?
As cockroaches can’t survive cooling temperatures, it may take less than 2 days to die inside your refrigerator. They can survive only 24 hours inside the freezer. These hardy bugs succumb to subfreezing conditions (0 degrees) in just one day, startling their cold-blooded bodies.
Can the Deep Freezer Be Fumigated?
Yes, you can fumigate your deep freezer by removing all the food items from it. To do so, firstly, turn off your freezer. Now, you can make a fumigate coat inside your refrigerator after removing and opening the door. After that, sprinkle an insecticide spray inside your refrigerator to disinfect it. Leave it open for a day or two before using it.
Remember to wear gloves and a mask while fumigating your refrigerator to prevent health hazards.
Summing Up
Deep freezers are one of the favorite places for cockroaches to live if you keep them unclean. The best way to keep these pesky pests away from your refrigerator is to keep your freezer clean and tidy, store your food in a sealed box, and close all the potential entry points.
Furthermore, precaution is crucial when eradicating the cockroaches in your freezer. When cleaning the engine of the refrigerator, turn it off, and when handling pesticides, put on gloves to prevent yourself from danger.
Above all, if the cockroach infestation inside your refrigerator is heavy, contact an expert pest control company to resolve the issue.
References
Angela Sierras, Ayako Wada-Katsumata, Coby Schal, Effectiveness of Boric Acid by Ingestion, But Not by Contact, Against the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 111, Issue 6, December 2018, Pages 2772–2781