Roaches In Microwave | Here’s How to get rid of them

You need to know that if you have roaches in your microwave, simply using the microwave won’t kill them.

Because, the radiation and heat emitted by the microwave have little to no effect on these pests, as they tend to dwell in the colder parts of the appliance that remain unaffected during use. 

While your initial reaction might be to use a pesticide, doing so could lead to irreparable damage to your microwave, or even worse, cause a fire due to the flammable chemicals present in most pesticides. 

Therefore, it is not advisable to use such methods.

Similarly, using raid spray, bug bombs, or any water-based solution is also not recommended as they can damage the internal parts of the microwave. 

However, you can opt for DIY solutions (Which I am about to explain in a while) or dust and bait traps to get rid of roaches in your microwave safely without causing any harm to your appliance.

As you go deep down in the article, you’ll learn more about how roaches get into microwaves, why they are attracted to them, the steps you can take to get rid of them effectively, what to use for roaches in microwave, and what not to use.

This was a little intro to the article – Now, Let’s actually lure them from your appliance.

But Before, knowing how to get roaches out of microwave, we should know why and how roaches get in the microwave. 

Why do roaches get in the microwave?

Just like any other creature, cockroaches seek out a cozy spot to call home, and they have a keen eye for prime places that offers warmth and easy access to food.

As notorious nocturnal creatures, roaches tend to move towards dark, snug hideouts, which makes your microwave the ultimate penthouse suite for these pesky creatures. 

If you neglect to clean your microwave regularly, food crumbs can accumulate and create a literal feast for roaches.

Like this…

If your microwave is dirty, like the one above or less, with some food pieces and grease, don’t be surprised if you find these creepy crawlies setting up home in your trusty kitchen appliance.

Now, You know why, let’s explore how, and then how to eliminate them from your microwave;

How do roaches get in your microwave?

Roaches may seem like tiny ninjas with their sneaky ways of infiltrating your home appliances, but the truth is that they have multiple ways to enter your microwave.

These cute annoying critters can crawl through the vents at the side or gaps in the door, and if that’s not enough, they can even enter through the electrical connection points at the back.

Roaches can also use their hitchhiking skills to sneak into your microwave by hitching a ride on food or dishes that you put inside. 

With their agility and cunning ways, it’s no wonder that roaches can invade your microwave from almost anywhere.

Therefore, it’s important to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions (Mention at the End) to keep these unwanted guests at bay.

Let’s begin – for what you are here…

How To Get Roaches Out Of Microwave?

Before starting the process of treating a microwave infested with roaches, it is important to know where the roaches usually hide in the appliance.

If you don’t know where they hide, how can you get them out?

When we think about roaches in a microwave, we tend to assume they hide in the cooking cavity.

However, roaches only visit the cooking compartment to search for food crumbs.

The main place where roaches hide, dwell, and breed in microwaves is inside the microwave body.

Getting rid of roaches from a microwave involves two steps – first is cleaning the cooking compartment, and second is treating the microwave body where roaches actually live.

Cleaning the cooking compartment is essential to prevent roaches from coming back after treatment.

Roaches are attracted to leftover food, and if the cooking compartment is not cleaned regularly, they will keep coming back.

First Deep Clean the Cooking Cavity:

To deep clean your microwave food cavity, follow these steps;

1. Cleaning the Interiors:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, mix a cup of water, half a cup of white vinegar, and juice from one lemon (substitute = 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of dish soap).
• Place the bowl inside the microwave and turn it on for 5 minutes on the highest power setting. This will cause the mixture to boil and steam up the appliance.
• After the microwave beeps, leave it to cool for 5-10 minutes, then remove the bowl.
• And lastly, wipe the complete cooking compartment with a clean cloth.

2. Cleaning the Glass Tray:

• Remove the microwave tray and place it in a bowl of hot water mixed with dish soap/cleaner.
• Allow the tray to soak for at least an hour to loosen any dirt and grime.
• After an hour, scrub the turnable table with a sponge or scrubber to remove any remaining grease and dirt.
• Rinse it thoroughly with clean water and let it dry.
• After cleaning the entire appliance, put the tray back in its place.

3. Cleaning the Door:

• In a bowl, mix one cup of water and 2 tablespoons of dish soap.
• Dip a sponge into the solution and apply it to the entire door, including the sides, edges, and seals.
• Use the sponge to scrub the door for some time, focusing on any stubborn stains or residue.
• Rinse the door thoroughly with a wet cloth to remove any soap residue and wipe it dry with a clean towel.

I hope all of the stains are removed, but if there are some tough stains on your microwave that are not removed with the above solution.

Remove the Leftover Stains (Optional):

1. In a bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with some water to create a thick paste.
2. Use a sponge to apply the baking soda paste to the tough stains and rub them until they are gone.
3. Wipe the area where you applied the baking soda mixture with a wet cloth to remove any residue.

Now, your microwave will look something like this:

Once the cooking cavity is free from food spills that attract cockroaches, wipe it with a wet cloth each time you use it or at least once after three uses to keep it clean and debris-free.

Next, it’s time to treat the rest of the microwave body where roaches hide, dwell and breed.

Second Treat The Sides:

Once, You are done with cleaning the cooking cavity of the microwave, now it’s time to put the death of roaches on each and every entry point to the microwave body.

Usually, cockroaches enter the microwave body through the holes located at the back, bottom, and sides of some microwaves.

There are numerous ways to treat these entry points.

Here – Today, I will explain the most popular, effective, and easy-to-do methods.

Remember one thing – Never use Raid spray, anything flammable, or any liquid like bleach.

To treat these entry and exit points of roaches, follow any one of the below step-by-step processes whichever suits you:

Method #1: Using Dust Traps [Diatomaceous Earth]:

Before starting this process, wear a face mask to prevent inhaling diatomaceous earth and use gloves.

Here is how to get rid of roaches from microwave with diatomaceous earth:

1. Move your microwave to an isolated place.
2. Take some diatomaceous earth and sprinkle it in these holes on the left and back sides of your microwave.
   
3. Next, Make a circle of diatomaceous earth around the microwave and leave it for 4-5 days in that position.
4. After 5 days, take your microwave to the location, where you want to put it and follow the preventive steps explained below.

Note: Avoid wiping the holes on the side of your microwave where diatomaceous earth is sprinkled.

Leaving the powder there helps eliminate any remaining roaches that attempt to exit in search of food and also kills those who try to enter, as they get poisoned.

Leaving diatomaceous earth on these openings is generally safe, but it is advisable to exercise caution as inhaling the powder can lead to coughing and shortness of breath.

If you are curious to know How does this process work? – Read ON…

The roaches which were near the holes on the side will get poisoned when the diatomaceous earth gets in contact with their body and die in some time.

The ones that were hiding deep in the microwave or did not get diatomaceous earth, when they get hungry. they will search for food.

Since there are no food pieces left in the microwave because it was cleaned, they will get out of the microwave to find food.

As they leave, they will have to get through the hole treated with diatomaceous earth and the circle you drew at the beginning, when they walk through it, diatomaceous earth will stick to their body and get them poisoned, eventually leading to their demise.

Since diatomaceous earth does not kill roaches immediately, when it gets stuck to their bodies, they carry it to their nests, causing the whole colony to get poisoned.

Method #2: Using Gel Bait:

The second method to get roaches out of the microwave is to use a gel bait.

This method is probably the easiest one as you just have to buy a ready-made solution and apply it.

There are a lot of gel baits available in the market, but the one that worked best for me is Advion Cockroach Gel Bait.

If you already have another gel bait available at home, you can use that too – only if you are completely sure of its efficacy.

How to use gel bait on Microwave: Step-by-step process

1. Take a cloth and wipe the sides and back of your microwave to remove dust, if there is any.
2. Then take the gel bait syringe and put gel on each and every hole on the sides of your microwave.

NOTE: The gel size on each hole should be the size of the head of a pin.

That’s it! Now, the roaches who were living inside will get poisoned when they try to get out for food through these holes.

And the ones who are outside will also get poisoned when they try to get inside through the holes.

Method #3: Using Pest Control / Dismantling the Microwave:

After implementing any one of the above methods and following all the preventive measures, I am 100% sure you won’t see any roaches in your microwave again.

However, if none of these methods work for you and you still see roaches, it’s best to use pest control services at this point.

There are two more cases in which you should use pest control services. For instance, if you’re too lazy to do it yourself or in case you don’t want to wait and want your microwave to be roach-free immediately, you can call a pest control service.

They will dismantle your microwave and remove all the roaches at once.

Although you could also dismantle the microwave and use any of the above three methods directly inside the microwave to remove the roaches by hand, there is a chance you could break your microwave.

Therefore, it’s better to leave it to the professionals.

How to Prevent Roaches in Microwave?

Now that your microwave is clean and free from roaches, let’s take some precautions to prevent future roach infestations in the microwave.

By following some of the precautions listed below, you can ensure that you never see any roaches in your microwave again.

Clean Your Microwave Regularly:

Eliminate the root cause that attracts roaches to your microwave by ensuring that there are no food particles or crumbs left inside the microwave.

To clean your microwave, wipe down the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth or sponge once a day or after every three uses.

If you do not use your microwave frequently, I would recommend cleaning it after every three uses. And also, it is a good practice to remove the turntable and wash it with hot soapy water once a month.

Let’s move to precaution number two.

Use Natural Roach Repellents:

Another option to prevent roaches from coming near your microwave is to use essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, or tea tree oil to repel them.

Simply soak some cotton balls in your preferred essential oil and place them near your microwave.

You can also use natural ingredients like bay leaves, mint plants, or garlic to repel roaches.

These natural repellents not only keep your microwave roach-free but also make your kitchen smell fresh.

Avoid Leaving Food in the Microwave Overnight:

Leaving food in the microwave overnight is like inviting roaches to a party because roaches are most active at night.

To keep your microwave clean and roach-free, make sure to remove any leftover food immediately after use.

If you forget to do so, clean your microwave thoroughly the next day.

Minor Precautions:

• Keep the microwave door closed at all times.
• Replace the door rubber if it is broken.
• Don’t store food inside your microwave, instead keep it in the fridge.
• Keep the microwave in an open space rather than in a corner.
  
• Cover your food with a microwave-safe lid or wrap to prevent spills and keep the microwave clean.

Wrapping Up:

I hope you have successfully eliminated the roaches from your microwave.

Now, You wrap up everything and clean up any remaining mess.

And, I will wrap up this article with one final thought: taking preventative steps is much easier than later getting rid of roaches once they’ve infested your appliances.

So, my friends, Take all the necessary precautions before it’s too late.

Goodbye, and I sincerely hope you never have to deal with roaches again!

FAQS

Can a Cockroach Survive a Microwave?

Only smaller cockroaches can survive in the microwave cooking cavity, not the bigger ones.

The microwave heats food by vibrating the water molecules in it. So, the more water something has in the microwave, the hotter it gets.

Since smaller cockroaches (German Cockroaches) have very little water in them, the microwave is unable to heat them up, and they can easily survive the microwave cycle.

In the case of large cockroaches (American Cockroaches), they can’t survive and are killed in the cooking cavity because they have more water in their bodies. Large cockroaches sometimes spark and die, so it’s best to avoid this.

Roaches typically don’t enter the cooking compartment; they only come to scavenge for any leftover food pieces.

Every type of cockroach can survive if they are inside the microwave body, as long as there is a source of food and no preventive measures are taken to eliminate them.

How long can a cockroach survive in a microwave?

If cockroaches are in the cooking cavity of a microwave, their survival depends on the amount of water in their bodies.

The more water a cockroach has in its body, the sooner it will die. Conversely, the less water a cockroach has in its body, the longer it may survive or even avoid death.

When you turn on the microwave, American cockroaches (which have proximate 12% water in their bodies) inside the cooking compartment will spark and die within 1-3 minutes. On the other hand, German cockroaches (which have less water in their bodies) can survive indefinitely.

If the cockroaches are inside the body of the microwave (the electrical compartment), they can survive for as long as they want, or until no preventive measures are taken.

Why don’t roaches die in the microwave?

There are some reasons due to which cockroaches don’t die in the microwave.

Number one – In order for the microwave to kill roaches, it depends on the amount of water inside the cockroach’s body.

For example, German cockroaches have very little water in their bodies, so they can easily survive the microwave, while American roaches have more water compared to German roaches, so they die in the microwave when you turn it on.

Number two – There are a lot of areas inside the microwave that don’t get hot when we use it, such as the electrical compartment. So, roaches flee to those areas.

Can I spray raid in my microwave?

You should never use spray Raid or any other insecticide spray in your microwave for the following reasons:

• Spraying Raid inside the microwave cooking cavity can pose health risks, as the chemicals in the spray can contaminate your food, and your food will have a chemical smell.

• Applying Raid directly to the electrical compartment at the back of your microwave can cause short-circuiting.

Due to these reasons, it is highly recommended to avoid using Raid or any other insecticide spray inside your microwave. Instead, opt for the safer methods mentioned above.