The Grossest Place Roaches Are Secretly Hiding In Your Home

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Humans survive icy winters, brutal deadlines, and heartbreaks, but do you know who's the real overachiever of persistence? Roaches. Cunning in their survival instincts, they've been crawling our planet for over 300 million years. And believe it or not, more than 14 million American households per year report dealing with their stealthy visits, according to the US Census Bureau. The fact that roaches are gross is only part of the problem. They can also trigger allergies and spread disease-causing bacteria. Unfortunately, despite all your cleaning, roaches may still find the grossest hidden sweet spot in your home, and that's right around your kitchen appliances.

The truly awful part is that they don't limit themselves to hiding behind or beneath your appliances; you'll actually find them inside the appliances. They can easily slide through tight spaces and travel into toaster slots, microwave crevices, and even the seams of your coffee maker. During the daytime, these nocturnal critters crave a safe and warm hideaway — and what better place than the space in and around your appliances, sprinkled with leftover crumbs from your hurried breakfast or last night's dinner? It's a buffet for them you didn't even know you were hosting. Knowing exactly where they're nesting gives you the upper hand and helps you effectively get rid of roaches.

To keep roaches out, you need to take away their food. Sure, you're not leaving half-eaten sandwiches on the counter, but crumbs have a way of slipping into places you'd swear you just cleaned, and roaches waste no time gobbling them up.

Start by giving your appliances some attention. Pull out the refrigerator, microwave, and oven just enough to clear crumbs. This is when you'll likely spot hidden droppings and sticky egg casings. Slip a crevice tool under this buildup and remove it along with the crumbs. Once you've cleaned the space behind appliances, give their interiors a thorough wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. Make sure you also empty your trash bin regularly. It's an avoidable mistake that's attracting cockroaches to your home.

With the food and roach debris gone, it's time to set traps. Boric acid is a classic. Sprinkle a thin line behind appliances and in corners where roaches love to scuttle. When they walk over it, it sticks to their legs and slowly does its job. But if you have four-legged friends around, boric acid isn't your safest option. In that case, consider gel baits, like YJOO Roach Bait. Place them near cracks, beside appliances, or anywhere you've seen activity. The roaches take the bait back to the nest. They then share the "treat" with friends and ultimately dismantle the colony from within. Finally, seal the cracks in your home. If there's a gap in a cabinet or around pipes, they'll slip right back into your freshly cleaned kitchen. You can caulk or weatherstrip anything that might be an entrance.