What To Pour Down The Drain To Kill Roaches Instantly

Stacy Randall
by Stacy Randall

There is nothing more unnerving than standing in front of the bathroom only to notice a roach crawling from the drain. It can seem like something out of a horror movie, especially since roaches can spread diseased germs and bacteria. However, what comes up must go down, and there are some things to pour down the drain to kill roaches instantly.

Pouring ammonia with hot water, baking soda and vinegar, or bleach down the drains can kill roaches and their eggs. However, these may only be temporary solutions, and you should implement stronger preventative measures. Avoid pouring roach killer down the drain. If the roach situation becomes out of control, consult a pest management expert for serious infestations.

Keep reading if you have discovered roaches coming up through your drains. Below we will discuss why roaches may be living in your drains and how to kill them instantly. As well as helpful preventive measures to make sure roaches stay out.

Do Roaches Come Up Through the Drains?

Roaches can come up through the drains since pipes in your home are a prime nesting ground for cockroaches. This is because pipes can form gunk over time from waste clogging the drains. All this slime and gunk is the ideal nesting ground for cockroaches and a food supply for newly hatched eggs.

This can be especially bad in apartment buildings where the plumbing system interconnects with other units in the building. If one neighbor lets the roach problem go untreated, it can affect the entire complex. Roaches can find their way to your bathroom through the sewer systems since the bathroom is directly connected to it.

However, you do not need to worry about roaches coming up through your toilet. Because toilets are always filled with water, roaches cannot come through those pipes. Roaches are more likely to get to the bathroom through the shower drain or sink.

How Can I Keep Sewer Roaches From Coming In Through the Drains?

Sewer roaches can spread the filth and germs found in sewers throughout your home by coming in through the drains. However, there are some ways to keep sewer roaches from invading your home for good.

Because bathrooms are connected directly with sewer systems, it is where homeowners will see the first signs of roaches. Sewer roaches live and eat among grime, waste, backflow, and other unpleasant substances found in sewer systems.

To prevent sewer roaches from coming through your sinks, eliminate any entryways or potential water sources. Look for any gaps around your sink’s pipes and fill them, fix leaky faucets, and seal damaged drain pipes. If your pipe produces condensation, wrap them in insulation foam and tape, cutting off a potential roach water supply.

Clean your pipes regularly with foam cleaners to remove traces of grime and decomposing organic materials that attract roaches. Regularly run water, which keeps the drain traps full, to keep sewer roaches from coming up through the drain. If the sewer roach problem persists or you suspect a larger infestation, contact a professional in pest control.

Why Are Roaches in My Bathroom at Night?

Roaches are nocturnal creatures and prefer to look for food and new nesting places during the night. Since most bathrooms are windowless and are generally humid and wet, this is the ideal environment for roaches. Roaches also find secondary food sources in bathrooms from used ear swabs, sanitary napkins, toothpaste, and soap.

Cockroaches can enter bathrooms from the pipes as well as cracks in the walls and spaces under floorboards. Roaches could be coming from other parts of your home and are attracted to the humid environment of the bathroom. To prevent roaches from living in your bathroom, keep the bathroom clean, drains clear of hair, and trash secured.

What If Roaches Are in My Kitchen Sink?

All roaches need is food, moisture, and darkness to thrive, making your kitchen sink a roach’s ideal environment. Cockroaches are known to carry and spread disease-causing germs that could make you and your family sick. If you notice roaches in your kitchen sink or want to prevent it, there are some things you can do.

To prevent roaches from living in your kitchen sink, you need to eliminate their access to a food supply. Keep your drain and disposal clean, and don’t store a garbage can under the sink. Lingering food particles that go down the drains or in the garbage disposal make for an ideal roach food supply.

Basic cleanliness, maintenance, and food storage will help keep roaches from entering your kitchen through the drains. Also, cover the drains with stoppers at night, keep your counters clean, and don’t store food out overnight.

Will Pouring Hot Water Down the Drain Kill Roaches?

Roaches prefer damp, dark, and cool environments to breed and nest. Drains also offer plenty of access to water and bits of food for roaches to live off of. Pouring boiling water down the drain can eliminate eggs and keep roaches from living in your pipes.

You can boil water for this purpose, but excess boiling water from making tea, coffee, or pasta should suffice. To further discourage roaches from hiding in your drains, avoid keeping dirty dishes in the sink for too long.

Three Things That Your Can Pour Down the Drain to Kill Roaches Instantly

For a quick fix to kill roaches coming up from the drain, there are three things you can try. The three most recommended things are ammonia with hot water, baking soda with vinegar, and bleach. All of these can be effective in temporarily dealing with roaches coming from the drains and will kill them instantly.

Ammonia, bleach, and baking soda with vinegar will instantly kill roaches, newly hatched roaches, and eggs living in the drain. Below we will explore these options and their levels of effectiveness. It is important to mention that these are quick fixes and may not be enough to deal with an infestation.

Pouring Ammonia and Hot Water Down the Drain Can Kill Roaches

A great way to kill roaches is to use ammonia since it can kill roaches on contact. When pouring ammonia down the drain, mix 4 cups of ammonia with 8 cups of hot water. The ammonia and hot water mixture will kill roaches as well as their eggs.

You can also mix one-part ammonia with one-part water in a spray bottle to kill roaches on contact. To further deter roaches from wandering your home, use ammonia to clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces. While ammonia is effective in killing roaches, it is not a long-term solution if there is an infestation.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Down the Drain Can Kill Roaches

A non-toxic way to kill any roaches living in your drains is baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda alone can kill roaches if they ingest it, reacting with the gases in their digestive system. Baking soda, when mixed with vinegar, causes a chemical reaction making the baking soda fizz and expand, clearing the drain.

All you need to do is pour ¼ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup vinegar. The natural pH balance value of baking soda will get rid of any odors in the pipes that attract roaches.

Bleach Can Kill Roaches

Technically, bleach can kill roaches. However, the roaches would need to be in prolonged direct contact to be effective. Pouring bleach down the drain will kill the roaches and eggs and severely damage your pipes. Bleach is a corrosive chemical and will corrode metals and plastics and be harmful to children and pets.

If you are going to pour bleach down the drain to kill roaches, you need to dilute it with water. This will protect your pipe but will also be less effective in killing cockroaches since it diminishes the bleach’s potency. This is also not a cost-effective solution since you will need large amounts to ensure equal coverage.

Be Extra-Cautious When You Pour Bleach Down the Drain

Bleach can have some deadly reactions if mixed with other chemicals like vinegar, ammonia, and rubbing alcohol. Bleach and vinegar create toxic chloramine and chlorine vapors that will chemically burn your lungs and eyes.

Mixing bleach and ammonia produces a highly toxic and deadly gas that severely damages the respiratory system. If combined with bleach, rubbing alcohol and acetone (nail polish) will produce chloroform.

The most effective way to use bleach is to use it as a deterrent to lead roaches to traps. Rub diluted bleach in areas roaches are known to hide. The roaches will avoid these areas and more likely find themselves in places where traps are.

Can I Pour Roach Killer Down the Drain?

Pouring roach killer down the drain can do more harm than good and yield little results. Roach-killing insecticides are designed to be sprayed or fumigated, and it is not advised you pour them down the drain. Pouring insecticides down the drain can harm your pipes and leak into other water sources and sewer systems.

According to the EPA, “ Never pour pesticides down the sink, toilet, sewer, or street drain.” Most water treatment plants can’t entirely remove pesticides from the water. If the chemicals reach the waterways, they can be extremely harmful to plants and wildlife.

Can I Pour Borax Down the Drain to Kill Roaches?

While you can pour borax down the drain to remove clogs, it is ineffective in killing roaches. For that, you need boric acid, which is borax that has been refined with acid and is better for insect control. Boric acid can kill roaches if they ingest it or walk through it in its powder form.

However, if you pour boric acid down the drain, the moisture and pouring water will dilute it, rendering it ineffective. If you pour boric acid down the drain, it can leech into the surrounding groundwork. The good news is that boric acid is not toxic enough to do any harm environmentally.

How Does an Anti Cockroach Drain Cover Work?

Anti cockroach drain covers are an effective tool to prevent roaches from entering your home through the pipes. An anti cockroach drain usually has four parts; outer filter, inner filter, rim, and grating. Anti cockroach traps can be stainless steel or PVC; the standard shapes are round or rectangular.

The trap works by using the weight of the water pressure to open and close it. The outer filter fits over the rim, and the inner filter inserts into the outer filter. A professional plumber needs to install an anti cockroach drain to prevent leaks and pipe damage.

How to Get Rid of the Roaches for Good

Ammonia, baking soda and vinegar, or bleach are all things you can pour down the drain to kill roaches instantly. However, they will only get rid of roaches temporarily.

Getting rid of roaches for good requires work but will be worth it to keep roaches from your home. Let’s explore some options to eliminate and prevent roaches from infesting your home.

An effective tool to handle a roach infestation is gel bait, which you can set up in areas roaches frequent. Gel bait works by spreading the pesticide throughout the colony and drastically reducing its numbers. You can purchase gel bait in tube form that can go under baseboards and cracks or as bait stations.

Maintaining a clean home goes a long way in preventing and keeping roaches away for good. Regularly take out the trash, keep counters clear of food and debris, and don’t leave dirty dishes around. By limiting a food and water supply, roaches will not have a reason to explore your home or take up residence.

If your efforts are going to waste and the roaches keep coming back, call a professional pest control company. Experienced pest control specialists are equipped to deal with a roach infestation and help git rid of them permanently.

Recapping What to Pour Down the Drain to Kill Roaches Instantly

Remember pouring ammonia and hot water, baking soda and vinegar, or bleach down the drain can kill roaches instantly. Although of the three options, bleach is the least recommended because it can severely damage your pipes. Bleach can become toxic and deadly if it comes in contact with ammonia, rubbing alcohol, and vinegar.

The most effective methods in keeping roaches away are cleanliness, drain covers, and pesticides. Again, never pour roach killers or insecticides down the drain to kill cockroaches. These harsh chemicals will leech into surrounding groundwork or find their way into the local water supply.

If these methods are ineffective or there are signs of a roach infestation, call a pest control management company. They are best equipped to handle a roach infestation and keep them away from your home in the future.

Stacy Randall
Stacy Randall

Stacy Randall is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NOLA that has always had a love for DIY projects, home organization, and making spaces beautiful. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparent's former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way.

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