Everyone can testify that cockroaches can serve as a nuisance in our personal space. We all know that these roaches can infest our residential and commercial buildings, but what do you do when you are on a drive, and you see a cockroach dash across your dashboard?
The first instance will be panic, especially for those who have a major fear of insects. It can be terrifying and unhygienic to have these creatures in your car with you wherever you go. Sometimes it could be because they are comfortable in your vehicle’s environment or your car is dirty. This is why it is essential to keep your car’s interior clean at all times.
The central question that is probably on your mind right now is how to get rid of the cockroach infestation in your car. These roaches can hide in tiny spaces such as the air vents, seats, storage spaces, and center control, making them difficult to fish out. This article outlines all the best ways to get rid of roaches in your car, so keep scrolling.
Different Ways to Get Rid of Roaches in Your Car
Vacuum Car Interior
The first thing you should do is vacuum your car; you can use a handheld or high-powered vacuum. You can take it to the car wash for the interior to be cleaned out properly. When using a vacuum cleaner, you should ensure you do a thorough deep cleaning, vacuuming tight spaces and under the seats.
Open down the windows and the doors of your car for good ventilation, wipe off spills on the seats and floors, throw out all the garbage and dirt that is likely to attract roaches, and vacuum all kinds of food crumbs inside the car (in the vents, mats, cup holders, seats, trunk, carpets).
When cleaning and vacuuming, do not forget the gaps between the seats as this is a good place for roaches to hide. Lastly, take all unnecessary junk out of the car; you should get rid of whatever is not needed as it can attract cockroaches.
Wash the Car
Once you are done vacuuming your car, you should wash it thoroughly, both the interior and exterior. This important to clean up any debris or food particles that your vacuum cleaner might have missed as these things can attract roaches.
Take a cleaning rag and a bucket of soapy water to start cleaning. Start with the interior first; clean sticky residues, clean the center console, the cup holders, the dashboard, the vents, the seat gaps, and every area in your car that you use a lot.
Once you are done, use the sponge and soapy water to clean out the nooks and crannies of the trunk and engine block. You will notice quite a significant difference when done washing the car.
Use an Insecticide
There are different kinds of insecticides you can apply, and they all have different instructions to follow. It would be best if you also tried using an insecticide in your car, the ones specifically designed to kill cockroaches. After cleaning, you should do this once you realize they are infesting your car.
Novacide is an insecticide that kills adult cockroaches and stops them from laying eggs by sterilizing them. You can kill two birds with one stone; the adult roaches and the eggs.
The best way to use this is by spraying on your car’s seats and floors; leave the doors and windows open and spray in a sweeping downward motion. You can close the doors and windows once the vehicle is fully ventilated and the insecticide is dry.
You can also apply boric acid, which effectively wipes cockroaches out. You can purchase this at hardware stores, and it is easy to use. All you need to do is spread the powder in your car while ensuring you do not put too much in one spot. Ensure that you wear gloves and do not sprinkle this powder anywhere near your events.
Best Ways to Prevent Roaches from Infesting your Car
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It is much better to prevent cockroach infestations in your car, as getting rid of them can be time-consuming. Below are some of the best ways to prevent roaches from entering your vehicle.
Ensure your Car is Sealed At All Times
One of the best ways to prevent cockroaches is to keep it sealed at all times, especially if you live around a wooded area or your car is parked beside refuse. This is because the cockroaches are likely to crawl through the windows or doors if left open.
Do not focus on only the windows and the doors but also the air vents because they have external access points and are known to attract baby roaches. Whenever you are done using the air vents, remember to close them.
Stop Eating in your Car
This might be difficult for some people to do because eating in their car is quite convenient. Except you are hundred percent sure that you would not litter your car with crumbs after every meal, and this is almost possible. Food crumbs will surely invite roaches into your vehicle, so you should prevent it at every cost.
Clean your Car Always
If you are the type that cannot do without eating in your car, the best preventive measure is to clean your car regularly. Throw out all the garbage and clean sticky soda residues. You can draw up a schedule for the day you will be free every week and dedicate that day to cleaning your car.
Please thoroughly clean your car’s interior and exterior to avoid roaches before they become too much to handle.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you should be well aware of the best ways to get rid of roaches in your car and the preventive measures to ensure you do not reencounter the same problem. The methods above are straightforward and are guaranteed to produce excellent results.