The last thing you want to see as you stumble into the kitchen for breakfast is a roach skittering around in your sink. The shock will wake you up faster than any cup of coffee ever will, but the knowledge that roaches are using your drains as a sort of highway could turn the strongest of stomachs.
These pests carry diseases with them and can live in between the walls of your home as well as your pipes. You might have heard that you can pour bleach down your drains in order to stop roaches from using your plumbing to roam around your house.
Can You Pour Bleach Down the Drain To Kill Roaches?
Clegg’s Pest Control does NOT recommend pouring bleach down a drain to kill roaches or any other reason (including monthly cleaning). Most people know that bleach sprays can be used to kill errant roaches that skitter around your floors.
Bleach can kill roaches on contact. However, pouring it down a drain can potentially release toxic fumes, and cause long-term damage to your system. While the use of bleach may help with a cockroach problem, because of its toxic nature it should never be poured down a drain or toilet.
How To Get Rid of Cockroaches in Drains
A better alternative to bleach is to use any of the following methods to kill/remove the occasional roach from your sink drain:
- Close your sink stopper and fill the sink all the way. Remove the stopper and let the water flush the pipes clean.
- Run warm water through sink pipes for at least 3 minutes, then pour 3-4 cups of boiling water down the drain.
- Use a mixture of baking soda and distilled vinegar to clean pipes: pour ½ cup of baking soda down the pipe, followed by ½ cup of distilled white vinegar. Close or cover the drain for 3-5 minutes, then pour several cups of boiling water down the drain.
Get Rid of Cockroaches with Clegg’s Pest Control
So as it turns out, using bleach to keep your drains roach-free is a bad idea. If you notice a few roaches in your pipes, it is best to consult a professional in case you are dealing with a full-blown infestation. Clegg’s Pest Control offers both residential and commercial termite and pest control services throughout North and South Carolina. Contact Clegg’s pest management professionals today at (888) 972-0366.
Disclaimer: Misusing bleach in an attempt to kill the roaches in your home could end up causing you, your property, and the environment, undo harm. If you should try this remedy at home, Clegg’s is not responsible or liable for any consequences of any actions taken based on the content of this article.