Cockroach in Bathtub: How to Handle This Nightmare Situation

Have you ever had the unpleasant surprise of finding a cockroach in bathtub?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this blog is for you. 

How to get rid of roaches in bathtub?

Let used water down the drain after a bath

How you empty your tub after use can encourage or discourage roaches in it.

There are those who scoop the water in large buckets so that they can use it elsewhere. Doing this keeps bugs in your drain because there is always minimal water flow in it.

It is important to just let the water run down the bathtub drains at least 1 or 2 times a day.

Before you do that, note that soapy water kills cockroaches.

Add a handful of powdered soap or 4 ounces of liquid soap to the water before you flush it down.

Clean the tub after use

To prevent a cockroach in bathroom, it’s essential to keep the bathroom clean and avoid leaving spilled toothpaste and water on the tub’s edge after brushing.

>> Read more: Roaches in bathroom: Why They’re There & Prevention Tips.

Those who brush while soaking should be aware that roaches can consume toothpaste residue around the tub or on the brush, which can be part of their diet when they live in your bathtub.

To avoid this, refrain from brushing while soaking, or if you must, do not spit in the tub or around it.

Toothpaste washed down the drain can attract roaches into your bathtub.

If you notice roaches crawling in your tub, it’s advisable not to use it before cleaning, as bugs from the drains can carry infections that may irritate your skin.

>> Read more: Do roaches like toothpaste: How to get rid of roaches naturally.

Keep food and drinks away

Some people carry drinks put the bathtub edge when they plan on staying in it for long.

Sweet drinks and any snack around the tub is a sure cockroach invitation.

In the long run, you end up spilling them into the tab and the particles are washed into the drain for them to eat.

Avoid eating lots of snacks while soaking or if you have to do so, find a way of keeping the particles away.

Any spilled drinks should be moped and wiped with soap and water. Even the traces and scent are enough to attract roaches.

Drainage lid

An easy way to keep roaches from climbing up the bathtub drain is to get a fitting drain lid.After using the tub, cover the drain opening.

What to pour down the bathtub drain?

• Dish Soap: After washing the bathtub and all the areas around it, combine 10 ounces of dawn dish soap with 20 ounces of hot water at 167°F or above. Then pour the mixture down the bathroom drain to kill roaches at all stages. This also keeps the drain clean and free from the bad odors that can attract other insects.
• Bleach: When considering whether does bleach kill roaches, it’s essential to note that you can pour bleach down the drain, but it should be properly diluted with distilled water. For example, dilute 1/2 cup of bleach with at least 2 cups of water. This precaution is necessary because undiluted bleach can damage your pipes and potentially react with other chemicals in the drain. Additionally, never mix bleach with hydrogen peroxide when using it against roaches, as it can create a hazardous reaction in the drain. Exercise caution when pouring any substances into your drains, as some reactions can produce dangerous fumes.
  
• Hot water: Pouring hot water down your bathtub drain can effectively kill cockroaches and destroy their eggs. For added effectiveness, you can precede this with a small amount of detergent in the drain, as excessive detergent down the drain may not be safe.
• Baking Soda: You can also pour 5 ounces of baking soda into the bathtub drain and let it settle for 15 minutes. After that, add 4 ounces of white vinegar into a bucket of 5 liters of hot water. Then flush this down the drain to kill all the insects in it. This will also wash the drainage pipes and keep them free from roaches.

>> Read more: Flush cockroach down toilet: Everything You Need to Know.

Conclusion 

In this blog, you have learned the answer to the question: cockroach in bathtub and how to get rid of them effectively.  

We hope you found this blog helpful and informative. If you want to learn more about cockroaches and how to deal with them, check out our other blogs from Pestweek. 

Calina Mabel

Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.

All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.