Roaches live in warm places with food and your microwave provides all those. While in your kitchen, they look for suitable spots to hide. A microwave is always dark with lots of gaps that can hide lots of roaches at once.
Roaches in microwaves can spread infectious bacteria in your food. If you don’t remove them immediately, they can cause severe diseases like asthma. Disinfecting the microwave and killing the roaches with an organic solution can help in removing them.
We’ll learn more about the step-by-step procedure to effectively remove the roaches from the microwave and the best methods to prevent reinfestation.
How to get rid of cockroaches in a microwave
Whenever you see roach droppings or their eggs in your microwave, the immediate task is to remove them before they breed in there. Below’s how to remove cockroaches from a microwave:
1. Disconnect it from power before cleaning its components
Before removing roaches, disconnect the appliance from the sockets to prevent any electrical shocks or sparking a fire. Unplug the microwave and remove parts such as the plate and dish.
Put them aside and wash off grease, oil, and food crumbs. Use a lemon-scented disinfectant to clean them because roaches hate the lemon scent. Let the parts dry.
2. Clean the inside of the microwave
Once the components are set, clean the microwave’s interior. You can use a disinfectant containing bleach or organic substances. Chemical solutions need thorough disinfection lest the chemicals destroy the microwave’s metal parts, while organic solutions are chemical-free and thus safer. Choose one that fits you better.
Here’s how to remove food debris with a disinfectant that contains bleach:
1. Put the solution into a sprayer and apply it generously in the microwave. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. Wipe the disinfectant off with a clean piece of cloth.
3. Spread the disinfectant again in the microwave, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
4. Wipe again with a clean piece of fabric.
Otherwise, clean the microwave inside using white vinegar, lemon, and water. Here’s how:
1. Add a cup of water and some white vinegar into a bowl. Cut lemon slices and add them to the bowl.
2. Put the bowl inside the microwave, and turn the microwave on for a few minutes on the highest power setting. The mixture will boil and steam up, cleaning the microwave’s interior.
3. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before removing the bowl.
4. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a clean cloth.
3. Clean the microwave door
To clean the microwave door, you will need baking soda, white vinegar, water, and a clean piece of cloth. Here’s how to clean the microwave door:
1. Mix some baking soda and water to create a solution.
2. Clean the sides, the edges, and the seal of the door using the solution.
3. Mix one part of water with one part of white vinegar and use it to clean the glass window. Rinse the parts when done.
4. Get rid of cockroaches from inside the microwave
Cleaning the microwave and its parts removes dirt, food crumbs, grease, and oil the roaches feed. Now, you have to trap the roaches or kill them from inside to get rid of them from the microwave.
Use an anti-roach or insect-killing solution or traps. Go for traps if you want to avoid chemical solutions. Using an anti-roach or insect-killing solution can sometimes cause issues if you don’t rinse the solution thoroughly. Choose the method that best suits you.
How to kill the roaches in a microwave with an anti-roach solution
Use the following simple steps:
1. Take the microwave to an open space, which could be your backyard. Place it on a clean bench.
2.   Pour anti-roach or insect-killing solution into a sprayer and tighten the nozzle.
3. Spray the solution generously into the microwave, covering all the parts. Let the solution sit for one hour.
4. Wipe the dead roaches in the microwave with a clean cloth.
5. Respray the insect-killing solution thoroughly and let it sit for about an hour.
6. Wipe dead roaches from the microwave with a clean piece of cloth.
7. Spray a disinfectant solution in the microwave to remove the insect-killing solution to prevent food poisoning. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe with clean clothing.
8. Respray the disinfectant in the microwave and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wipe the microwave with a clean piece of cloth.
9. Leave the microwave outside the whole day to let it dry.
Otherwise, here’s how to kill roaches in the microwave using bait traps (without chemical solutions)
1. Move the microwave outside to an open, secluded place.
2. Place dust traps on the front of the microwave and near the power outlet. The dust traps will attract the roaches to come and feed them. As they ingest them, they will get poisoned and die. Other cockroaches that feed on the dead ones will get poisoned and die.
How to remove a roach from a microwave clock
Although roaches rarely invade the clock, it’s good to check it and remove any of them to ensure the microwave is roach-free. Here’s how to get rid of roaches from the clock
1. Unplug the microwave from the socket.
2. Check your devices’ manual to locate where the screws are and loosen them.
3. Take out the outer cover to locate the area behind the screen.
4. Vacuum clean that area using a small nozzle to remove the roaches and eggs.
5. Wipe the area with a clean piece of fabric and let it dry.
6. Return the outer cover and screw the microwave as before.
Why don’t cockroaches die in the microwave?
Roaches don’t die in the microwave because of their body structure and survival techniques. When the middle part gets heated from radiation, the cockroaches move to the cooler parts with minimal heat.
Furthermore, cockroaches have few water molecules in their bodies, ensuring they survive the heat. If they can withstand an atomic bomb explosion, the microwave heat is nothing.
Why do roaches love microwaves?
Roaches love dark, warm, hideous spaces, and the microwave readily provides these. Roaches squeeze themselves in the microwave’s parts where you can rarely see them.
They feed on the food crumbs that drop when you warm food in the microwave. Because the microwave provides a conducive environment for roaches’ survival, they can live there for their lifetime.
How to prevent roaches from infesting a microwave
After getting rid of the roaches from your microwave, it’s vital to avoid reinfestation. Here are simple ways to prevent cockroaches from residing inside your microwave.
1. Close the microwave door
Cockroaches are tiny and fit into small spaces and live in them. If you leave the microwave open after use, roaches will enter and hide inside. Always close the microwave door tightly after use to prevent the cockroaches from getting in.
2. Remove food crumbs from the microwave
Roaches feed on the food crumbs that fall on the microwave. Always clean any food droplets in the microwave. Store leftover food in the fridge and not in the microwave.
3. Wipe the microwave daily
Cleaning the appliance every day removes oil, grease, and dirt particles that roaches eat. Wipe the microwave daily with a clean cloth to maintain its hygiene and free it from moisture.
4. Clean your kitchen daily
The roaches that invade your microwave came from your kitchen. After removing the bugs from the microwave, your kitchen is the next area to check.
Always dry the countertops, sinks, and mop wet flours after using the kitchen. Wash dirty dishes in the sink at night before you sleep. Vacuum the floor to remove all food particles that roaches eat.
Check the water pipes in the kitchen and repair the leaking ones. Generally, the kitchen should be clean and dry to keep the cockroaches away. If you find roach droppings in there, it is a real sign that they are already nesting in the microwave. This should not be ignored since an infestation can be difficult to manage.
References
- Mississippi State University Extension: Control Cockroaches In and Around Your Home.
- University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Cockroaches.