As you heated that delicious leftover dinner last night, you realized there is a roach in the microwave.
Now you do not want to place any food there due to potential issues a cockroach might cause. So you might be wondering if cockroaches live in the microwave.
Suppose you don’t know a thing about roaches in microwaves or similar appliances. In that case, it could lead you to believe that the heat from microwave ovens or the radiation would be enough to kill them or render them incapacitated at the very least; but you would be completely wrong.
This article explores whether cockroaches live in microwaves if they can damage microwaves, and how to eliminate them. Read on to further your knowledge of how to deal with these pests.
Do Cockroaches Live in Microwaves?
Yes, cockroaches can live in microwaves and most other general appliances. This is because their bodies can withstand the heating process that microwaves use to heat our food and have much higher radiation resistance than humans.
Cockroaches live, if not thrive, inside of microwaves, especially if their owners aren’t too keen on regular cleaning and leave food particles for them to munch on.
While food is one of the leading sources that can cause a roach problem, moisture is the other part. When microwaved, certain foods can create steam, especially soups, meaning that both of their needs are met within the same space and making a microwave a fantastic place to inhabit.
Roaches that hide inside your microwave can expect to thrive in it. Getting rid of all the nooks and crannies accessible throughout will prove tricky. Therefore, you may want to consider removing the machine altogether or take a few hours to scrub, clean, and take it apart to give you peace of mind.
How Long Do Roaches Survive in Microwaves?
Cockroaches can survive indefinitely in microwaves. The reason is that average amounts of radiation cannot kill cockroaches, and there are excess food crumbs that give them a food source.
Also, several spots inside a microwave do not meet the excessive heat levels you’d expect them to during the heating process. Throughout this, roaches will migrate to the cooler parts until you finish using them and return to business once the device is off.
Cockroaches survive direct exposure to heat partially due to not having many water molecules in them initially. In that case, they don’t heat up enough to endure any long-lasting damage or side effects from the event itself.
As we noted above, microwave radiation isn’t potent enough to harm them in the slightest, so you’d expect them to be immune to radiation that would be lethal to us. Still, the same exposure does not poison cockroaches or have any detrimental effects.
Do Cockroaches Damage Microwaves?
Yes, cockroaches can damage microwaves in many ways, ranging from getting so hungry that they begin to eat wires inside the microwave to dead roaches piling up inside it, causing your microwave to malfunction. Overall, the damage can get quite severe.
A big enough roach infestation in your microwave can even start a fire thanks to exposed wiring creating a spark. So, if you see cockroaches inside the microwave, it is time to unplug and clean it. Hopefully, this will make the journey to eliminate cockroaches in the machine and your home by association easier.
Despite these tiny creatures seeming minuscule at first glance, the issues they can create are significant, and their feasting on food inside your microwave is the least of your troubles.
Cockroaches also spread disease and bacteria that can damage your microwave’s ability to make safe food but can also make you ill by the same association.
Do Cockroaches Explode in the Microwave?
Yes, cockroaches can explode in the microwave, but the process isn’t due to the heat generated, as this isn’t enough to kill cockroaches. The explosion would be caused by a roach ingesting baking soda from a trap placed and a chemical reaction making the insects volatile.
Baking soda is not the best choice for bait when attempting to kill roaches, primarily because when the cockroaches die, they will make a bigger mess and may damage parts in your microwave that you cannot reach.
Roaches have very few water molecules, which is the primary reason why the heat factor does not cause them to become explosive in the first place. Still, introducing a stray cleaning solution, or baking soda, can quickly change that.
Baby cockroaches don’t have the same level of resistance to heat and radiation as adults, but they will also be immune to exploding.
Getting Rid of Roaches in the Microwave
You can get rid of cockroaches in the microwave by placing bait traps, as they lack chemicals that could break your microwave or taint any food you put in afterward.
You can also deep clean your microwave by scrubbing away anything they want to eat and creating a barrier of scents to prevent roaches from returning.
However, getting rid of roaches in your microwave interior is a Band-Aid on a more significant issue. This is because if you find roaches sprinting across the microwave tray, you most likely have cockroaches in the microwave and all over your home. Therefore, no amount of cleaning your microwave matters due to an infestation happening again.
Cleaning with white vinegar and using some peppermint oil will serve as a roach deterrent to keep them from coming back to the oven itself because they despise strong scents.
Fresh lemon is another scent that will send cockroaches reeling; even better, these strong scents work great for most insects.
Read More: Getting Cockroaches Out of Your Electronics
How to Deep Clean Your Microwave to Eliminate Roaches
You can deep clean your microwave to eliminate roaches using white vinegar and a few thin slices of lemon. The cleaning agent will effectively clean the microwave interior and provide a repelling effect.
Ideally, you want to make a cup full of this mix and heat it to boiling inside your microwave, usually four to five minutes is enough to create a nice steaming effect along the inside, and scrub the inside down for grease, oil, and caked on foods, and you are done.
Overall, you want to use methods that will not harm your microwave. Getting your hands dirty and utilizing a little elbow grease is your number one way of getting these filthy pests out of your life, so make sure you eliminate all food residue.
You can take out the glass tray you rest your food on from the microwave and clean it like a regular plate. Still, a better play would be to immerse the tray in hot water mixed with a bit of soap to loosen up any hardened food spills on the surface and clean it thoroughly afterward.
Use Dust Traps to Eliminate Roaches in the Microwave
Once you’ve sterilized the rest of the microwave, you are forcing any roaches hiding within the oven door or further inside the machine to come looking for food debris to feed on outside the microwave, thus creating the perfect situation to utilize a dust trap.
Diatomaceous earth traps will prevent cockroaches from leaving the area alive because the dust will dehydrate and kill them on contact, making it easier to find roaches that have hidden away in different portions of the microwave once the first batch dies off.
It is imperative not to use the dust in the microwave itself, so for the best results, you will want to take the microwave to a secure location, like a contained box, and sprinkle diatomaceous earth along the edges of the inside of the box, so roaches fleeing from it are forced through.
While other cockroaches that attempt to eat their dead brethren can subsequently die from the same diatomaceous earth exposure that killed the first one, you will need to remove the roaches you see as you continue the treatment.
Use Bait Traps to Eliminate Roaches in the Microwave
Bait traps function similarly to dust but must be ingested to take effect. As such, you need to ensure the roaches have easy access to the trap for it to yield maximum results. You will want to keep using this method until you stop finding cockroaches in it.
The bait will attract roaches to their untimely demise and beats trying to spray Raid or any other insecticide inside your microwave. Bait traps are also easier to clean up afterward and will not contaminate your microwave.
How to Get Roaches Out of a Microwave Clock
You get roaches out of the microwave clock by taking it apart and vacuuming it thoroughly.
Ensure you unplug the microwave for safety reasons and find the screws that keep the outer cover in place. For this step, you can refer to the owner’s manual if you have it or search online if you do not.
The clock is typically located in the panel on the side of the microwave and not in the door. Still, some models vary.
Once exposed, get your vacuum and attach the smallest nozzle or hose to get sufficient suction into the area.
Afterward, clean out all the dead (and alive) roaches, wipe the area down with a dry cloth so no excess moisture is left behind, and place everything back together. If the clock was located on the microwave door, handle this accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Spray Pesticides in the Microwave?
No, you cannot spray pesticides in the microwave because most sprays will ruin it. The pesticides will cause corrosion on the intricate parts of the microwave or damage the wires or exposed electronic components within it.
Can I Bug Bomb a Microwave?
No, you cannot bug bomb a microwave because the bug bomb’s chemicals will seep into places you cannot reach and clean, making the microwave a health hazard.
Not only that, but a bug bomb can damage internal components and prevent the microwave heat from going to optimal temperatures rendering it useless.
