How To Get Roaches Out of Electrical Outlets

When you thought you got rid of cockroaches from your electrical appliances, you find some creeping in and out of electrical outlets!

Is there any place that’s safe from these annoying pests?

No need to worry, though. Even if they have infested your electrical outlets, there are ways to get them out.

Cockroaches are a menace, and they don’t know when to quit. Let’s understand why stopping them from infesting your power outlets is important!

Why Are There Roaches in the Electrical Outlets?

Being the sneaky pests that they are, roaches are always looking for spots that will provide them with the following:

• Security
• Heat
• Gloominess
• Easy access to food
• Space and the warmth to breed

Within the confines of the electrical outlets, roaches have all of these.

They can hide in the darkness and the warmth while also having access to your entire house. Especially if they’re moving about the internal wirings of your property, they can go from one corner to another unnoticed.

Also, these outlets are hardly ever opened and messed around with, making them the perfect breeding space where they can lay their eggs.

Can Roaches Damage Electrical Outlets?

Even though cockroaches don’t eat an outlet’s wires or internal components, they can cause major issues. This is because:

• They can get stuck in the sockets causing short circuits.
• Their saliva and feces can corrode the outlet’s receptacles and wiring.
• They can chew through the wires to make way.

Most electrical fires occur due to faulty or exposed internal wirings. These are mostly damaged by these nuisances, which can also lead to a mishap with any of your electrical/electronic devices.

3 Ways To Get Rid of Roaches From Power Sockets

Roaches like to fit into the snug and dark spaces like power sockets to keep themselves safe. But this can be dangerous.

Especially when you plug in something, the cockroach gets electrocuted, resulting in a short circuit or, worse, a fire!

It would be best if you got them out as soon as possible before something like this happens.

Here’re three ways you can do just that:

1. Use Insecticidal Dust

You can use two kinds of insecticidal dust:

1. Borax powder
2. Diatomaceous dust (not recommended in this case!)

Because you’ll be using the insecticide directly on an electrical socket, Diatomaceous dust is not recommended due to its conductivity. However, you can use borax powder to remove the roaches inside the sockets.

Make sure that you apply the borax powder in all nearby sockets. This prevents the cockroaches from moving away and finding a haven in another power outlet.

2. Lure Them Out With Bait & Traps

Cockroach baits are used to lure these pests out of hiding.

The bait and traps give out an irresistible scent for the roaches. So once they ingest it, they slowly die off.

You can buy gadgets from the pest control store or make your own.

DIY Bait & Trap

You can mix borax and sugar to make a trap that’s both sweet and poisonous. The sugar attracts the roaches to come and have a nice meal, while the borax is the one that does the termination!

Place baits and traps near all the electrical outlets before bed and leave them overnight. When you wake up, you’ll find these pests lying motionless!

You can do this daily till there are no more roaches left.

3. Open the Outlet and Clear It Out

Dealing with a few roaches is one thing, but if you have a full-blown infestation, you’ll have to fight to where these bugs live!

Opening the electrical outlet can reveal the level of infestation and give you a clear view of what you’re dealing with.

If you have used insecticidal dust inside the outlets, you will still have to open and clear it. This is because leaving dead bugs inside can lead to more problems like:

• Piling up of roach bodies will jam the sockets.
• Dead roaches give off pheromones that attract more pests.
• Roach bodies secrete fluids that can corrode and damage the internals of the outlet.

What To Do

Open up the power outlet and clear it of any dead roaches using handyman tools.

You can take this opportunity to penetrate the insecticidal dust even further inside the surrounding spaces of the socket, targeting more cockroaches and their eggs.

Notice any damage to the wirings, as that may require an electrician to fix.

In Case of Uncertainty

If you’re certain you can’t handle the situation yourself, it would be best to seek help from a pest control specialist.

The exterminator can eliminate the cockroaches and ensure they don’t return.

At the same time, the electrician can check for any damages to your wirings and the electrical outlet and provide any rewiring/fixing services.

What To Do Afterwards

Once you or the professionals have cleared out the power outlets, you should block the sockets that are not in use.

You can place childproof guards to prevent cockroaches from entering and starting another infestation.

Takeaway

Cockroaches are a menace, creeping all over your food, utensils, and cookware spreading germs and diseases.

If they’re hiding inside your power sockets, they have a safe home base to come and go as they, please.

Here are three ways you can get roaches out of electrical outlets:

1. Use insecticidal dust.
2. Lure them out with bait and terminate.
3. Open the outlet and clear it out.

Remember to proceed with caution regarding your property’s electrical wiring. If you are unsure about taking care of the cockroaches by yourself, call in professional help!