Cockroaches are one of the most annoying pests to have infesting your home. Though these critters can live for months without food, it is feeding that drives much of their behavior and will lead them into your pantry.
So, how can you protect your food from these pests and make sure they don’t get at it?
Cockroaches are able to access food stored in most commonly used storage materials such as paper, thin plastic, and cardboard. The more time the roach has the more likely it will access food in your pantry or cold storage. Thicker plastic or glass containers will prevent food contamination and the spread of roach-borne disease.
So, as you can see there are a few points I can still expand upon, and that’s exactly what I’ve done in the rest of this article. Please feel free to read on.
Which containers will cockroaches be able to get into?
Cockroaches are very resourceful insects and will eat nearly anything that has organic material inside it. They will not hesitate to chew their way through packaging so if you want to keep them out of your food then you need to seal it tightly!
Alarmingly, cockroaches can get into most sealed containers given enough time. This is because they are capable of chewing through packaging so you need to make sure that the container has thick enough plastic or glass walls.
Cockroaches are voracious omnivores and scavengers, they can eat just about anything. This includes things such as paper and plastic (especially newer PLA plant-based plastics). However, the thickness of these materials and how long they have to munch their way through will determine whether or not they are successful.
Roaches can generally eat through paper, plastic (especially thin food storage wrappers), cardboard, and thinner wooden crates.
Can cockroaches get into sealed boxes?
Cockroaches will be able to chew through most sealed cardboard boxes given time, so don’t store food in them if you have an infestation. Thin wooden boxes, such as the ones which hold fruit, are also vulnerable to roaches. Thicker plastic boxes are a better choice.
If you need to store vegetables or any other food for a couple of weeks, you will find that a cardboard box isn’t a good deterrent to hungry cockroaches. if you do need to store food for a long time outside a cold area, then try to get some plastic packing cases which tight seals like these ones you can buy on Amazon.
You can also keep the cardboard boxes, but use one of the many natural deterrents I mention in this article here.
Do roaches bite through plastic?
Cockroaches are very capable of getting into most plastic materials, such as shopping bags and kitchen wrap if they have enough time. The thicker the plastic the less likely it will make it through. If you find holes in your plastic packaging, then throw the food away as it’s probably been compromised by the roaches already.
Like many other animals, cockroaches really don’t have too much trouble eating their way through plastic packaging of various thicknesses. This is true of the plastic you use to wrap up your food in the kitchen and the trash bags that you might dispose of food waste in.
Many people think that a plastic bag will keep most pests out, but it’s really not an adequate defense against these pesky pests. Rather than storing food in plastic, go for glass containers as cockroaches will never make it through this material, not ever.
Can roaches get in Ziploc bags?
Although Ziploc bags are a very useful way to keep food fresh, they are not cockroach-proof. If you store food in them for a long time, there is a good chance that roaches will be able to chew through the plastic and access the food. Glass containers are a much better form of protection and storage.
I absolutely love using Ziploc bags. They are great for keeping things fresh, like my cheese which I am a big fan of. But, I would never use them to store dry food like pasta in, even if it were just the excess from last night’s meal.
If I were to store my food in a Ziploc bag, there is a strong chance that would see evidence of roaches pretty soon (assuming that I wasn’t using any repellents).
Instead, I like using glass containers instead of any other form of sealing my food such as with airtight sealer tape, because they do not let out any moisture from the contents and don’t let these pests in.
How do I protect my food from cockroaches?
The best way to protect your food from cockroaches is to use very thick plastic or glass containers. Cockroaches cannot chew through glass and will find it hard to break through a sturdy plastic container. In addition, you can use one of a number of essential oils to ward off roaches from your pantry.
In reality, cockroaches are everywhere but you can do a lot to prevent them from getting into your food.
In addition, you can use one of a number of essential oils to ward off roaches from your pantry. In reality, cockroaches are everywhere but you can do a lot to prevent them from getting into your food.
As I mentioned before, opt for those thicker plastic containers and their glass counterparts. Also, try not to have excess food lying around, either in or out of your fridge. Whenever you can, freeze your leftovers as most species of roaches are unable to survive extreme cold.
Make sure that you keep your home clear of any crumbs or roach-friendly nesting sites, like old cardboard boxes. Cockroaches need something to eat just like we do so they will go after any crumbs or scraps in your kitchen drawers or on surfaces that might be left out.
Always try to keep these areas as neat as possible by not leaving food items out for too long due to roaches being attracted especially in humid environments where there are plenty of sources of water such as leaky pipes under sinks or drainage problems outside with puddles from rainstorms which can breed hundreds if not thousands of cockroaches over time. The best thing you can do is always ensure that all food products are sealed tightly
Seal all openings in the house such as cracks and crevices where they might be coming through on the floorboards or walls. This includes using caulk around windowsills and bases for cabinets below counters because these pests often find their way inside when we’re not looking due
Will cockroaches get into a refrigerator?
Although most cockroaches don’t like the cold, they will still get into your refrigerator. This is why it’s important to seal your food in thick plastic or glass containers even when in the fridge. Try spraying an essential oil, such as lavender, on the door frame as this will help deter the roaches.
As disgusting as it sounds, finding roaches in your fridge is actually quite common and happens when homeowners haven’t taken other methods of prevention.
As I’ve spoken about before, the best ways to keep roaches out of your home are by sealing cracks, crevices, having repellents around the home, either natural or chemical-based, and using thick food containers.
Is it safe to eat food that cockroaches have been on?
Cockroaches have a number of diseases that they can carry. The big threat nowadays is tuberculosis but at the very least cockroaches house potential pathogens that cause diseases such as cholera and leprosy. Therefore, keeping them separate from your food is advisable and throwing out any possibly contaminated food is wise.
The simple fact is that roaches have been known to carry deadly or life-changing diseases in the past and you shouldn’t take any risks. If you suspect in any way that a cockroach has been at your food, throw it away and don’t eat it. If you find out after ingesting the possibility of contaminated food, seek out the appropriate medical attention.
Make sure that all other food you buy goes into thick plastic or glass containers and that you either call in an exterminator or deal with the roaches yourself.
How do you get rid of cockroaches?
First, find out where they are coming in from. Check the other food you have and see if anything is attracting them. Make sure there aren’t any cracks or holes that lead to your home. If not, then it’s time for an exterminator!
Cockroaches will eat nearly everything so you’ll want a solution that kills them on contact and doesn’t just make their stomachs full of poison–that means no roach motels unless they’re all sealed up first with thick plastic walls too!
That said, some people like using boric acid around areas outside their homes to keep cockroaches away; others use traps made of small containers filled with other chemicals.
Essential oils, and there are a few you can use, are also said to help deter roaches from staying in your home.
You can also turn up your air conditioning for a day or two as roaches don’t generally like the cold, but this isn’t really the most environmentally conscious solution.
Simple vacuuming can also be effective, but only on the roaches that you can see.
