For many of us, cars are our second home. A recent survey shows that Americans spend up to 10 hours and 50 minutes in their cars per week.
We love our cars so much that we even give them sweet pet or celebrity names. Some refer to them as their babies. Beyoncé calls hers Honeybee.
So, who wouldn’t want to give their babies the best possible treat? But if you like eating in the car and leaving food crumbs behind, don’t be surprised if you wake up to roaches in your car one day.
If that happens, there are many ways to rid them off, including using roach control pesticides like borax. But does it guarantee a complete eradication of roaches in your car? Let’s see more practical ways to get roaches out of your car overnight.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Car Naturally
Cockroaches multiply quickly, and eliminating them may not be a one-off activity. But combining multiple methods using proven remedies can hasten the process. Here are the fastest natural ways to eliminate cockroaches in your car.
Wash Your Car
Remove all the debris in your car and use soapy water to clean it, focusing on where they congregate most. Check and clean below the foot mats, trunk, around the engine, above the footwell, and other tight spots they might be hiding.
Spray Essential Oils
Essential oils have roach-repelling qualities that’ll force them out of the car and leave your car with a pleasant smell. Depending on your preference, here are some essential oils you can try out.
- Cyder
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Tea tree
- Cypress
Avoid spraying essential oils in the driving mechanisms like the steering wheel.
Use Strong Herbs and Plants
Just like essential oils, some herbs have repeling qualities that drive roaches out of your car in no time. Some common herbs and plants include lemongrass, mint, bay leaves, and basil. Choose what feels comfortable, as you’ll spend most of the time inhaling the aroma.
Use Baking Soda
Mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar or peanut butter in a bowl and place it where the roaches can find it.
Baking soda reacts with their systems by creating gas in the stomach, killing
the roach instantly.
Invest in Catnip
A mere whiff of catnip will drive roaches away from your car for good. Ensure you care for the plant to maintain its potent powers. Ensure you water it and place it out in the sun every day.
Diatomaceous Earth Powder
Diatomaceous earth powder is an abrasive, chemical-free insect killer that controls roach infestation. Sprinkle it around the car and in the roaches’ main pathways. Diatomaceous earth works by dehydrating the roaches when they come into contact, killing them later when they retreat in their hiding.
Use Sticky Traps
Visit your local hardware and ask for sticky traps for bugs. These are usually sticky boards that trap any bug that walks over them.
Do not worry if you’re already using other roach control methods I the board catches non. This could indicate very little or no more roaches in the car.
Roaches in My Car at Night: How to Get Rid of Them
Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that operate mainly at night. You may suspect their presence in your car through their bad fecal odor or scattered droppings but not see any during the day.
However, you may see them dashing to their hiding when you flash a light in the car at night. That doesn’t mean you have to deal with them at night.
You can lay your traps during the day using a sticky board, baking soda, or any other preferred bait or spray and wait for them when they come out at night.
How to Get rid of Roaches in Car Fast
Roaches move in groups and multiply quickly. At the peak of their fertility, female cockroaches can produce between 16 and 50 eggs per case, depending on the species.
Fighting them as soon as you see any of their activity is, thus, essential before they colonize your car. Here are practical ways to get rid of roaches in your car fast.
- De-clutter your car and vacuum all the tight spots.
- Use disinfectant wipes and soapy water to wash the car inside out. Focus on high-contact areas like the pedals, steering wheel, dashboard, and glove compartment.
- Sprinkle pure boric acid on high-roach activity spots.
Can I Bomb My Car for Roaches?
In-car roach bombs can be toxic and highly flammable for starters. Besides, it’s an aerosol insecticide that will disperse in the air and coat your car interior in poison.
Using a car roach bomb may, thus, be less effective in killing roaches as it may fail to reach the roache’s main hideouts like undersurfaces and inside cabinets.
However, if you must use a bomb in your car, find a bug bomb specifically designed for cars. They’re small in size and target more compact spaces.
Always cover all electronics, steering wheels, and climate control vents when using an in-car roach bomb.
How Do Cockroaches Get into Cars?
Cockroaches get into cars for the same reasons they come into our homes–to find food, shelter, and a haven to lay eggs.
Their flat bodies enable them to squeeze their way into your car through narrow openings, including:
- Air conditioning vents
- Weatherstripping
- Front grill
- Sunroofs
- Engine blocks
- Electrical outlets
- Exhaust vents
- Damaged window seals
Some cockroaches fly and will easily gain entry into your car through an open window. Items from outside, such as luggage boxes or shopping bags, are another way people invite roaches into their cars.
Signs of Roaches in Car
Telling if cockroaches have infested your car is very easy. Here are tell-tale signs of roaches in your car.
- Black fecal matter resembling coffee stains about 1mm wide.
- Unpleasant odor from dropping in case of significant infestation
- Smear marks on areas with lots of roach activity.
- Old roach shells scattered all over
- Dead roaches
Roaches roam freely in the car in the darkness, and you may spot them running into hiding when you first get into the car at night.