Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Rose Morah
Roaches, especially the German ones, are hard to get rid of. It is also quite embarrassing to have them in the car.
But no worries, in this article, we are going to be discussing how to fast and effectively get rid of roaches in the car.
But first, how do cockroaches get into cars?
The following are the most common ways cockroaches get into the car:
- When you buy a used car that had been infested with cockroaches.
- When you help someone move their things that had cockroaches. Some might remain behind in the car.
- When you park your car at someone’s house for days.
- Leaving the car at a mechanic’s house that’s infested with roaches. If he goes in and out of the car with his equipment, they may leave behind roaches.
- Some people have reported noticing roaches after boot camp.
It can be hard to figure out where you got the roaches. What I’d strongly recommend is creating an environment in the car that’s not friendly to them.
Related: How To Quickly Get Bed Bugs Out Of Your Vehicle.
How to permanently get rid of roaches in your car
- Find out where they like to hang out in the car.
- Use the best roach killer for the car.
- Avoid some roach killers.
- Use the best preventive measures to avoid any future cockroach infestation in your car.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.
Find out where the cockroaches like to hang out
To effectively get rid of roaches, you ought to know where they like to hang out. You can do this by following the signs below:
- Their small poops
You will notice that the infested places have small black poops. That’s because they like popping around that area.
Note: This will mostly apply to people whose cars have heavily been infested with roaches. So, you might not notice it if there are only a few roaches.
However, if you do not take immediate action, the few roaches will multiply into an infestation.
- Roaches eggs
If you have never seen one before, a cockroach egg looks like a small sack. You can also look for online images to be more familiar.
The places you spot the roaches’ eggs are usually not far from where they like to hang out, especially when you are not in the car.
What’s the best cockroach killer for the car?
The most effective and safe (low-risk) cockroach treatment for your car interior is baiting or roach traps.
Personally, I used a combination of both bait and roach traps to get rid of German roaches.
However, if you decide to go with one, I recommend you start with the roach trap.
Types of cockroach baits
All roach baits are not the same and that’s why there are gel and powder baits.
With good cockroach baits, you can kill all the roaches in your car because they are lured to eat the powder or the gel bait and then take it to where the other roaches are hiding, thus destroying them all.
| Quick Tip; To lure them to the bait, I recommend using pieces of cardboard. That’s because roaches love cardboard, and additionally, this will make cleaning the car much easier. |
NOTE:
- For this treatment to be effective, you will need to repeat it after about 10 days.
- When you are cleaning off the bait after the first treatment, make sure you do it thoroughly and do not leave any powder or gel behind.
That’s because the remaining roaches may end up developing immunity to that bait when it stays with them for a long time.
See also:
How To Keep Car Windows From Fogging Up Without Heat.
3 Best Types Of Car Wash For New Cars (Prevent Paint Damage).
Cheap Ways To Clean Headlights Fast (Foggy & Yellow Headlights).
Cockroach glue trap
Roach glue traps are very effective. I have used the Harris Roach trap and was so impressed with how well it worked.
We saw results in just a few hours of setting it up.
It attracted almost the entire roach family from their hiding spots.
| Quick Tip; To capture as many roaches within a short period of time, you can put a little peanut butter in the middle of the glue traps to lure in the roaches. |
See also:
Can You Sleep In Your Car In A Parking Lot?
Is it illegal to sleep in your car in the US?
Read This Before Sleeping In A Car At A Truck Stop.
Roach baits vs Roach glue traps
After using both roach killers, below were their main differences:
| Roach baits | Roach glue traps | |
| 1. | They take longer to kill the roaches. You will need to be more patient! | It took a shorter time to see results. In 3 hours we had some roaches trapped in the glue traps. |
| 2. | It can be toxic if you do not use it properly. | It is non-toxic. |
| 3. | It may take more time to clean off the dead roaches, especially if they died in their hiding places. | It is so much easier to clean off the dead roaches because they are all stuck on the glue traps. |
| 4. | There are so many bait brands in the market and most of them are not as effective. Therefore, you may end up spending a lot of money and time finding one that works effectively. | It is easy to find a glue trap that actually works. I have seen people use mouse glue traps on the roaches and they always end up being trapped. |
Which roach killers should you avoid?
- Cockroaches killers that will make things worse.
Some roach killers can make the roach infestation in your car be even worst than before.
A good example is fogging. Fogging drives them further away into your car.
And although it will kill some roaches, it will also scare the rest to hide in deeper areas of your car and continue multiplying.
So, you may have killed a few but a greater army will be coming! That’s because roaches multiply so fast.
- Roaches killers that expose you to health risks
Bug bombs, for instance, are not recommended for getting rid of roaches in the car because they are meant for open spaces/large areas.
They are also not recommended, especially if you spend most of your time in the car like sleeping in the car, going on long road trips, and so on. That’s because it might take a couple of days to air it out.
- Roaches killers that may end up ruining your car interior
Some people reported having stained their car after using the standard press and releasing bug bombs in the car.
Additionally, some bug treatments may end up eating away any rubber seals in your car.
So, it is important to be careful when using them!
See also:
How to Sleep in a Car During Winter (5 Things You Should Know).
11 Best Cars To Sleep In (Tips From Avid Campers).
How to avoid future cockroach infestation in your car
Cockroaches love to hang out in places with food. So, this means that, if you eat in the car, or there’s always food in the car, be sure to always clean any that drops on the floor, goes under the floor mat, or on the car seats.
Final Word
Getting rid of roaches in your car shouldn’t be hard as long as you follow the right steps.
Consider subscribing to our newsletter for more tips!
