So I open my fridge yesterday and see a roach scurry behind it. Ugh. My first thought is grab the bug spray and blast the hell out of it. But then I remember – bug sprays near food? Probably a crap idea.
The Investigation Phase
I yank the fridge out, right? Full war zone back there. Roach poop everywhere, egg casings like rice grains, couple dead ones on the floor. Real nasty. Then I notice moisture dripping from the fridge drain pan – like a mini swamp for bugs. Also crumbs jammed between fridge and cabinet. Basically made a roach paradise.
What I figured out caused this circus:
- Drips from freezer defrost cycle filling that pan
- Oil splatter from cooking landing under fridge
- My lazy cleaning around appliance edges
- Little gap in the wall letting them wander in
The Extermination Operation
First, I shut off fridge power. Hauled it full out. Swept up every speck – eggs, shells, dust bunnies. Then mixed vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Went nuts scrubbing the floor and fridge coils. That smell burned my nose but roaches hate it. Used caulk to seal the wall crack like putting duct tape on a leak.
Now the real move: bait gel. Got this sticky brown goo in a syringe at the hardware store. Squeezed pea-sized dots along floor seams and fridge corners. Why bait? Cause roaches eat it then poop poison killing their whole nasty family. Spray just makes ’em scatter.
Pro tips from the guy at pest control store:
- Place bait near water sources like drain pans
- Don’t squirt chemicals – they avoid treated areas
- Fix leaks ASAP – roaches need water daily
- Check under appliances monthly with flashlight
The Aftermath
Checked this morning. Five dead roaches by the bait dots. Victory! But I ain’t dumb – this is war, not one battle. Left fresh bait and marked my calendar to check behind fridge every two weeks. Lesson learned: keeping crumbs out and sealing cracks beats chasing bugs later. Still feel itchy though.
