Does Bleach kill cockroaches? – That is the question that many pest control solutions have been asking, and the answer to it is not a straightforward one.
In this blog, I will explain whether Bleach kills roaches or not. There are several ways to kill cockroaches, but not all of them are effective. So, let’s see whether it works or not.
Does Bleach Kill Cockroaches?
Bleach does not kill cockroaches when applied topically. However, if ingested by roaches, it can kill them. Bleach will stain linoleum and other hard floorings. It is very corrosive and can damage your skin, so be careful when using it in this way. Moreover, it takes time to work. Once ingested by a roach, the Bleach causes dehydration.
Furthermore, Bleach does not kill roaches, but it can help to repel them. Bleach is an alkaline substance and does not react well with the acidic stomach of many roaches.
Bleach will repel roaches when you dump it around your home. Roaches do not like Bleach, and they avoid it. The smell of Bleach will also keep them away.
Relation Between Bleach and Roaches:
Before moving ahead, I would like to give a brief detail about Bleach; so that you can understand its effect on roaches. Bleach is a chemical compound that is used for many different purposes.
It can be used to clean many different surfaces, including clothes, tile, and even leather. It is also used to sanitize drinking water and can be found in some household cleaning products.
Bleach has been used for centuries as a way to clean things.
It was first discovered by Sir Humphry Davy in the 1800s when he discovered that chlorine could be produced by reacting saltpeter with potassium chlorate (a combination of chemicals).
Composition of Bleach
The composition of Bleach is the key factor that is responsible for the effect on roaches. I have listed the ingredients of Bleach in the table below, so let’s have a look!
| No | Ingredients | Percentage |
| 1 | Sodium hypochlorite | 3-6 % |
| 2 | Sodium | 30.88 % |
| 3 | Chlorine | 47.62 % |
| 4 | Oxygen | 21.48 % |
| 5 | Sodium Hydroxide | 0.01-0.05 % |
Does Bleach Keep Roaches Away?
The answer is yes, it does. As a matter of fact, many people use Bleach to get rid of roaches in their homes. Bleach has an unpleasant smell and taste that bugs hate.
So, roaches will not come near your home if it smells like Bleach. Bleach is often recommended as a way to repel roaches, but it’s not the best option.
Bleach has been shown to be somewhat effective at repelling roaches in the short term, but there are many better options out there.
Bleach is often used in conjunction with other products, such as boric acid or diatomaceous earth, which work together to create a comprehensive pest control solution.
Is Bleach Preferred Against Roaches?
I have done detailed research on the effect of Bleach on roaches; so, according to it, Bleach is not preferred against roaches because it is too harsh on the environment.
It is also a substance that can cause harm to humans.
Bleach has been proven to be slightly effective in killing bugs such as roaches, but only if used properly. The problem with Bleach is that it’s harmful to humans and animals.
It can also affect plants and other living organisms.
This means that if you use Bleach to get rid of roaches, you need to make sure that there are no other animals or plants nearby when you’re using it.
Another problem with Bleach is that it’s very corrosive and can cause damage to surfaces if not applied properly.
You also need to be careful about how much you use because too much can damage your property as well as make it unsafe for people who come into contact with it.
Method of Application of Bleach
As you have seen, Bleach won’t kill roaches effectively, but there is hope if you use it in a proper way; so, I have listed an appropriate method that will help you to at least repel roaches.
1. Sanitization
Bleach is an excellent way to sanitize your home. I often use it to protect my home from infestation and germs.
Bleach kills germs and bacteria, including the kind that causes food poisoning, the flu, and staph infections. It’s also very effective against roaches and other pests.
You can use Bleach in a variety of ways:
- To disinfect your kitchen counters, floors, and sinks. Simply pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle, then add 1/4 cup of Bleach per gallon of water.
- Shake well and spray around your counters and sinks—don’t forget to spray under cabinets too! Let the air dry.
- To clean up messes caused by cockroaches or mice (or both!). Fill a bucket with water and add 1/3 cup of Bleach per gallon of water.
- Soak rags or paper towels in the solution to clean surfaces where these pests may have left behind urine or feces stains (like along baseboards).
- If there are dried stains on hardwood floors, use a scrub brush dipped in this solution to scrub them off before allowing them to air dry completely.
2. Force Roaches to Consume Bleach
If you want to use Bleach against roaches, place about 1/4 cup of Bleach in a small bowl and place it where the roaches will be drawn to it.
Pour about 1/4 cup of water into another dish and place it near the Bleach. The roaches will drink from the dish with water and then go over to the dish with Bleach and drink that as well.
After they have consumed the mixture of water and Bleach, they will begin to dehydrate and die.
This method is extremely effective because it is so easy to do, but there are some downsides as well.
The first downside is that this method can take several hours for all of them to die after ingesting the mixture.
You may have some left over after this time period has passed, so keep this in mind when using this method.
Another downside is that if any roaches are still alive after consuming the mixture, they could lay eggs which may hatch into baby roaches later on down the road!
This means that if you aren’t careful about getting rid of all traces of them (including their eggs) before moving out or selling your home, then new ones could show up again someday soon!
3. Submerging Roaches in Bleach
The other method which I found effective in killing roaches to some extent is to drown them in a solution containing Bleach. This will increase the chances of their death.
- Pour about a cup of Bleach into a bucket.
- Add water until the mixture is roughly one-third Bleach and two-thirds water.
- Stir the mixture well until all the Bleach is dissolved in the water, then add more water to fill the bucket.
- Use this solution to drown roaches that have made their way into your home by placing them in shallow dishes or bowls around your house and allowing them to drink it.
- Simply pour it directly into their paths as they wander around looking for food or water (the latter method may be more effective if you’re trying to get rid of many roaches).
4. Applying Bleach Spray
One way to get rid of cockroaches is to spray them with Bleach. This method is particularly useful if you have a lot of cockroaches and need to get rid of them quickly.
To use this method, fill a spray bottle with water and add enough Bleach to make the solution smell like Bleach.
Spray the solution on the cockroaches and leave it there for several minutes before rinsing off the area with clean water.
Preventive Measures for Using Bleach
As I have mentioned above, Bleach is toxic for humans; but no need to worry as I have listed some tips based on my experience, so follow these.
- Avoid Mixing with Other Chemicals
Mixing Bleach with other chemicals, especially those that contain ammonia, can create toxic fumes.
If you mix Bleach with ammonia-based cleaners, your lungs will absorb the chlorine gas that is released and cause irritation.
If you mix Bleach with ammonia-based air fresheners, you can be exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine gas.
- Use Body Covering Tools
It is important to wear gloves and a mask when working with Bleach.
Gloves protect skin from direct contact with the chemical, but they can also prevent splashes from getting on your hands.
A mask will protect your lungs from inhaling fumes or particles that may be released when using Bleach.
- Don’t Left Unchecked
Bleach is a powerful chemical that can be dangerous if used improperly. To prevent any mishaps, follow these tips:
Don’t leave open containers of Bleach around the house. If you need to use it for cleaning, immediately wash away any excess after use and dispose of it responsibly.
Bleach should not be used near food or drinking water sources. It can leach into these areas if not cleaned up properly after use and pose a health risk to both humans and animals alike.
Keep children away from bleach bottles or containers when they are being opened or filled.
Even though the fumes are generally non-toxic, they may cause irritation to sensitive skin or eyes if inhaled directly.
Does Bleach Kill Cockroach Eggs?
Cockroaches are responsible for spreading diseases, and their eggs can be found in many different places.
However, Bleach is one of the best ways to get rid of cockroaches’ eggs. Bleach kills most eggs on contact, but it won’t kill all of them.
If you want to use Bleach to kill cockroach eggs, you will need to use it in a specific way. The first thing you should do is mix the Bleach with water in a bucket or spray bottle.
Then, spray or pour this mixture onto any surfaces where you think there might be cockroach eggs. You can also use it on any furniture or carpets that have been infested by cockroaches.
The thing I want to highlight is that Bleach is not an effective way to get rid of cockroach eggs.
Cockroaches lay their eggs in hidden areas like under appliances or behind walls, so it can be difficult to find them all.
If you do find some, the best way to kill them is by placing them in a jar with enough water that they’re completely submerged and then adding some bleach to it.
The more concentrated your bleach solution is, the more effective it will be at killing the eggs—and if you leave it overnight, it will kill them even faster!
Is Bleach Effective Against Large Infestations?
Bleach is not effective against large roach infestations because of the following reasons:
Bleach is only effective against small, juvenile roaches.
Adult roaches are immune to bleach due to the fact that their exoskeletons are so thick and tough that they can easily withstand the chemical properties of Bleach.
Bleach does not kill adult roaches quickly enough to be an effective solution for large infestations.
It takes hours for large amounts of Bleach to kill adult roaches, which would leave your home unprotected during that time frame.
Can I Use Bleach with Boric Acid?
Yes, you can use Bleach with boric acid to kill roaches.
Borax is a natural mineral that has been used for decades to control pests in homes. It’s safe for humans and pets but deadly to insects.
Boric acid is similar to borax but has the added benefit of being odorless and tasteless.
This makes it more discreet when you’re trying to keep your house pest-free without alerting your family or guests that you’re treating for pests.
Bleach is an excellent tool for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces around your home, but it’s also useful as an insecticide against roaches and other household pests.
When mixed together, Bleach and boric acid create a powerful chemical reaction that kills any bugs that come into contact with it in just 24 hours!
To use Bleach in this manner, mix one cup of water with one teaspoon of Bleach and half a teaspoon of boric acid.
Then apply this solution by spraying it onto surfaces where roaches might be hiding out—such as baseboards, door frames, or window ledges—and leave overnight before washing off.
How to Use Bleach on a Roaches Nest?
When you see a roach’s nest, it’s best to take care of it immediately. Using Bleach on a roach’s nest is one of the most effective ways to get rid of them.
It can be done safely in your home and will remove all traces of the roaches for good. Here I have listed a durable method:
Get a spray bottle and fill it with water and 1/2 cup bleach.
Spray this solution over the entire surface of the roach’s nest, making sure to get it inside all cracks or crevices where roaches might be hiding.
Wait until dry (this could take several hours, depending on how much Bleach you used), then vacuum up any dead bugs that remain.
Does Bleach Help to Remove Roaches in Drains?
While Bleach can help to remove roaches in drains, it is not the preferred method.
Bleach should only be used as a last resort because of its caustic nature and potential to cause burns if not diluted properly.
Bleach can be very effective at killing roaches in drains, but only if the concentration of Bleach is high enough.
If you do not use enough Bleach, or if you dilute it too much, the roaches will only be temporarily stunned by the chemical.
They will soon recover from the effects of the Bleach and come back to life after a short period of time.
Using too much Bleach can also cause damage to your pipes and plumbing system.
The sodium hypochlorite present in Bleach is corrosive and can eat away at any metal parts that it comes into contact with—including those found in your drain pipes and faucets.
Ending Lines:
In this blog, I explained what is the truth behind “does bleach kill cockroaches?“. The answer is no; Bleach is not effective at killing roaches.
But it could provide temporary relief against cockroach infestation (although there is no 100% guarantee of its effectiveness).
If you have serious roach problems, you would be better off using one of the chemical control methods to kill those nasty little bugs.
FAQs
How Long Does it Take for Bleach to Kill a Roach?
The amount of time it takes for Bleach to kill a roach will vary depending on several factors, including the concentration of Bleach used and the age of the insect.
Can Bleach Kill Bugs Outdoors?
Bleach can kill outside bugs. Bleach is a powerful disinfectant that can be used to kill insects, especially on hard surfaces. It is also effective against mold and mildew.