Does Steam Kill Roaches In Your Home? Expert Overview

Q: Does STEM kill roaches?

Yes, Stem is highly effective for killing roaches from indoor and outdoor. You can also use this spray to kill other unwanted guest of your house including, ants, flies, spiders etc. It’s a plant based insecticide that means it’s safe for your pet and kids. It even does not have any offensive odor.

Last Updated on December 8, 2023 by Erik Sullivan

Do you have a roach problem in your house? If so, you may be wondering how to get rid of them. Unfortunately, these pesky, disgusting creatures can be difficult to exterminate.

However, there’re few effective methods (both toxic, and non-toxic) that can eliminate roaches permanently. If you’re looking for the safest ways to kill cockroaches, you’ve probably wondered- does steam kill roaches?

Yes, steam can eliminate roaches from your home effectively and efficiently.

Does Steam Kill Roaches?

Yes, steam is highly effective to kill cockroaches and clean the infested areas. The high temperature and pressure of steam can easily kill roaches from various surface of your house.

Usually, roaches get killed at temperature between 115° F to 120° F, where there eggs get destroyed at temperature 150°F.

A household steam cleaner can easily reach temperature up to 200° F. Therefore, it’s capable of eradicate roaches and their eggs.

However, keep in mind that, roaches won’t get killed instantly with a single burst of steam. You’ll need to apply steam on them for at least an hour or so. The more, the better.

Therefore, I highly recommend to use a commercial grade steam cleaner with large water tank and high steam output. This will allow you to steam for longer time.

How to Identify Cockroach Infestation in Your House?

Cockroaches are always looking for food, and water sources, therefore they are often found in kitchens and bathrooms. Additionally, they love to hide themselves in crevices, cracks, and corners of your house.

Cockroaches can contaminate your food, utensils, food preparing appliances and much more. On top of that, they can also spread disease, so it is important to identify an infestation early and take steps to remove them.

There are a few telltale signs of cockroach infestation:

Visible cockroach in the day: Cockroaches usually like to explore at night since they’re nocturnal creature. However, if you notice any cockroach at day time, then it is a sign that there is a large population present.

Finding cockroach droppings: Cockroach droppings are small, dark brown or black pellets. They are often found near food sources (inside your kitchen cabinet) or in areas where cockroaches congregate.

Smelling a musty, oily odor: This is the cockroach’s signature scent and is often present in homes with cockroach infestations.

How to use steam to kill roaches?

Steam cleaning is very effective for killing roaches and other insects of your house. Here’s the step by step process:

1. Get a heavy duty steam cleaner

This is the really important to use a powerful steam cleaner to eliminate roaches successfully. You can rent it from your local hardware store. Just make sure that, the steam out is above 200F. The more the better. If you already has a powerful steam cleaner then you’re good to go.

Additionally, you can also use a professional bug steamer like this one. This will make your job easier by reducing the steaming time and the amount of elbow grease.

2. Use the right steam nozzle

Next thing you should do is to attach the most suitable steam nozzle. Well, it depends on what types of surface you’re going to steam clean. As you know, roaches generally hide inside of various appliances and items of your house. So, the rule of thumb is to use the attachment accordingly.

However, in most cases you should use the narrow steam nozzle for steam cleaning targeted infested areas.

3. Fill The Tank with distilled water

Use distilled water in your steam cleaner. It’s safe for the machine. Don’t cross the max fill line.

4. Let the machine produce steam

Plug in the steam cleaner and let it heat up to generate steam. Depending on the size of the water tank, it can take up to 5 minutes to heat up completely.

5. Apply The Steam On Targeted Areas

Now, you can start applying steam on the suspected areas around your home where roaches can live. Pay attention to the cracks, crevices, corners of your kitchen cabinets and bathrooms.

Take your time when applying steam burst on those spots. This is very crucial to apply consistent steam all over the affected surface. So that, the eggs, and nymph get destroyed by the intense heat and pressure.

Make sure to shoot steam directly over the roaches to kill them instantly.

Benefits of using steam to kill roaches

If you are looking for an effective, safe, and affordable way to kill roaches, then steam is the perfect solution. Here’re some benefits of using steam to kill roaches:

Steam cleaning is the safest methods of eliminating any kinds of infestation in your house. Unlike chemicals, steam will not pose any risks to humans or animals. This makes it an ideal method for those who are concerned about the safety of their families.

It’s also the most cost effective ways to kill roaches. Chemicals can be expensive, and they may not always be effective. Steam cleaning, on the other hand, is very affordable and can be used over again.

You can steam clean hard to reach areas where you can’t apply any other cleaning method. Most of these devices come with long wand attachment that allow you to apply steam on those tight spots to exterminate roaches.

Steam cleaning also remove musty odor that often caused by roaches.

FAQ

Does STEM kill roaches?

Yes, Stem is highly effective for killing roaches from indoor and outdoor. You can also use this spray to kill other unwanted guest of your house including, ants, flies, spiders etc. It’s a plant based insecticide that means it’s safe for your pet and kids. It even does not have any offensive odor.

Will Dry heat kill cockroaches?

Yes, dry heat will kill cockroaches and their eggs. But, the roach must exposed to high heat (Above 150F) for a long time to get killed.

How to keep roaches under control?

• Always keep your home neat and clean to prevent roach infestation. Cockroaches are attracted to food dust and liquids, so it’s important to wipe down counters, sweep floors, and empty trash cans on a regular basis.

• You should also vacuum regularly to remove any crumbs or other food sources that roaches may find appealing.

• Roaches like hard to reach places to hide. So, seal up any cracks or crevices in your walls and floors where they might be able to sneak in.

• You should also fix any leaky pipes, and faucets to discourage roaches from setting up shop.

• If you already have a roach problem, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them. The first thing that you can do is to set out roach traps. These traps attract the roaches by food mixing with insecticide and when the roach eat the food they get killed within 24 hours.

• You can also try using a roach spray. Make sure to follow the directions carefully, as some sprays can be harmful to humans if used improperly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, steam can be an effective method to eliminate roaches in your home, particularly on surfaces and hard-to-reach areas. High-temperature steam, when directed at roaches, can kill them on contact by disrupting their bodily functions and internal structure.

However, achieving complete eradication demands thoroughness and consistency in targeting roach-infested areas with the steam. While steam can address visible roaches and their eggs, combining steam treatment with other pest control methods, such as bait stations, traps, and sealing entry points, enhances the overall effectiveness in eliminating and preventing roach infestations.

Consistency in steam treatments and a comprehensive approach to pest control aid in achieving a roach-free environment in the long term.

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