Cockroaches are a common household pest that feed on decaying organic material and therefore often carry harmful bacteria. They typically breed in damp, warm areas such as drains and sewers, but tend to take up residence in domestic homes when their natural habitats become unsuitable for them to breed in.
One problem with cockroaches is that they often enter homes when there is a disturbance in their natural environment. This can be due to factors such as construction, renovation or flooding.
When the cockroaches seek refuge in humans’ property, this causes a nuisance infestation that can be difficult to control without professional assistance.
Cockroaches are known for being particularly resilient pests. They can survive for a month without food and almost a week without water, making conventional extermination methods ineffective. This is why it is often necessary to call in pest control specialists who will use more effective techniques such as baiting and fumigation.
It is also important that homeowners take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of cockroaches entering the home in the first place. For example, pest control experts recommend that homeowners regularly sweep under and around kitchen benchtops to remove food scraps that would otherwise attract cockroaches.
As well as this, it is also important when renovating or building new homes to keep ants away from areas where there are cockroach breeding grounds so that they do not enter the property and attract cockroaches and other pests.
So can a vacuum cleaner kill a cockroach?
It is important to note that there has been some debate as to whether vacuum cleaners can kill roaches. All vacuum cleaners can suck up cockroaches, but their outer shell is too tough for the suction to crush them. Therefore, although a vacuum cleaner will suck a cockroach up, it will simply trap them inside the vacuum cleaner until they free themselves from the suction.
This means that even though a cockroach may have been sucked into a vacuum cleaner, there is still a chance that it could survive and return to your home. Therefore, if you find yourself with an infestation, it is best to contact a pest control company who will have the necessary equipment and expertise to remove cockroaches from your property.
Which vacuum type is best to deal with cockroaches?
When you vacuum cockroaches, it sometimes kills cockroaches instantly, but sometimes they survive.
The German cockroach for example, will not die to the suction alone. It’s recommended to use a bagged vacuum cleaner.
Vacuuming the roaches will trap them inside the vacuum cleaner bag. Once inside the vacuum bag, they will most likely die to a lack of food.
You can then dispose of the bag easily.
What should I do after I’m done vacuuming roaches?
A vacuumed cockroach poses no threat to you. They will most likely die inside the vacuum dust or the suction will kill cockroaches instantly.
Some cockroaches might thrive in this scenario though.
To make sure you get rid of the most cockroach species, vacuum them up and then dispose of the bag, which should be sealed tightly, in the trash immediately.
How do I get rid of cockroach allergens?
If you are allergic to cockroaches, I recommend using a home vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.
This will filter the fine dust and particles that are trapped inside.
How do I avoid eggs in my vacuum?
If you vacuum a female cockroach there is a chance that they survive inside and lay egg sacks inside the narrow tubes.
To avoid this add boric acid or strong soap inside the vacuum bag or collection chamber.
Cockroaches hate this.