How to Get Rid of Roaches in Your Garage

Few people have trouble recognizing cockroaches. The insects that are common household pests in U.S. homes comprise roughly 30 different roach species found in several genera of the
Blattidae family of insects. There are several species of cockroaches often battled by homeowners and apartment dwellers.

Whatever species you are dealing with, roaches are not a pleasant discovery in your garage. Here's how to battle them invading your home.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in the Garage

Keeping roaches at bay is an ongoing process and even clean houses get roaches sometimes. You may bring roach eggs in on used clothing, cardboard boxes, paper bags, or even your shoes, so don’t kick yourself too hard if your garage develops a cockroach problem. To win the cockroach battle, you’ll have to do some spring cleaning. Often, if you eliminate the areas giving the roaches safe harbor, they’ll move or die out from lack of food and water.

Eliminate Cardboard and Paper

Innocuous cardboard boxes, paper bags, and stored magazines, books, or newspapers are breeding grounds for cockroaches and some other insects. Cockroaches are well-equipped to use the starches in the adhesives on these paper items as food and seem to be drawn to them as a place to lay their eggs. Start your cockroach elimination efforts by moving everything in bags and boxes into air-tight plastic storage. You may find a few dead roaches next time you break the seal, but that should be the last of them.

Rinse Out Recyclables

Many people recycle without rinsing their containers first—this is a terrible idea if you’ve got roach problems.  Even if you bag up your recyclables, roaches can get inside and will readily eat the remaining food. Remember, these primitive little creatures can use just about anything as a food source, so start rinsing out any recyclable items and allow them to dry if you must store them in the garage. Even better is to move recycling bins outdoors.

Move Garbage

Out of sight is out of mind, but if you stash your trash in the garage between pickups, you’re opening an all-you-can-eat buffet for cockroaches. Get that trash outside right away. If you’re worried about animals spilling the garbage can, use a bungee to keep the lid tightly attached.

Eliminate Sources of Moisture

Drippy hoses and leaky hot water heaters can contribute more than enough moisture to the garage to support a large extended family of roaches. Dry up these areas and you’ll remove much-needed moisture. Like many insects, cockroaches can’t survive without adequate water and humidity.

Set Roach Traps

Roach traps are the most common means of controlling roaches. They are sometimes marketing with catchy names, such as "roach motels." There are two types of roach traps: those that lure in the roaches and trap them so you can physically dispose of them, and those that lure them in with a food substance, usually sugary, that is laced with a chemical that interferes with the reproductive cycle of the insects.

Use Sprays or Foggers

Spraying visible roaches with a pesticide is often easier in a garage than it is in other spaces. Sprays normally use pyrethroid chemicals to shut down the roach’s nervous system. Don't worry if the spray doesn't seem to kill the roaches instantly; it can take up to a week to kill roaches this way.

Another option is to use a fogger or "bug bomb," which works by putting a fog of pesticide into the air, where it infiltrates cracks and walls to kill hidden roaches. Sprays and foggers normally also use pyrethroid chemicals to shut down the roach’s nervous system.

What Causes Cockroaches in the Garage?

Roaches need three things to survive: warmth, moisture, and food. Different species have specific needs, but in general, if you want to find where the roaches are hiding in your garage, check out areas where it’s dark and humid. Garbage cans and recyclables that aren’t rinsed before storing provide ample food sources for cockroaches, who may nest nearby.

Sometimes, cockroaches in the garage are simply wayward wanderers who managed to squeeze in during the night, so don’t panic if you only see one cockroach in your garage and can’t find his lair. He may just be passing through—a swift dispatch with your shoe, if you’re compelled, will take care of him.

How to Prevent Roaches in the Garage

You can prevent new infestations by continuing to follow some of the strategies for elimination. In addition, periodically inspect and repair your garage door seals, caulking the trim around the doors and windows in your garage, and leaving cardboard boxes and paper bags outdoors.