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I have quite a few landlord friends who swear by some of the things in this article. Whether you’ve had bad tenants, or just need to get rid of the smell in your own home, It’s really easy to get rid of that nasty cockroach smell from your cupboards.
We talked to all the landlords we know to collect as many tips for removing cockroach smell from food cupboards in order to help the rest of you deal with it properly. Here are some of the things they had to say:
Randy F. NY is a landlord in New York who deals with bad tenants and bug issues all the time. After all, NY is the city of cockroaches, so let’s see what he had to say on the matter. When asked “how to get rid of cockroach smell in food cupboards, he had this to say.
“Well, you know, you know theirs a lot of things that can cause this smell. Crappy tenants are definitely at the top for me. But, you know, it’s not always the bad tenants that have issues. Cockroaches just seem to be everywhere out here in NY.
One of the best things we’ve been able to do to combat the smell is to simply wipe down everything with white vinegar. We also hang baking soda odor decorations inside the cupboards and it really helps.
The main thing is to try and get rid of the cockroach infestation in the first place. We usually hire out to do this, but back in the day, I had to do this by hand to save money.”
Randy F. NY Landlord
I did ask him about dealing with cockroaches in the first place so they don’t cause further issues after the place is clean, But we’re saving those answers for another article. Be sure to check it out once it’s published.
Nyata G had this to say when we asked her this question:
“You really need to make sure all the cracks and holes the bugs(sic) use to get in are nice and sealed up. A simple insulation foam or caulking will make a big difference and help prevent them from getting back in, ya know?
Make sure you get any pipes coming in as well cus those are like cockroach highways. Give it a good wipe down with vinegar or bleach, then pain it nice and thick with an oil-based paint.
Not only will it prevent any smell from leaching out of the wood, But it makes it easier to clean up again later on down the road! EZ wipe you know?”
But you know, if the cupboards smell it’s likely your whole apartment is going to smell right? For that, i definitely recommend an ozone generator. After a couple of days of running one of those rigs, The smells will be gone for sure.
If you have carpet, You really need to give it a good clean or the smell will be right back with a vengeance.”
Nyata G, A landlord in Boston
It turn’s out we only know 2 landlords! So we had to go on to research some other ways to deal with this issue. Here’s what we came up with:
Alternative options to remove roach smell:
We had no idea these were a thing, and frankly it’s amazing! You dump some of this stuff into a can of paint and off you go to a great smelling home! It lasts for months at a time, constantly releasing a nice floral scent into the air (or what ever other scent you’ve chosen).
When it come’s to a pantry, we definitely recommend strawberry or other similar fruit scented additives. These are great for enclosed spaces, don’t become over powering, and always bring a breath of fresh air when you open up the cupboard.
It only takes 1 ounce of additive to 1 gallon of paint, so a 10-ounce bottle will stretch out for 10 gallons of paint. This makes it an exceptionally cheap solution. You could use this anytime as well, it doesn’t just need to be in your pantry! Bathroom anyone?
Doing quarterly inspections
The best way to remove the smell of cockroaches from your cupboards is to not have it in the first place. This can be accomplished by checking around the apartment or house at least 2-3 times a year.
If you can remove any starting roach infestation before it has a chance to take off, you will save a fortune. You will also deal with a considerably lower amount of stress knowing you took care of the problem before it got so much worse.
Signs to look for:
- Roaches like to hang between wall paneling so be sure to check that there.
- Move photo frames off the walls to see if anything is behind them.
- Check under and on top of cabinets. They like to hang around and chill here waiting for their next meal.
- Find evidence of their existence, Such as roach poop. This is what usually causes the bulk of the roach smell you can smell. It looks like little balls of black pepper and is easily noticeable.
- Roaches like warm spaces, so definitely check behind and below the fridge. Doesn’t hurt to check the gut’s either if they are easily accessible.
- Set roach traps on your inspections. When you come back for your next inspection it will be obvious if you’ve caught any roaches in your traps. You might even catch some mice or rats depending on the trap used.
- Check cabinet and wall trims
- Wipe everything down when possible on these inspections with Lysol wipes or vinegar.
