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While cockroaches can contaminate appliances and their contents, they won't cause damage. Cockroaches can spread bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, making it important to keep them out of places where food is stored, such as a refrigerator. When it comes to electronics, however, cockroaches could potentially damage internal electrical components. As the pests navigate inside a TV or console, they may touch high-voltage components that could short out your product. This damage could lead to costly repairs or require replacements.

Roaches entering your home or infesting an area are usually the result of poor sanitation. Cockroaches feed off of crumbs, spills, food scraps, and other organic matter, so they’re more likely to stick around and come back for more if your space isn’t cleaned up regularly. Maintain your home and prevent roaches by cleaning the kitchen area daily, sealing food tightly, removing open water sources, and eliminating clutter.

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.

To clean a trash can with maggots, combine chlorine bleach and hot water in a 1-to-1 ratio and pour about half a gallon of the solution into the bottom of your garbage can. Just make sure there aren’t holes in the can before doing so. Close the lid, and let the fumes go to work to kill the maggots. Rinse the can with a hose outside. Consider finishing up with a bleach disinfectant and a scrub brush before letting the can dry completely. You can also consider hiring an exterminator near you for a quick, easy solution to maggots in your garbage cans.