4 expert tips to keep cockroaches out of your kitchen drawers

A clean, well-maintained kitchen is the best defence against cockroaches.

New Delhi | March 22, 2025 05:30 PM IST

2 min read

Keep your kitchen clean from cockroaches

Preventative measures can stop cockroach attacks (Source: Freepik)

Maintaining food hygiene goes beyond just keeping your kitchen clean. It also means ensuring it remains pest-free, especially cockroach-free. For that, a regular wipe-down may not be enough—these resilient pests can thrive in hidden corners.

While scrolling through endless reels on Instagram, we came across a video by digital creator Deepti Kapoor, who shared useful tips to prevent cockroaches in kitchen drawers. She suggested drying cutlery before storing it, and avoiding the use of newspapers in drawers.

To get expert insights, indianexpress.com spoke to celebrity chef Ananya Banerjee. She said keeping cockroaches away from kitchen drawers is important. “Food contamination because of cockroaches can lead to stomach issues, digestive discomfort, and even infections in the worst case scenario. Getting rid of them requires a combination of cleanliness, natural repellents, and preventive measures,” she said.

1. Maintain cleanliness

Wipe down drawers regularly with a vinegar and water solution (1:1 ratio). This is to remove food particles and odours. Avoid leaving food crumbs or spills inside drawers. Store food in airtight containers to prevent attracting roaches.

2. Use Natural Repellents

Place dried bay leaves in kitchen drawers; their strong smell repels roaches.
Neem leaves or neem oil can also be used. Neem has natural insect-repellent properties. Place neem leaves in the drawers or mix neem oil with water and spray.
Cloves and cinnamon sticks are also options. Their strong scent keeps cockroaches away.
A light dusting inside corners, away from food, using a boric acid-sugar mix can also act as a cockroach killer.

Keep your kitchen clean from cockroaches (Source: Freepik)

3. Seal entry points

Inspect and seal cracks or gaps around drawers.

4. Set traps and deterrents

Use cockroach baits in areas away from food.

Earlier, MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria had also shared several tips on her Instagram account to drive away these pesky insects, including sprinkling boric powder in the corner of the drawers.

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