How to Remove Cockroach Droppings

Cockroach droppings, remove roach stains known as frass, are a telltale sign of an infestation in your home. They contain a mixture of everything that roaches have digested, including food from your cupboards and counters, garbage, rotting flesh, and the bodies of other dead cockroaches. They also contain chemicals, called aggregation pheromones, which signal other cockroaches to join the group and find food and water.

In addition to being gross, cockroach droppings can make you and your family sick. They contain toxins that can cause diarrhea, breathing problems, and other health issues. They can also trigger allergies and asthma in some people. Cleaning up cockroach droppings and eliminating conditions that attract them is the best way to prevent an infestation.

How to Remove Roach Stains Without Damaging Your Walls

Start by thoroughly washing surfaces where cockroach droppings have been spotted. Use a disinfectant cleaner or wipe down with a wet cloth or sponge. Be sure to get in all the cracks and crevices, too. Let the disinfectant soak into the walls for about 10 minutes or however long it says on the label (if you’re using a store-bought spray). Then, rinse and dry with a clean cloth or sponge.

Repeat the process until you don’t see any more cockroach droppings on the surfaces you’re cleaning. Then, take steps to keep cockroaches out for good: Seal up cracks around windows and doors; wipe down counters, cabinets, and appliances regularly; sweep floors often; and take out the trash regularly. Also, put up roach traps and fix leaky pipes to eliminate the water sources that cockroaches love.