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The roach you just watched run into your PS5 isn’t really the problem. The infestation it came from is, and that’s probably in your kitchen. That’s the first thing to know about how to get rid of roaches in electronics. Console repair shops know this pattern well: some have started charging a “roach fee” to clean out infested machines, and some told Kotaku that half the PS4s they got in for repair were full of them.
So there are two jobs. Get the roaches out of the device without wrecking it, and end the infestation so they don’t come straight back. The first job is mostly about what not to do. Don’t turn it on to check it still works. Don’t spray anything into the vents. And don’t squeeze bait gel inside it, however tempting that is.
Why roaches move into electronics
Electronics give roaches what they want: warmth, darkness and tight spaces. University of Kentucky entomologists note that German cockroaches gather in clocks, toaster ovens and other electronic equipment that gives off heat. A console that runs for hours inside a closed TV unit is ideal.
Some devices are easier to get into than others. The PS4 drew more roaches than the Xbox One partly because it has wider vents and an internal power supply, while older Xbox One units used an external power brick. That internal power supply is also where the damage happens. Roaches get fried onto it, and the console stops turning on.
1. Unplug it and bag it
Unplug it now, disconnect every cable and leave it off. Then put the device in a big plastic bag (a tall kitchen trash bag works) and knot it shut where it sits, so anything that runs out lands in the bag and not under your couch.
Keep every liquid out of it. Bug spray, cleaner and water all put moisture on the circuit boards. Bait gel isn’t for inside it either: the Maxforce label says not to use it in or on electrical equipment where there’s a shock hazard. Kentucky’s guide says the same about boric acid, since the dust can damage the components.
2. Open what the maker lets you open, and clean it dry
Dead roaches, droppings (they look like specks of black pepper) and egg cases (small brown capsules) stay inside after the live ones are gone. Get them out.
On a PS5, Sony’s support page walks you through taking off the covers yourself: turn it off, unplug the power cord and cables, let it cool, remove the base, then lift each cover off its clips. Stop there. The PS5 warranty doesn’t cover damage caused by “opening the product” or anything done inside it by someone who isn’t Sony or a Sony-authorized service provider.
Clean dry: a soft brush, cotton swabs and a dry cloth. A can of compressed air with a thin nozzle clears the gaps, but do this outdoors, because anything still alive will run out when the air hits it.
3. Bait beside the device, not in it
This is what actually ends it. Put a bait station behind or under the infested device (unless it’s by a fish tank; see step 4). Kentucky’s entomologists say this draws out the roaches living inside to feed and die. If you’re using gel, put a pea-sized dab on an index card next to the console so it’s easy to clean up later.
Then bait the kitchen and bathroom: many small pea-sized dabs in cracks, corners and cabinet edges, not big globs. A roach that eats bait usually dies within 1 to 3 days, and you should see a real drop within a few weeks. Don’t spray cleaners or insecticide near the bait. It puts them off eating it.
4. Use sticky traps to see where they’re coming from
Put sticky traps along wall edges, under the TV unit and under kitchen appliances. UC IPM’s advice is to check them daily until you know where you’re catching the most. That tells you where to bait harder.
If the electronics in question are an aquarium filter or heater, stick to sticky traps there. A pest control forum user summed it up: the filter motor gives off heat and moisture, so roaches like it, and you shouldn’t spray anything around the tank. They’re right. The EPA notes that pyrethroids, a whole family of insecticides, are toxic to fish. If traps alone don’t clear the tank area, have a licensed pest control company treat it rather than guessing which product is safe there.
5. Clean the kitchen like you mean it
Roaches in a console usually mean there are more somewhere else in the house, as Terminix points out. Rutgers entomologist Changlu Wang put it simply: the best way to keep cockroaches away is to keep the kitchen clean. His team’s baits-and-traps program cut cockroach infestations by 85 percent over seven months in a public housing project.
Store food in sealed containers, keep a lid on the trash, fix leaks and clean behind the stove and fridge. Get rid of piles of cardboard and paper too. The same routine keeps ants out of the kitchen, so the work pays twice.
6. Move the device high and into the open
Take the console out of the closed cabinet and put it on an open, well-lit shelf where it can shed heat, as high off the floor as you can manage. Switch it off at the wall when you’re not playing, so it isn’t a warm shelter around the clock. Keep snacks and drinks away from it. Don’t box it in or block the vents to keep roaches out, though. A console that overheats is a bigger problem than the one you started with.
7. Call a pro when the roaches won’t quit
If the bait isn’t being eaten, switch brands. The National Pesticide Information Center notes that some roaches resist certain baits or just don’t like them. If you’re still seeing roaches every night after a few weeks of baiting, call a licensed pest control company.
When to call a professional
Call a licensed exterminator when:
- Bait has made no visible dent after a few weeks, the timeframe in which Kentucky’s entomologists say you should see a real drop.
- You live in an apartment and roaches keep coming through shared walls. That’s the building’s problem. Report it to your landlord or maintenance team as soon as you see roaches, not at the next scheduled visit.
- You keep seeing roaches out in the open. Terminix makes the point that one or two in view can mean many more in hiding.
FAQ
Can roaches damage a PS5?
Yes. Roaches that get onto the hot internal power supply can short it, and the console stops turning on.
Will removing the PS5 covers void the warranty?
Removing the covers is a task Sony’s own guide walks you through. Going further is what Sony’s warranty calls “opening the product,” and the warranty doesn’t cover damage caused that way by anyone other than Sony or an authorized service provider.
Is it safe to use roach spray near a fish tank?
Don’t risk it. The EPA says pyrethroid insecticides are toxic to fish, so keep sprays away from the tank. Near an aquarium, use sticky traps, and call a licensed pest control company if you need more than that.
