Clean Isn’t Always Hygienic: Dr. Mukesh Sanklecha Explains Why Gel-Based Pest Control Belongs on Festive Checklists

As the festive season begins across India, deep cleaning kitchen shelves, appliances, and storage spaces is a standard household tradition. However, according to Dr. Mukesh Sanklecha, Consultant Paediatrician at the Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, even the most thorough cleaning often overlooks a major hygiene risk: hidden cockroach infestations. Cockroaches travel through drains, damp corners, and waste storage before crawling over food preparation surfaces, carrying harmful contaminants and shed particles that can trigger allergies especially in homes with children. Increased cooking, stored sweets, open containers, and filled bins during festive celebrations naturally attract these pests to active kitchens.

Limitations of Traditional Cleaning and Quick Sprays:
Dr. Sanklecha emphasizes that visible cockroaches represent only a small fraction of a larger, hidden colony nesting within cabinet joints, behind large appliances, under sinks, and around plumbing gaps. While deep cleaning reduces surface crumbs and clutter, it does not eliminate these concealed harbourage zones. Furthermore, quick-response sprays typically target only the visible pest rather than addressing the underlying nest, allowing the infestation to persist throughout the busy festive period.

Advantages of Gel-Based Cockroach Control:
To achieve strategic and long-lasting protection, Dr. Sanklecha recommends incorporating gel-based cockroach control—such as HIT anti-roach gel into festive cleaning routines. Key advantages of gel-based solutions include:

Targeted Application: Applied discreetly in small dots (approx. 20 dots overall or 3–4 dots per square meter) in dry, hidden pathways like cabinet hinges, sink undersides, and behind refrigerators.

Colony Elimination: Cockroaches consume the gel and transport its active effect back to their nesting areas, systematically tackling the broader infestation.

Convenience and Discretion: Low-odour, mess-free, and discreet, making it ideal for active kitchens welcoming guests.

Extended Protection: Remains effective for 30 to 45 days after a single application.

Optimal Timing for Festive Preparation:
Applying gel-based pest control during early festive cleaning when appliances are moved and cupboards are emptied—allows the treatment to work effectively in the background before celebrations peak. Ensuring food safety and hidden hygiene goes beyond surface appearance, creating a truly safe, healthy environment for family gatherings.