Cockroaches aren’t magically appearing in the shower; they’re climbing through the same pipes that carry your water. Warmth, moisture, and darkness make drains the perfect tunnel system. By turning a cheap balloon into a flexible sleeve around your drain cover, you create a soft, shifting barrier that’s easy for water to pass through—but far harder for roaches to squeeze by. It’s a tiny modification that quietly changes the rules of access.

Used alone, the balloon trick is clever. Combined with better habits, it becomes powerful. Drying the tub and tiles after use, scrubbing around the drain, and sealing gaps around pipes and wall edges strip away the moisture and hiding spots roaches crave. Together, these small, almost effortless steps turn your bathroom from a pest magnet into a place that actually stays as clean as it looks.