Cockroaches are the most disgusting, unwelcome, and destructive pests that can ever enter your home. You will not even feel safe when you see them around your house as they can cause many diseases.
Their presence in the house is not only a threat to your family but also for pets and plants. The best way to get rid of cockroaches is to use some natural remedies at first and then call for professional help if needed.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Don’t ignore cockroach infestations in your home. They can pose significant risks to your health and wellbeing. |
| Learn about the different options available for cockroach control to choose the best approach for your home. |
| Frequent inspection and treatment are crucial to managing a cockroach infestation in any setting. |
| Preventive measures and attention to hygiene can go a long way in keeping cockroaches at bay. |
| Professional help may be necessary in severe or persistent infestations. |
1. Gel Ant Bait
Boric acid and sugar are among the main ingredients of this roach bait. You can make it yourself if you want; just mix boric acid with corn syrup, water, and sugar.
The best places to put gel ant bait include under kitchen equipment, behind stoves and refrigerators, behind cabinets, and in pantries. This is because cockroaches tend to run along walls when they move around so you want the gel right next to the wall where they’ll go by accident.
As for how long it takes to work: It depends on how much food there is if you have a lot of cockroaches eating it up at once (or even if you don’t but just one or two), then it might take as little as two weeks before all your problems are solved!
However, if there aren’t many insects using this method for their sustenance then it could take longer than that…a lot longer. How long does boric acid take? Well, that depends on who’s using it!
Are you torn between natural remedies and chemical pesticides for cockroach control? Learn about the pros and cons of both options in our article on Cockroach Control: Natural Remedies vs Chemical Pesticides, and choose the right approach for your home.”
2. Cockroach Smoke bomb
Smoke bombs are a great way to eradicate any and all pests. If you’re going to use one, make sure it has a cockroach lure in it! That way, the roaches will be more likely to gather around the smoke bomb and get exterminated by its fumes.
Also keep in mind that certain places in your house might be better than others for using smoke bombs.
For example, a kitchen or bathroom would be ideal because these areas have much more ventilation than other rooms (like the living room).
Also keep in mind that if there is any food or trash around when using a smoke bomb indoors, then those objects may catch on fire from the heat of the vaporized chemicals inside of them.
3. Roach bait stations
If you’re not ready to use the homemade roach traps above, then a good roach bait station is another effective way to get rid of cockroaches for good.
To make your own, you can use a plastic bottle or coffee can and fill it with a mixture of water and boric acid (a common ingredient for DIY pest control). The mixture should be about as thick as ketchup so that when it dries out in the container, it will look something like this:
You may want to test out your bait first before putting it fully into action; this way you can see if the amount of boric acid is right for where you want to place them (you don’t want them getting into contact with humans or animals!).
If they do get into contact with humans or animals, there isn’t much concern since boric acid isn’t considered harmful; however, if this happens frequently then consider switching over to other methods instead!
Cockroaches might seem like a harmless household pest, but the dangers they pose are significant. Protect your home and health by reading our guide on The Dangers of Cockroach Infestations and How to Prevent Them and taking proactive measures.
4. Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are natural repellents for cockroaches. You can use them to make a spray or paste, or you can create a cockroach trap using bay leaves. They’re also safe for humans and pets, so you don’t have to worry about them getting sick from eating the leaves themselves.
If you want to make a bay leaf spray:
- Take about 15-20 dried bay leaves, and grind them in a blender until they form a fine powder
- Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 3 drops of dish soap (this helps the mixture stick together)
- Mix all ingredients together until they form an even consistency
5. Bay leaf and boric acid paste
If you want to use boric acid on your own, here’s how:
- Mix one part boric acid powder with three parts flour.
- Roll it into balls, then place them where you know cockroaches are likely to hide (for example, under the refrigerator).
This combination is safe for children and pets when used in small amounts—but it’s important to note that boric acid can be toxic for cats and dogs if ingested.
That said, this mixture should only be used outdoors or in an area where people aren’t likely to get exposed to it; otherwise, you may need a safer alternative like diatomaceous earth or natural oils from plants such as mint leaves or citronella grasses.
The key to managing a cockroach infestation is frequent inspection and treatment. Stay on top of the issue with tips from our article on The Importance of Regular Cockroach Inspections and Treatments, and keep your home free from these pesky creatures.
6. Doormat + Cockroach Smoke Bomb
- Put a doormat outside your door. It’s been scientifically proven that cockroaches love to get cozy on a doormat, and they’re more likely to stay near where you are if they have one.
- When the roaches are out in force, light a cockroach smoke bomb and throw it at them. The smoke will suffocate them (so don’t use this tactic if you have pet birds), plus it has an added bonus effect of making the roaches think there’s been a fire nearby, which will make them flee away from your home for good!
7. Borax powder + Sugar Paste
You can make sugar paste at home by mixing flour, water, and a cup of sugar. Once the mixture is ready, you will have to add some oats to it too. This makes your bait more attractive to cockroaches.
If you do not want to make it at home or if you cannot find flour where you live, then you can buy this product from stores as well.
Not only will it help attract cockroaches but also kill them once they eat this bait! The borax powder mixed with this paste will cause death due to dehydration in these pests making them easy prey for insecticides like diatomaceous earth (DE).
Dealing with a cockroach problem in your apartment can be overwhelming, but it’s not impossible to solve. Check out our article on How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Apartments for practical advice on managing infestations in multi-unit buildings.
8. Petroleum Jelly + Borax Powder
Another effective way to eliminate cockroaches is by mixing petroleum jelly and borax powder.
- Mix petroleum jelly and borax powder in a ratio of 2:1 or 1:1
- Spread the paste on the cockroach’s path or any area where they are often found
- The cockroach will eat it and die
9. Garlic + Onion water spray
You can make this solution by mixing garlic and onion juice in water. Then, spray the mixture on the cockroach.
It will die within 24 hours and it’s a natural solution that is safe for kids and pets. No need to worry about being exposed to toxic chemicals! This remedy costs less than $1 per bottle cheap enough to try out for yourself!
10. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used to kill cockroaches. Coffee grounds are a natural insecticide, so they work well against roaches.
They’re also a good treatment for roach infestations because they dehydrate the insects and clog their breathing holes. You can use coffee grounds in several different ways to get rid of cockroaches:
Keep some coffee grounds in your pantry and sprinkle them around your home as you see signs of an infestation starting up again.
This will stop new cockroach eggs from hatching since they won’t have enough moisture to survive out in the open air! If you want, put some of those same coffee grounds into traps or bait boxes near where the bugs were last seen before you left for work that morning (or during another time when no one was home).
That way there’s less chance that any stray insects might crawl over into any other areas where there aren’t any traps set up yet!
Mix equal parts baking soda with water until it forms a paste consistency then apply directly onto problem areas using a sponge or paintbrush before washing off thoroughly afterward (if needed) – this method works best if done during nighttime hours when most people aren’t awake yet though 🙂
Preventing cockroaches from taking over your home is a matter of vigilance and persistence. Discover effective strategies from our guide on How to Prevent Cockroaches: My Experience, and put an end to these unwelcome guests once and for all
11. Lemon Disinfectant Spray
Another natural treatment that can help you get rid of roaches is lemon juice and water spray. The citrus scent from the lemon will make your home smell better, but it also has a cleansing effect on the affected areas.
Mix lemon juice with water in a spray bottle, then spray the mixture onto cockroach-infested areas such as kitchen cabinets and floors.
This will not only remove any leftover food particles around those areas, but it will also kill off any remaining roaches so they don’t come back to live in your house again!
Leave the mixture to sit for at least fifteen minutes before wiping it down with a paper towel or cloth – repeat this process until all traces of cockroaches have been eliminated
12. Use A Cat To Kill Cockroaches!
Cats are natural predators of cockroaches, and many owners will be able to train their cats to hunt for and kill roaches.
Cats generally enjoy hunting for or eating bugs, so if you are lucky enough to own a cat, you can use it to your advantage by letting it hunt down those pesky roaches in your home.
If you do not have pets in the house (or if they just don’t like bugs), try using some other methods from this article instead!
13. Cockroach trap using Beer, Yeast, and Sugar
If you think that the cockroach problem has become too much to handle, there are a few other solutions that can help you solve the problem. One of them is to use a trap made from beer, yeast and sugar.
It’s really simple; all you have to do is add some water and yeast into a jar and then pour in some sugar at the bottom of it. Leave this jar in your kitchen or bathroom where you usually see cockroaches crawling around on the floor.
The smell of beer attracts these pests so they’ll be attracted by this mixture as well. Once inside, they won’t be able to escape because there’s no way out for them!
Conclusion
So now you know the basics of how to get rid of cockroaches. We covered all the important points so that you can be confident in your ability to get rid of these pests for good! Now go out there and clean up those dirty little critters!
Further Reading
Here are a few additional resources to help you learn more about controlling cockroach infestations:
How to Get Rid of Roaches in Your Home: This comprehensive guide from Smith’s Pest Management offers tips and tricks for eliminating cockroaches from your home.
10 Home Remedies for Cockroaches: Try some natural remedies to get rid of cockroaches. This article from Livspace lists down ten ways in which you can deal with the problem without seeking professional help.
13 Best Ways to Kill Cockroaches: The Family Handyman provides information on how to kill cockroaches using methods like baits, traps, and sprays.
FAQs
What are some signs of a cockroach infestation?
Cockroach infestations can cause a number of signs, including a musty odor, cockroach droppings, sightings of live cockroaches, and shed skins or egg cases.
What are some health risks associated with cockroach infestations?
Cockroaches can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, as well as potentially transmit disease-causing organisms.
How can I prevent cockroach infestations in my home?
Preventive measures include keeping the kitchen and other areas clean, eliminating potential food sources, sealing cracks and crevices where cockroaches can enter, and minimizing clutter.
Why are cockroaches so difficult to get rid of?
Cockroaches are adaptable and can survive on very little food and water. They also reproduce quickly, making infestations challenging to manage.
When should I seek professional help for cockroach control?
If you’ve tried DIY methods without success and suspect a large infestation or potential health risks, it’s wise to consult with a pest control professional.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
