How to get rid of roaches naturally
When you see roaches in your house, your first thought might be to grab a bottle of insecticide or to call an exterminator. But not only would you be exposing your family to toxic chemicals, they might not do much good.
Because cockroaches are becoming so close to invincibility, researchers suggest combining chemical treatments with other methods — like traps and better sanitation — when fighting a roach problem. Or you can forego chemicals and try just natural methods.
Getting rid of roaches naturally can be a slow process. But getting rid of them naturally can also prevent the problem from reoccurring. So how do you do it?
Clean, Clean, and Clean Again
As with most household pests, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What do I mean? You’ve got to make sure your house is spic-and-span, because cockroaches are attracted to food residue, particularly grease. That means wiping down the counters each night, never leaving dirty dishes in the sink, making sure the stovetop is clean and sweeping the floors before you go to bed. This may seem like a lot to do every day, but if you start doing this stuff on a regular basis, a 15-minute cleanup should be plenty at the end of each night to eliminate most residues (unless you have a party — or kids — and then cleanup will take a little longer).
Seal Up Cracks and Holes
That means inside your pantry, between the countertop and the wall, and in the baseboards. Roaches (and other insects) can crawl through even the smallest of spaces, so it’s important to seal the entries into your home. This may take time, but in the end, it’s worth the effort, especially if you live in an apartment and have neighbors who don’t maintain the same standards of cleanliness as you do. You can use a tube of caulk and a caulking gun to do the job.
Cut cockroaches off from their food supply.
Start by cleaning spilled or leftover food. A forgotten cereal box in the back of the cabinet is a gold mine for roaches. Don’t leave any dishes on the counter or in the sink either Go deeper — literally — by checking behind cabinets and appliances too. “They like behind the refrigerator because that’s a nice, warm environment,” Nobody cleans behind their refrigerator so there’s usually a food source for them back there. Store your garbage in a bin with a tight-fitting lid and take it out regularly, Treat the bottom of the trail pail with the same level of care by wiping out any residue, gunk, or leftover food.
Eliminate any and all hiding places.
In addition to food, roaches need harborage to thrive. Their favorite nooks and crannies include stacks of paper and cardboard boxes, so recycle any materials you have laying around. Cleaning up any clutter will deter roaches from hanging around — or coming back.
Leave out roach bait — but don’t spray.
While sanitation and housekeeping is key, you can also employ some other tools in your war on roaches. Baits are the ideal option for homeowners to use, because they’re simple to apply. You do not want to spray a pesticide in large areas because it may contaminate surfaces that you do not want contaminated: countertops, appliances, etc. Baits, including Combat Roach Killing Bait, are a cleaner and less risky way to control the problem.
Use baking soda to kill roaches
Baking soda is one of the most multifunctional products ever created, so it’s no surprise that it has the ability to get rid of cockroaches, as well. The best method is if you mix the soda with some sugar, first. The smell of sugar will bring out the roaches, tempting them to eat from the mixture, without noticing the baking soda. After that, when they go to drink some water, a reaction with the soda will cause their stomach to burst. Cockroaches often feed on their dead comrades, so a chain reaction of death will follow.
Here is how to proceed:
- Mix equal parts of sugar and baking soda in a lid or a dish.
- Place another dish or a lid close to the first one and fill it with water.
- Refill the containers with more bait and water when the dead roaches start to appear.
- Place a couple more dishes around the places, where roaches usually gather.
- Repeat until you are cockroach free.
Getting rid of cockroaches by using catnip
Almost anyone who has cats also has catnip. And even if you don’t have, you can easily purchase it. It’s one of the most effective home remedies against cockroaches and it’s really easy to use.
- Boil around 1l of water.
- Place the catnip in the water and let it boil for around 10 minutes
- Turn off the heat and let the solution cool down.
- Put it in a spray bottle and apply it all over your property.
What Smells Repel Cockroaches?
Nature has blessed the cockroach with an incredible sense of smell, making it easy for them to seek out food and find a mate. But that same sense of smell can be used to get rid of cockroaches – there are some scents that cockroaches simply cannot abide. Here are some smells that cockroaches find disagreeable, and you can use those smells to send them packing.
Lavender
Cockroaches hate the smell of lavender, and that is good news for you. If you love to grow lavender in your yard and garden, you are more than halfway to a roach-free home. Just plant lavender around your home as a sort of defense system – you will create a barrier that even the most determined roaches will be loathe to cross. You can use lavender oil inside your home to chase existing roaches away and stop new ones from coming in. Lavender essential oils work well for this purpose; you can dilute the oil and place it in a spray bottle, then spray surfaces where cockroaches have been a problem.
Citrus
You may love the smell of fresh citrus, but cockroaches hate the scent. That means you can use citrus scented cleaners in your kitchen and bathroom to chase any lingering roaches away.You can also keep a few citrus peels around your home in strategic places. The cockroaches in the area will smell that fresh citrus and know to stay away. You may need to refresh the scent a couple times a month, but that is a small price to pay for a roach-free home.
Eucalyptus
Koala bears may love the smell, and the taste of eucalyptus, but cockroaches find it quite disagreeable. If you have been looking for an excuse to plant a eucalyptus bush in your front yard or spray your home with fresh eucalyptus oil, consider this your opening. You can use the eucalyptus scent in a number of different ways, from essential oils diluted with water and sprayed as a barrier around your home to plantings in your front yard and garden. Just use your imagination – and use the cockroach’s keen sense of smell as a pest fighting weapon.
Sometimes a natural approach to pest control is the best choice, and that is certainly true with cockroaches. These common pests choose their targets carefully, so do what you can to make your home the least attractive choice.
How to Kill Roaches and Their Eggs
Short on time? Here’s the quick answer to killing roaches and eggs.
- Kill adult & juvenile roaches with Advion roach bait gel & boric acid. Alternatively, you can use a contact killing pesticide like DemonWP insead of baits and boric acid.
- Make sure juveniles can’t reproduce and eggs can’t hatch with Gentrol, an insect growth regulator. IGRs will make roach eggs sterile. It will also stop juveniles from being able to reach adult-hood.
- Don’t attract more roaches. Remove food sources, keep the house clean, and close off openings and entrance points. Making sure more roaches don’t come in means you don’t fight a never ending battle