Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Don’t let cockroaches invade your house! Do you know why they’re a nuisance? Cockroaches can cause health issues such as asthma, food poisoning, and other diseases. And if that wasn’t enough to make them an enemy of every household worldwide then it’s the fact that these pests are not only hardy but also resilient in their ability to quickly rebound from insecticides.
Having an exterminator come to your home can be quite costly plus they use toxic chemicals to get rid of the pests. Luckily for us, there is relief with some simple home remedies to get rid of cockroaches that actually work and will help keep those nasty cockroaches out so we don’t have to worry about our health anymore.
Why is it so hard to get rid of cockroaches? The roach is nature’s toughest bug. Nasty, disgusting creatures that are hard to get rid of; they can live anywhere there is food and water! They might look gross but the worst part about them isn’t their looks: it’s how many babies these things have at one time (up 300)! If you see a cockroach run for help because this nasty guy will produce more in just days than we could do with all our fancy equipment combined.
For these reasons, exterminators often resort to using toxic chemicals like boric acid or sprays containing fipronil. Nevertheless, if you want to avoid having frequent infestations in your home or local business without relying on expensive treatments from an exterminator, then natural home remedy methods can and will get rid of them.
Cockroaches Thrive In a Dirty Environment
A dirty environment is one of the main reasons why eradicating cockroaches is so difficult since their habitat needs to be free from bacteria and other germs that can kill them easily. The way they live makes it hard for you to make a difference, but there are ways to target their environment and its source.
If your home has cracks or crevices where the roaches can hide, limit these as much as possible. While this is not enough to eradicate them on its own, this step will certainly help in making your home less hospitable for these pests. Make sure you seal off all kinds of openings around pipes, vents, doors, windows, and any other entryways for pests. You may also want to seal up any holes in the walls, floor, or ceiling that aren’t being used anymore.
You’ll need to make sure you clean your house thoroughly, too. Vacuum all parts of your home on a regular basis and take out the garbage regularly. Wash dishes immediately after using them and do not let dirty dishes pile up in the sink because these are food sources as well. The same thing goes for spoiled food in the refrigerator because it can attract cockroaches if left uneaten. If there’s mold anywhere in your house, it needs to be cleaned right away. Mold is another food source for roaches so keeping this at bay will certainly help get rid of them more effectively.
9 Home Remedies To Get Rid of Cockroaches
- Citronella oil is a great natural way to get rid of roaches that will have them scurrying away quickly. Mix 25 drops of citronella oil with a pint of water and spray it around any areas they might be residing in.
- Rubbing alcohol sprayed into cracks and crevices can also do the trick because the smell will put them off. Sprinkle some peppermint or menthol crystals near their living areas as well to keep them at bay.
- If you take garlic and mix it with water in a spray bottle, then spray the mixture around the area where roaches might be residing, it will keep them away. The smell of garlic is enough to ward off most pests that want to get close to humans.
- Essential oils such as peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass are really great for eliminating roaches or other unwanted pests.
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth mixed with water will protect the areas where roaches may be living. The food-grade nature of it means that you can safely give this to your pets and kids without any worries about harming them.
- Powdered cinnamon and cloves will help to ward off roaches. Combine them together and place them in areas where roaches are likely to stay in, like around the kitchen or bathroom.
- A mixture of cayenne pepper and catnip sprayed in the area they live will also work wonders. These herbs contain a compound known as capsaicin that keeps pests away.
- Make your own spray by mixing some water, sugar, and cayenne pepper together. Spray the area where roaches are likely to stay in and it will help to keep them at bay.
- Placing bay leaves in areas where roaches are likely to reside will help to keep them away. They don’t like the smell so they’ll try and avoid it, and that keeps them from sneaking into your home.
Treating the Home
Since roaches thrive on a diet of human food, you’ll need to do some serious cleaning. Start with your pantry. Throw away any foods that are packaged in boxes or bags.
Use glass containers instead to help keep them out of your home. Clean out cabinets and shelves thoroughly — even if there don’t appear to be any roaches.
Wipe down cabinets with a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid. Then, wipe them down again using ammonia.
It will leave a scent that the roaches won’t like and it may also kill some eggs if there is an infestation inside your cabinets as well (don’t worry though, you won’t smell it after it dries).
Roaches can also come in with your food if you’re eating out a lot or letting people into your home who do this. They may even be coming in from outside. The roaches will be attracted to your kitchen and bathroom since these are areas that have moisture and grime that they can cling to.
Finding Roaches
If cockroaches are a big concern for you then I recommend searching under cabinets or behind refrigerators as those seem to be common places where people find them crawling around at night. They also enjoy hiding inside of drains but thankfully it is really easy just grab some oil and pour it over any gaps near sinks or tubs – this should keep them away from these areas altogether.
Spraying and Crawling
In your home, you’ll need to go after the adult insects first so they have no chance of reproducing with each other. For this reason, use traps if you can. Bait them with peanut butter that has sugar mixed in. If you can’t find the bait to buy, make your own using 1 tbsp of peanut butter and 1 tbsp of powdered sugar.
Roaches will come for this food easily – there’s no need to worry about it drying out because they will eat it all quickly. Once the roaches are dead, you’ll have to remove the carcasses. Otherwise, their bodies will rot and serve as a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria.
Killing the Nymphs
When you’re spraying for roaches, it’s important to spray areas where the nymphs and baby cockroaches will be living. They are usually small, hard-to-find creatures that hide in places like under rugs or sinks. If we don’t spray these areas too then they’ll have a chance of surviving when all the adult roach populations die off!
Treating the Yard
Some of the most common roach infestations tend to happen in yards. It all has to do with where they get their food and water from! Outdoors is a prime location for these insects because that’s exactly what they need: moist places or any leftover pet food will work just fine.
So make sure you remove anything outside your home so as not to attract them there any more than necessary- this won’t only stop new ones from coming near but also drive away those who are already present!
It Takes Perseverance
Getting rid of roaches can take perseverance because it can take weeks for the roach population to die off. You’ll need to spray and apply as many remedies as you possibly have at your disposal before they will all be gone. Luckily, these methods are natural and safe, so you don’t have to worry about harming your kids or pets when using them.
When you use natural methods to drive them away, it’s less likely that the roaches will become immune to your repellents. In fact, using natural remedies instead of store-bought sprays or powders can be safer for children and pets because you’ll avoid having harmful chemicals in your home.
Correcting the situation properly will ensure that you don’t have this problem again in the future. One way to know what may cause a re-infestation is if there’s water around your house that is not being kept clean or drying up quickly enough.
Otherwise, it’s important to make sure that there are no food sources elsewhere in your home — especially near entry points like doors and windows — because otherwise, they’ll keep coming back!
