If you do not know what to do to eliminate the cockroaches in your home, then you have to know that home exterminators are a great option to eliminate them, especially since most are not dangerous or toxic to humans.
How to know if you have cockroaches at home?
If you see one, you are likely to find around a hundred more. Cockroaches like to go out during the night (you may have to look for them with a flashlight during the night). Cockroaches leave behind a path of excrement. Therefore, any sign of waste (small brown spots) will be a good indicator of infestation.
What are the places where cockroaches tend to hide?
In the following text we will make a list of the most common places where these insects are installed so that you can apply the above solutions.
- In the cracks of kitchen and bathroom furniture. These are the areas of the house where bacteria grow.
- On wooden furniture.
- If your windows or doors face the street and are not well-insulated, you must fill in all the gaps, so they cannot enter.
- In humid areas such as the kitchen tap, the dishwasher hose, the air conditioning or heating vents, the pipes, etc.
- Under large kitchen appliances: oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc.
- In garbage or in places where crumbs and dirt may accumulate.
Keep watching to avoid the appearance of cockroaches
You will have to keep watching the area because it takes time to get rid of an infestation. Place cockroach traps all over your house (three or more per room). Examine the traps every two weeks. In the event that the cockroaches begin to reappear again, follow the instructions above and apply, for example, boric acid.
Once every ninety days you must treat your home with one of the remedies described above. Following that program will make your home free of cockroaches finally.
Home remedies to eliminate cockroaches
We present below the best home remedies to eliminate cockroaches. A list of fifteen natural remedies to avoid having cockroaches or eliminate them permanently if they are already inside our house.
15 home remedies for cockroaches
1. Coffee
Some people say that coffee kills cockroaches. The truth is that coffee is a good remedy to get rid of them.
You can mix ground coffee with organic coffee and place it where the cockroaches hide.
How to use coffee to get rid of cockroaches
You need 2 or 3 large glass jars, some remains of wet coffee, water and 2 or 3 small cups.
Process to follow:
- Fill each glass bottle half full of water and place the coffee residue in the small cups.
- Place a small cup inside a large glass jar. Do the same with the rest.
- Next, place these jars near the cockroach nests.
- The cockroaches will be attracted by the aroma of the coffee and will try to enter the jars.
- When cockroaches fall into the water jug, it is almost impossible for them to escape.
- Check the jars every day and throw away the cockroaches that are inside.
- Replace the coffee, water, and trap to get more cockroaches. Repeat the process until cockroaches do not fall into the jar for a couple of days.
2. Borax and sugar
We already said that cockroaches are attracted to organic things. We are going to use sugar to attract cockroaches and borax to kill them.
Borax is used to eliminate cockroaches as a commercial exterminator. Borax will damage the cockroach’s digestive system and dry out its skeleton. It will help you get rid of them.
How to get rid of cockroaches with borax and sugar
Join equal parts of borax and sugar.
Process to follow:
Mix equal parts of sugar and borax.
Place the mixture in the baseboards, under the cabinets, the sink and in other places where you have seen cockroaches.
In a couple of hours, they will die as a result of the placement of the mixture.
Caution when using borax: Borax is a very toxic chemical and you have to be very careful when using it. Keep it away from children and pets. Sprinkle the mixture in places that are not accessible to children and pets. Mark the bottle or the place where you store the mixture, and close it well to avoid any future mishap. Use gloves to make the mixture and wash your hands afterwards.
3. Fabric softener
Cockroaches breathe through the lower part of the body (abdominal breathing). If you spray on them the fabric softener they will have difficulty breathing and they will die by suffocation.
How to get rid of cockroaches with the fabric softener
You need to use a spray bottle, water and a little of the fabric softener.
Process:
Mix three parts of fabric softener with two parts of water.
Fill the spray bottle with this mixture and spray this solution on the cockroaches. Check that the solution hits the lower middle region of the cockroaches and their head.
Spray the solution on the cockroaches.
4. Make a trap with cucumber to get rid of cockroaches
Although very few know this remedy, and some says it does not work, it is effective to get rid of cockroaches.
It is easy to find a cucumber in the fridge. Nothing is lost by trying different things and checking if the cockroaches really react to it.
It is said that the cucumber shells placed in an aluminum can react with the metal and produce a stench that causes the cockroaches to die.
Cucumber trap to get rid of cockroaches
You need an aluminum can and the shells of a fresh cucumber.
Process to follow:
Place the cucumber shells in the aluminum can.
Place it where you think there are cockroaches.
You only have to wait until they are extinguished.
5. Prepare a good homemade poison for cockroaches using baking soda and sugar
Before we talked about a mixture of borax and sugar to get rid of cockroaches. If you do not want to use borax because of the proximity of children and pets, use baking soda with sugar. This bait is also an effective remedy to get rid of cockroaches at home. The sugar attracts them, and the sodium bicarbonate destroys their digestive disposition. Baking soda gets a lot of gas inside the cockroach and dies.
How to prepare a good bait for cockroaches with baking soda and sugar
To prepare this home remedy you need equal amounts of baking soda and sugar.
Process to follow:
Take the equal amounts of both ingredients and mix them.
Sprinkle the mixture in those areas infected with cockroaches.
Cockroaches will die when they eat the mixture.
6. The bay leaf to get rid of cockroaches
The bay is a homemade repellent that drives the cockroaches away from the house without killing them. It can be found in any store.
Cockroaches cannot withstand the strong smell of bay leaves and move away.
The use of bay leaves to get rid of cockroaches
Only a modest bouquet of bay leaves is necessary.
Process to follow:
Dry the bay leaves in the sun and crush them with a tool.
Next, sprinkle that dust near the nests of the cockroaches.
The cockroaches will soon leave their nest and try to move to another place where they are more comfortable.
7. Ammonia and water solution to get rid of cockroaches
Ammonia due to its penetrating smell acts as a repellent for cockroaches. Therefore, clean hard surfaces with a solution of ammonia and water.
The use of ammonia to get rid of cockroaches
You need 2 cups of ammonia and 1 bucket of water.
Process to follow:
Add the ammonia to the bucket of water.
Wash the hard surfaces of the kitchen and bathroom with this solution. The cockroaches will leave your house.
Wash the surfaces again with the mixture to prevent them from entering your home every two weeks.
8. Plastic bottle traps to get rid of cockroaches
Although you can always buy cockroach traps, you can use empty plastic bottles to prepare homemade traps.
The preparation of plastic bottles as a trap to get rid of cockroaches
You need a bottle of plastic soda, a sharp knife, or a knife to cut the bottle, water, and soap.
Process to follow:
Cut the neck of the plastic bottle with the help of a knife or blade.
Grab the neck of the bottle and place it like a funnel in the body of the bottle.
Tape around the edge to hold it in place.
Mix a little water with soap and pour it into the bottle (a small amount at the base of the bottle will suffice).
Place your homemade trap where you see cockroaches.
Cockroaches will enter the bottle and suffocate.
9. Uses catnip
Catnip is a natural repellent. You can use it to get rid of cockroaches safely. Nepetalactone is the active ingredient in catnip. It is not toxic to humans and pets except for cats (do not use it if you have a cat at home).
The use of catnip to get rid of cockroaches
Prepare small bags of catnip and leave them where you have seen cockroaches.
You can also mix 1 teaspoon of catnip with 2 cups of water and make a tea. Grab a spray bottle and fill it with the solution. Sprinkle with the mixture the baseboards, behind the cabinets and any other place you think is necessary.
Caution: cats go crazy with this herb. Find another solution to get rid of cockroaches if you have a cat at home. Cats also scare away cockroaches.
10. One of the best home remedies for cockroaches: boric acid
Boric acid is used professionally to kill cockroaches. Why do we have to use a toxic product to get rid of cockroaches? You may want to use it if you do not get other methods to get rid of them.
The use of boric acid to kill cockroaches
Place the boric acid on top of the kitchen cabinets or bathroom cabinets. Cockroaches like high places.
The cockroaches will take the boric acid in the high places and they will die.
Do not put boric acid inside the cabinets. Remember that it is toxic.
Caution: Keep boric acid away from children and pets. After handling it, wash your hands properly with soap. Better yet if you wear gloves and then wash them properly.
11. Cayenne pepper
You can use pepper as a natural repellent to get rid of cockroaches. It is unknown if cockroaches are affected by the smell of pepper or some other ingredient, but it works.
The use of cayenne pepper to get rid of cockroaches
It takes 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper, 1 clove of chopped garlic, 1 crushed white onion and 4 cups of water.
Process to follow:
Take a spoonful of red pepper or cayenne pepper.
Mix with a clove of chopped garlic and white onion.
Boil a liter or 4 cups of water and add the mixture when the water is about to boil.
Remove the container from the fire and wait for it to cool.
Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and spray the infected cockroach areas or anywhere else you think it may be.
12. Make a sticky trap to get rid of cockroaches
You can catch cockroaches using a quality sticky tape. You just have to keep the adhesive part up. In case you are not satisfied, paste the panels used to hunt mice.
Make adhesive traps to get rid of cockroaches
Packaging tapes or an adhesive sheet are needed for the control of the mice.
Process to follow:
Take the ribbons and place them along the baseboards and countertops, behind the refrigerator and the kitchen. Keep the adhesive part up.
Place them at night before going to bed (this is the time when cockroaches are most active).
Repeat the operation until you see them for two or three days.
13. The use of Listerine
One of the best home remedies to eliminate cockroaches is Listerine, this liquid acts as a good cockroach repellent.
Mix equal parts of water and Listerine. Add, also, two drops of dishwashing liquid.
Place this mixture in an aerosol container and spray the areas that the cockroaches visit.
They will definitely run away from the house.
14. Pinesol and bleach
Mixed Pinesol and bleach have an exceptionally strong odor that will help you get rid of cockroaches in their hiding places.
Mix 2 cups of Pinesol, 2 cups of bleach and a little boiling water.
Pour this mixture into the areas where the cockroaches are located.
Then, open the windows of the rooms (this mixture has a very strong smell). Wait for 20 or 30 minutes and then clean the place.
15. Vaseline trap
To place this trap, take a bottle or jar with a wide mouth and apply a little Vaseline on the inside edge of the jar.
Place fruit peels inside the bottle, for example, apple, banana, or mango. Leave this bottle at night in the kitchen, bathroom and areas frequented by cockroaches.
The smell of the fruit shells will attract the cockroaches to the jar and they will be trapped inside the jar due to the petroleum jelly on the rim of the it.
Empty the bottle the next morning if you find cockroaches in it.
Useful tips to get rid of cockroaches at home
The proper use of home remedies and previous techniques can result in a good cockroach hunt. But there are things that must be considered before and during their use:
- Try to always avoid inhaling the chemicals you are using to kill cockroaches. They can cause lung irritation or respiratory problems.
- There is a possibility that children or pets consume the baits or chemical products that you have applied or prepared to eliminate cockroaches. Some ingredients may not be seriously dangerous, but it is always good to keep them hidden and protected. You have to place them in places accessible only to cockroaches.
- Make sure you eliminate dead cockroaches and clean the area correctly.
- It is important that you reduce the attraction of cockroaches to your home. To do this, get rid of your garbage regularly and do not keep any half-eaten or fermented product. Also, it eliminates properly the excrements of the domestic animals (the cockroaches are attracted by them).
What do we have to do before killing cockroaches at home?
Seal the openings to avoid the appearance of cockroaches
It is necessary that you find where they hide. Seal the openings of pipes and ventilation ducts with copper wool or a foam sealant. The cracks around the windows and doors also have to be covered.
A door sealant must be installed on doors to ensure that cockroaches are unable to pass under them. Any hole or crack that appears in the house must be sealed.
Avoid clutter and food in the kitchen
Avoid clutter around the house. Cockroaches consume the paper and glue found in books and magazines. Eliminate paper and boxes that you do not need. Keep the order. Roaches love to hang out in the mess.
Remove water and food that may be reachable for them. Clean the kitchen using a degreaser on all surfaces. Repair faucet leaks and keep sink plugs above drains. Always keep food in plastic containers or airtight bags. Eliminate household waste as quickly as possible. Do not leave pet food at night available for cockroaches.
5 home remedies to kill cockroaches
1. Initially, to kill the cockroaches use a product that contains cypermethrin, such as Demon WP, to spray the outer perimeter of your house. Make sure you spray the outside of the house a couple of feet up, around all the cracks and possible access points.
2. If you want to attract and kill cockroaches, you should know that the use of sugar mixed with baking soda may be a good option. Sugar is an ingredient that attracts these insects. If it is mixed with baking soda, the toxic elements will kill the cockroach in a matter of seconds. We recommend mixing equal parts of sugar and bicarbonate so that the effectiveness is immediate.
3. You can create traps with glue. Wood and cardboard are the most used materials by cockroaches to make their nests. Take a piece of cardboard or wood and apply glue or a sticky film on its surface. You will need some food or sugar to attract insects.
4. Another well-known and very effective home remedy is the use of boric acid. You can create a toxic paste that will immediately eliminate cockroaches. You will need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 4 tablespoons of coffee of boric powder (can be bought in pharmacies or supermarkets).
- Water.
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until a thick paste is formed. Then, apply this product in the areas of the house where you have seen cockroaches. You will see that there are fewer and fewer until they disappear.
Another way to kill cockroaches with boric acid
Next, place boric acid in the cracks and crevices where the cockroaches hide. Take your time and use a flashlight to examine the cracks. Spray boric acid directly on all cracks and crevices where you think cockroaches hide.
Now, following the instructions, place a cockroach gel product (such as Maxforce) in the cupboards, etc. Also, bait stations to eliminate cockroaches can be used in sensitive areas.
Note: do not use boric acid if you have children or pets because the product is highly toxic.
5. Finally, another popular remedy used to kill cockroaches is ammonia. It is a product that you will probably have at home because it is used to clean and disinfect.
- To get rid of these insects, you just have to mix it with water and wash the soil.
- Mop through the places where the cockroaches can hide, and you can kill them.
Additionally, one of the best-known home remedies are bay leaves. We must clarify that the use of this remedy does not kill them, but it repels them, because the aroma of this plant keeps them away. If you put bay leaves in your house you will keep the insects at bay. You must place the bay leaves where the cockroaches tend to hide (holes in the wood, garbage, etc.) so that the smell of the laurel acts as a repellent.
You can also buy lavender and put it in your house because, as is the case with bay leaves, insects do not like the smell that emanates from this plant and move away.
How to drive away cockroaches with home remedies: conclusion
The success of the previous steps culminates if you properly get rid of the cockroaches.
You must be free of them in your home. Also, if you want to maintain this effect for a long time, make sure you take the necessary prevention measures.
