One of the biggest mistakes of evolution so far is winged cockroaches. According to researchers, cockroaches had been walking the Earth since the age of dinosaurs. Some of the fossils even indicate their existence even before the Jurassic Era! As disgusting as these pests are, they can survive without food for up to a month and without its head for up to a week! Not only can they fly but also move at a speed of 3 miles per hour. Amazing, right? But we seriously hate these roaches and we don’t want to see it around. And if that’s the case and you want to get rid of cockroaches, then read on this post. Today, I am going to share with you the super list of 19 best ways to kill cockroaches easily. You can use tricks and hacks to eliminate these nasty roaches from your home, office pantry, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and everywhere else.
Roaches are a repetitive common problem in every household, especially in every kitchen. They are nowhere to be seen during the day but as soon as you turn the lights off, they start roaming around the house carrying harmful germs and diseases. Since cockroaches proliferate quickly, you need to take fast action to rid your home of these ugly creatures. Cockroaches does more than damage your health with bacteria, they damage even the clothes, electronics, books and other goods and appliances.
But why do you need to try these remedies and hacks when hundreds of cockroach repellents are already available over-the-shelf?
You may ask why opt for a DIY method instead of using ready to use chemical repellants?
Firstly, the ingredients required for these methods are readily available in your home.
Secondly, the synthetic bug sprays contain chemicals that may cause even more harm to your health than the roaches themselves. Repeated use of these natural methods will ensure that your home is cockroach-free in no time.
Causes behind cockroach infestation
We often receive frightened phone calls from households, who are frantically searching for pest control services to get rid of cockroaches. Cockroaches are quite resilient and killing them isn’t always a walk in the park.
There are certain things that invite cockroaches into your home and I think it’s worth knowing about the causes behind cockroach infestation.
The first is of course, exposed food.
Food for cockroaches can be anything from human food to pet food to cardboards. So make sure all you food items are tightly covered and cardboards are sealed and packed properly. If you do find food infested with roaches, immediately throw out the food source. Keep your kitchen counters clean and seal the dry foods in a cabinet or the fridge.
The next would be dark damp spots in your home.
Since cockroaches can go without food, they tend to stay hidden in the blind spots of our houses. It might be the area near the trashcan, or basement, or a certain spot in the kitchen where light doesn’t reach or cluttered shelves and what not. Just make sure you clean all the dingy parts of the house regularly to avoid roach infestation.
Exposed trash is yet another cause behind cockroach pestering.
The wet scraps of food, liquid and cardboard boxes in the trash help the cockroaches to thrive. Keep emptying the bin before it overflows and clean the bin and the area around the bin to keep the bugs away.
Another reason for cockroach infestation is weed overgrowth.
Overgrowth of weed in the garden or near your main pathway attracts these ugly pests into houses. Natural mulch or festering vegetation is quite favorable for cockroaches to survive. Uproot the weeds and keep areas around the door and your pathway clean to inhibit roaches from coming inside the house.
Best do-it-yourself ways to kill cockroaches easily
Cockroach infestation is a not abnormal and hence there are professional pest control services that help you get rid of cockroach infestation for a fee. Sometimes the remedies applied last for a few months and at other times, it may lasts a little longer.
Pest control is an ongoing process, it has to be done often and hence the professional pest control companies offer annual and half yearly contract for pest control services.
But if you are a Do-It-Yourself person like me, then you can easily get rid of these nasty cockroaches, easily on your own.
Given below are some of the most effective ways to kill cockroaches from your home, office, and workshop or anywhere as required.
Using Sugar and Borax to Kill Cockroaches
Borax is a known remedy for roach infestation that slowly dries the exoskeleton of the insects, messes up their digestive system and finally kills them. Instead of borax, you can also use boric acid or baking soda. Sugar helps attract the cockroaches to your trap. Here’s how to use the ingredients:
Mix borax and sugar in 3:1 ratio.
Spread this mixture around spots where you have noticed the roaches at night. (Make sure to wear gloves during spreading the mixture.)
Be prepared to dispose off some dead cockroaches in the morning.
Repeat the process for a few following days.
Peppermint Oil to kill Cockroaches
Peppermint oil is worthy cockroach repellent and cockroach killer. A peppermint oil spray does the job in a non-toxic way and is hence safe to use around children. Here’s how you can use peppermint oil to kill cockroaches:
Mix 15 drops of peppermint oil with 10 ounces of water.
Mix these two thoroughly and spray around cockroach infested areas.
Repeat the process for best results.
Neem to Eliminate Cockroaches
Neem has been used traditionally as a bug repellent for years. Neem oil or neem powder contains volatile components that are detrimental to cockroaches. Here’s how you can use neem to keep those roaches away:
Pour a spoon of neem oil in a regular sized spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray the mixture in the infested areas at night and repeat the process for as long as you need.
Another way is to sprinkle neem powder along places where you have noticed cockroaches. Do this at night and repeat the process for as long as required.
Kaffir Essential Oil for Cockroach Removal
Makrut lime or kaffir lime leaves are steam distilled to obtain oil. This oil is a very active cockroach repellent. According to this research, kaffir lime oil showed 100% repellency against both American and German cockroaches. Here is how you can use this particular oil to ward off cockroaches.
Pour 10 drops of kaffir lime oil in about 2 cups of water.
Pour the solution in a spray bottle and spray the mix on and around infected areas.
Pour the remaining mix in your sinks and drains.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Silica Aerogel to Remove Cockroaches
Silica aerogel is a desiccant that speeds up water loss and induces dehydration. As per studies, when cockroaches are exposed to this substance, the outer layer of the roaches dries up, which makes the insects lose moisture and eventually die.
It is quite an effective ingredient to get rid of cockroaches. Here is how you can use silica aerogel to kill cockroaches:
Mix silica aerogel and sugar in 3:1 ratio.
Sprinkle this mix around and on cockroach-infested places. Make sure you keep away children and pets from those areas.
Repeat the process for as long as necessary.
Diatomaceous Earth for Cockroach Removal
Diatomaceous earth is another safe way to get rid of cockroach infestation. It has abrasive qualities that damage the exoskeleton of the cockroaches, eventually killing them. Some diatomaceous earth contains silica dust, so make sure you buy the one without the chemical in it. Here’s how you can use diatomaceous earth to kill cockroaches naturally:
Dust food grade diatomaceous earth in cockroach-infected areas.
Make sure you wear gloves and masks while handling it.
Avoid using it in wet areas, as it will not work.
Repeat the process once per day for best results.
You Can Use Detergent to Remove Cockroach
Studies say, that the mixture of water and soap suffocates cockroaches and kills them in a while. This method was found effective against German roaches and bugs. Here’s how you can use detergent to naturally kill cockroaches:
Mix 4 spoons of powdered or liquid detergent in a liter of water.
Pour it in a spray bottle and spray it along places where you have noticed the roaches.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Coffee Grounds for Cockroach Removal
The aroma of the grounded coffee attracts the cockroaches into the trap. It is one of the most effective natural ways to kill cockroaches. However, we are not yet sure, that it’s the caffeine in the coffee that does the job. Here’s how you can use grounded coffee to kill cockroaches:
Put coffee grounds in small paper cups.
Place these cups in water-filled jars.
Place the jar against walls or baseboards around places where you have noticed the roaches at night.
The cockroaches will be lured into the trap and will not be able to escape.
Dump the contains of the jar in the morning.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Baking Soda to Remove Cockroach Infestation
Baking soda expands when it comes in contact with water and hence it is efficient to kill cockroaches. When I say baking soda, I mean the edible baking soda that is used in bakeries. Here’s how you can use edible baking soda to get rid of cockroaches naturally:
Mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar.
Sprinkle the mix in the corners, nooks and crannies where you have noticed cockroaches.
The sugar will attract the roaches and consuming the baking soda will kill them.
Repeat the process as many times as required.
Using Listerine Spray to Remove Roaches
The essential oils present in Listerine spray are what kill the cockroaches. Not only Listerine but any brand of mouthwash will do the job. The menthol in Listerine is found to be most effective in repelling and killing cockroaches among the 86 essential oils tested by researchers. Here’s how you can use Listerine to kill cockroaches naturally:
Mix one cup of Listerine with one cup of water.
You can add 3-4 drops of dish-washing liquid in it as well.
Pour the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it around cockroach-infested spots.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Garlic, Onion and Pepper Mix
The smell of garlic and onion will lure the cockroaches out. The pepper in the mix will repel and kill the cockroaches. This is an overnight method of killing the roaches naturally. Here’s how you can use these three ingredients to kill the cockroaches:
Blend together half a garlic clove and half onion together until you get a smooth paste.
Mix one spoon of pepper powder in this mix.
Add this mixture to a liter of water and mix it well until they are well combined.
Spray or sprinkle the mix in cockroach-infested areas at night.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Catnip for Cockroach Removal
The catnip herb is an excellent cockroach repellent. Nepetalactone, an active ingredient in the catnip herb gives it its roach repellent properties. It is non-toxic to both humans and pets except cats. Here’s how you can use the herb to kill cockroaches naturally:
Bring 2 cups of water to boil, add the catnip herb and then boil it for another 2-3 minutes.
Cool down the mix and pour this catnip tea in a spray bottle.
Spray this on and around areas where you have noticed the cockroaches.
Repeat the process until your house is completely cockroach free.
Cucumber Peel can Eliminate Cockroaches
Cucumber peel doesn’t look very threatening but it can help you get rid of those disgusting roaches if you follow the following method properly.
Put a cup of fresh cucumber peels in an aluminium can.
Place this can around places where you have noticed cockroaches.
The stench of the cucumber peels, when placed in an aluminium can, can suffocate and kill cockroaches.
Repeat this process daily until your home is cockroach-free.
Boric Acid for Roach Removal
Although toxic, boric acid is a superb remedy to kill the cockroaches in your house. Here’s how you can use boric acid to kill cockroaches:
Sprinkle about a cup of boric acid around the places where you’ve noticed cockroaches.
Keep your children and pets away from these places.
This method will give you satisfactory results within a week’s time.
Fabric Softener Can be used as Well
Cockroaches are known to breathe through their skin. Once they breathe in the fabric softener, they suffocate and die. This is a handy and useful home remedy to get rid of cockroach infestation. Here’s how you can use fabric softener to get rid of those ugly roaches:
Pour two cups of water in a spray bottle and add 3-4 spoonfuls of fabric softener in it.
Mix the solution well and spray it along the places where you have noticed the cockroaches.
This spray will kill the cockroaches hiding in dark damp spots of your kitchen with ease.
Repeat the process every fortnight to obtain best results.
Lemon Juice Can Help Remove Roaches
Lemon juice is an easy and pleasant-smelling way to get rid of the cockroaches. Lemons possess anti-pathogenic properties that keep the roaches away. Here’s how you can use lemon juice to naturally kill cockroaches:
Add two to three spoons of lemon juice in a bucket of water.
Mix the two well and dip your mop in it.
Wipe the places where you have noticed cockroaches.
Repeat the process for as long as required.
Plaster of Paris and Cornstarch
This is an effortless way to naturally kill the cockroaches. Here’s how you can use the two ingredients to get rid of the roaches:
Mix two spoons of plaster of Paris with two spoons of cornstarch.
Sprinkle the mixture in the cracks where you have noticed the cockroaches to come out from.
In about a week, the cockroaches will die out of suffocation.
Repeat the process until your home is cockroach-free.
White Vinegar for Cockroach Removal
There will be no foul odor or mess with this method of killing cockroaches. Here’s how you can use white vinegar to kill these ugly insects:
Mix one cup of water with one cup of white vinegar.
Pour the mix in a spray bottle and shake well until they are well combined.
Spray the solution in places where you have noticed roach infestation.
Repeat the process every night until your home is cockroach-free.
Mint Oil to Remove Roaches
Min oil is a non-toxic, harmless way of getting rid of cockroaches. The strong smell of mint is what repels the bugs away. Here’s how you can use mint oil to naturally kill the roaches:
Pour three to four spoons of mint oil in a spray bottle.
Spray the oil directly in places where you have noticed roach activity.
Leave it overnight and clean the place with a wet rag the next morning.
Repeat the process as long as required.
Over to You
Cockroach infestation is probably one of the worst things that can happen to your home, workplace, shop or warehouse. It spreads diseases and germs and compromises the health and safety of your goods. Getting rid of these pests are not so difficult, especially when you are ready to take control and willing to apply the remedies discussed above. You can easily kill cockroaches using above mentioned natural ingredients like, sugar and borax, neem, silica aerogel, mint oil, kaffir lime oil, detergent, fabric softener, white vinegar, peppermint oil, lemon juice, coffee grounds.
These are some of the most effective and proven ways to kill cockroaches. However, if you feel like you don’t have time to apply these remedies and hacks on your own, then you can simply request free quotations from a couple of local pest control agencies in your city for free.
Share the remedies and let your loved ones know that you don’t need to call up a professional every time you notice a cockroach in your home! You can kill and completely eradicate these bugs easily using these remedies.
Many thanks for a really fantastic blog. It was very helpful. I am just so glad I came across this.