Few things are more frustrating than a roach infestation. These persistent pests will make themselves at home in your kitchen, bathroom, and other living spaces as they search for food. Unfortunately, they multiply fast and can spread diseases. If you’re tired of living with a cockroach infestation, then let’s figure out how to get rid of roaches for you!!
What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home
No matter the type of pest – whether it’s roaches, ants, termites, or rodents – they’re all most likely searching for food and water sources that they can easily find in your home.
1. Dirty Dishes In The Sink
Dirty dishes in the sink often have leftover food on them, which is exactly what cockroaches are looking for. Roaches are either in your home for one of two reasons: they’re seeking shelter or they want food. Letting dirty dishes sit in your sink gives these pests food to go after.
2. Crumbs On The Floors Or Counters
Leaving crumbs on your floor or counters is another source of food that cockroaches will be attracted to. The goal is to cut out any opportunity for these pests to find food in your home. This means wiping down your counters and sweeping the floor when you notice crumbs.
3. Garbage
Garbage is yet another source of food, so be sure to take your garbage out consistently and keep your garbage can sealed so there are no access points. Some garbage bags even claim to give off a smell that wards off pests.
4. Pet Food On The Floor
Pet food on the floor is a big cockroach attraction that is often overlooked. If you have a pet that often doesn’t eat all of its food and leaves it lying around for later, you may want to invest in a sealable bowl or simply put the bowl up high where it’s not easily
How To Get Rid Of Roaches Naturally
If you want to get rid of roaches naturally, there are a handful of methods we recommend.
1. Boric Acid
Boric acid is one of the best home remedies to get rid of roaches naturally. Mix equal amounts of boric acid, flour, and sugar to make a dough. Set balls of dough around the home where cockroaches can feed on it. The flour and sugar will attract the roaches while the boric acid will kill them. Simply place the dough where you know roaches are normally present, or under your refrigerator, stove, and the backs of cabinets and drawers.
Benefits of using boric acid:
Extremely effective
You only need to apply it once
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda, similar to Boric acid, is deadly to cockroaches. If you want to use this method to get rid of roaches, combine baking soda with something they would be attracted to, like sugar or onions. Place this mixture in high-traffic areas and wait. You’ll start to see dead roaches once they start eating the mixture.
Benefits of using baking soda:
It’s a common baking ingredient. You probably already have it!
One of the fastest ways to kill cockroaches
3:Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, or DE for short, is an excellent natural insecticide. Composed of pulverized, fossilized algae, DE’s particles are sharp and dehydrating. When roaches come into contact with DE, it damages their exoskeletons and dehydrates them to death.
Purchase some food-grade DE and sprinkle a light coating on any surface where you’ve noticed roach activity.
Pros: Effective, affordable, safe for kids and pets
Cons: Messy, requires re-application, you will have to locate and dispose of dead roaches after each DE treatment
4. Borax
Borax is a readily-available laundry product that’s excellent for killing roaches. For best results, combine equal parts of borax and white table sugar. Dust the mixture any place you’ve seen roach activity. When the roaches consume the borax, it will dehydrate them and kill them rapidly.
Pros: Effective, affordable, kills both adult and baby roaches
Cons: Can be messy, requires re-application, requires you to track down and remove dead roach bodies
5. Citrus
Citrus is a tasty treat for humans, but it’s a repellent to cockroaches. The smell of lemons, specifically, deters roaches. Add a few drops of lemon oil to the water you use to mop your floors. The scent won’t be detectable to people, but it will send roaches packing.
Pros: Effective, affordable, ideal for homes with kids and pets
Cons: Does not kill roaches – only deters them
