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How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Home is a question of innumerable people from all around the world. Cockroach! The name itself is a fear for many, especially children and women. Some men also are scared of roaches, and I am one of them. 🙂
Cockroaches or roaches are the most disgusting and despised creatures on the planet. They can be found anywhere, be it your house or workplace. They are unwanted nuisances and can be the scariest thing in your home.
The presence of roaches in a premise spread infects foodstuffs and thus spreads harmful diseases. They can spoil your food, damage books, wallpapers, garments, and electronics. Children and kids can be highly affected by infections spread by roaches.
Not only roaches spread diseases but they are also associated with a dirty environment. They may come from a very dirty place and crawl over your favorite food. Would you like to eat such polluted food? Absolutely not!
You start looking at how to get rid of cockroaches effectively from the moment you have seen their signs in your home. In every Indian household, the presence of cockroaches can be observed.
Once roaches make their presence in your home, it can be extremely difficult to kick them out. In fact, they are ever running annoying pests, no matter how hard you try to get rid of them, they keep coming on.
So, how can you get rid of such problematic creatures from your home? There is a professional pest control solution that can effectively eradicate roaches from your home.
But it can be an expensive affair. Apart from this, there are certain techniques and home remedies by which you can get rid of cockroaches effectively.
What acts as the best way to get rid of cockroaches? Let’s find out.
18 Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroach at Home
1. Restrict water sources
More often than not, cockroaches are found around a source of water. You must know the fact that roaches can survive for a month in the absence of any food, but no more than a week without water. Hence, one of the best things you can do is cut off water sources. Fix all the water leaks in your house including the kitchen and bathroom.
2. Keep the house clean
There are fewer chances of the presence of cockroaches in a neat and clean house. So, make sure you regularly clean your house thoroughly. The first place to start is the kitchen because the kitchen has all that roaches love. Don’t leave leftover food in dishes. And don’t put them in the kitchen sink. Was your dishes promptly and put food away promptly after having your meals. Keep the sink area clean. If possible, don’t place a dustbin in your kitchen. Pay attention to kitchen drawers regularly and keep them organized and clean. Also, pay special attention to cooktops and range tops, as roaches love oil and grease.
3. Don’t leave food uncovered
Cockroaches will very conveniently attach food that is uncovered. So, make efforts to hide your food. Never keep foodstuff open for extended hours. Cover loose foodstuff properly and keep food containers sealed. Don’t leave fruits on the countertop and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink for overnight or extended hours. These will minimize the risk of cockroaches coming into your kitchen.
4. Remove trash regularly
Have a dustbin with a lid in your house. Don’t use a dustbin without a lid. You will use this through leftover foods or other wastages. Make sure the dustbin is always covered. Through away the leftovers and wastages on a regular basis. Don’t be lazy and skip a day to clean the dustbin. Also, clean the dustbin on a regular basis before putting it again in its place.
5. Use professional roach gel bait
Cockroach bait is a modern pest control technique that is used for the extermination of despised and harmful cockroaches at indoor locations, such as homes and offices.
More often than not, commercial road bait is a gel material housed in a childproof case. It contains slow-working poison mixed with attractive food for cockroaches. When cockroaches eat the bait gel, they generally return to their nest and kill other cockroaches. You can purchase cockroach bait from your neighborhood stores.
Identify the problem area and popular cockroach hiding spots. You may encounter roaches behind the refrigerator, under the sink, in corners, in the bathroom cabinets, and crevices in cabinets. Place roach-killing gel bait. Roaches will most probably eat the poisonous gel and take it back to the nest and will kill other cockroaches.
6. Use homemade cockroach baits (Boric Acid + Sugar)
Using boring acid is one of the best ways to kill different types of pests including cockroaches and ants. It has been proven that boric acid can be highly effective at killing cockroaches and a variety of other pests.
The mixture of boric acid and sugar acts as a highly effective roach bait. You can prepare homemade bait by mixing three parts of boric acid with one part of powdered sugar.
The sugar attracts the cockroaches, while the boric acid kills them. Sprinkle the mixture at popular cockroach hiding spots such as behind the refrigerator, under the sink, in corners, and in the bathroom cabinets. Don’t sprinkle the mixture at the place where little fingers or noses can reach. Although boric acid is not considered toxic, it cannot be safe for consumption.
This is the most common and effective way to get rid of cockroaches at the home, office, or kitchen,
7. Use homemade cockroach baits (Baking Soda + Sugar)
The mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar is a simple, safe yet highly effective cockroach-killing homemade bait. It can effectively help you get rid of harmful and despised roaches. If you will use this mixture then you can notice a quick decline in the population of roaches as a result.
The best thing about this homemade roach bait is it is completely safe. To make the mixture, take an equal part of baking soda and powdered sugar in a bowl, and mix them well.
Sprinkle the mixture at popular cockroach hiding spots such as behind the refrigerator, under the sink, and in corners.
The sugar in the mixture will lure the roaches and baking soda will add stomach gas to roaches, causing them to die over time.
This method is also the most common and effective way to get rid of cockroaches at home, office, or kitchen,
8. Use a solution of soap/fabric softener and water
You might have a fabric softener in your home. The solution of fabric softener or water is one of the best and easy ways to kill adult roaches. You can also use the solution of soap and water for the same purpose.
Make a light solution of fabric softener or soap and water and place the mixture in a spray bottle. When you see any cockroach in your home, spray the solution over it.
The solution will create a thin film over the roaches and they will die due to suffocation.
9. Use bay leaves as cockroach repellent
More often than not, bay leaves are found in every Indian kitchen. They have a hard fragrance and increase the taste of our food as well. You will be amazed to know the fact that cockroaches don’t like the smell of bay leaves.
And hence, bay leaves work as a natural roach repellent. The main benefit of using bay leaves is they are completely safe. To get started, you will need to make a powder of the bay leaves.
Use mortar and pestle to make the powder of bay leaves. Sprinkle the powder at popular cockroach hiding spots. Due to the hard smell of this powder, roaches will be repelled.
10. Use cucumber peels or sliced cucumbers as repellent
Cucumber peels or sliced cucumber also work as a cockroach repellent. Some find it effective, while others don’t find it efficient. But giving it a try will not harm you anyhow. The smell of cucumbers is intolerable for cockroaches. Place cucumber sliced and peels at roach prone area. I hope, it will work.
Lemon peels and lemon juice also work as an excellent cockroach repellent.
11. Use store-bought cockroach traps
Professional traps are used to lure cockroaches and trap them with an adhesive. There are different types of cockroach traps available in the market. You can find it from your local stores and online as well. Buy several roach traps and place them at cockroach hiding spots or prone areas. This method will be an effective way to kill the small population of adult roaches. But it will not affect the nest of roaches.
12. Use water jars to trap roaches
Try this method to trap adult cockroaches and kill them. It’s a simple yet effective homemade trap. It will lure and trap the roaches in a jar placed next to a wall. The roach will drop into the jar and not escape. You can place any bait such as water and coffee grounds in the jar. Keep in mind, this will never affect the roaches’ nest and eggs.
13. Try soda bottle traps
This is a simple yet effective trap that you can give a try to. Take an empty plastic soda bottle. Cut off the top where it bends. Flip the top and place it into the body of the bottle. It will look like a funnel inside the bottle. Use adhesive tape to seal around the rim. Pour some soapy water or the solution of water and fabric softener inside the bottle. Place this trap in the cockroach-prone area. Notice the effect. Chances are that roaches will crawl into the trap and down.
14. Seal the entry points and hiding spots
Cockroaches may hide in the cracks on the walls. Cracks on the exterior walls may be entering point into your house. So, seal the cracks on the exterior walls so that roaches cannot enter your home. Also, seal the cracks on the interior walls so that you don’t leave hiding spots for roaches.
15. Use an insecticide spray to kill roaches
If homemade methods are not working to kill or repel roaches then get some insecticide that is labeled for use against cockroaches. Spray the insecticide at a cockroach-prone area or wherever they may be hiding or entering your house. Keep in mind, it is a toxic method and hence keep your children out of the way when you are spraying it. Additionally, you must follow the safety instruction given on the product’s label.
16. Use a liquid concentrate to kill roaches
More often than not, liquid concentrates are used by professional pest exterminators. But nowadays, they are also made for use by the common people. To get started, dilute the concentrate with water and then spray over the cockroach hiding areas. Since it is a poison, keep your children out of the way when you are spraying it. Additionally, you must follow the safety instruction given on the product’s label. Don’t forget to wipe away or mop the surface after spraying the solution. Generally, this method will prevent roaches for 1 or 2 weeks.
17. Use professional-grade pesticides
If your home has a serious infestation of cockroaches then you can use professional-grade pesticides. There are several types of professional-grade pesticides available in the market you can purchase for the purpose of killing cockroaches. These products may be available in the form of sprays, glue traps, and baits. It is recommended that you should use this method if nothing works. While using professional-grade pesticides, make sure kids are not around.
Warning: Professional-grade pesticide is a very strong poison. And, it will harm anyone who eats it.
18. Use professional pest control service
If you have a serious infestation of cockroaches in your home and nothing works for you then don’t delay using a professional pest control service. There are several pest control companies in Delhi, Gurgaon, and other cities that can provide you with highly effective cockroach control services.
Key Takeaway
There can be several other effective ways to get rid of cockroaches. Using the aforementioned methods may help you get rid of cockroaches efficiently. I believe that you should not use insecticide methods or using strong pesticides on your own because it can be risky. In serious infestation, you must use a professional cockroach control service. Professional pest exterminators know better ways to easily identify the hiding spots of roaches and kill them as soon as possible.