Home / DIY / How to Eliminate Cockroaches From Your Home

How to Eliminate Cockroaches From Your Home

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

Roaches do not belong in your house. They do not belong in the kitchen, bathroom or the bedroom. So how come you’ve got dozens of them running around the house? Even when you try your best to deny these pests food and water, you still spot several of them scurrying around?

Cockroaches are very hard to get rid of. Unfortunately, if you spot a couple of them, you might have hundreds of them lurking behind the walls or hiding in the ceiling. They breed at an exponential rate. Their bodies are flat so they could get into the smallest cracks and crevices. Roaches are also very crafty. They will scurry away from sight during the day. If it’s dark, they go out to eat, breed and spread diseases! So how do you solve a problem like this? Is there a way to eliminate roaches from your home without using chemicals? Consider these tips:

Catnip Roach Spray

Catnip is type of herb that belongs to the mint family. It’s usually used as a cat treat, but it can also help eliminate roaches in your home. Catnip contains an ingredient called nepetalactone. Nepetalactone is a non-toxic compound that repels roaches. To use catnip as natural roach spray, boil the herb in a small amount of water. Collect the fluid in a spray bottle. Start spraying on baseboards or behind the counters. NOTE: Use this method only if you don’t have pet cats!

Borax and Sugar

Cockroaches love sugar. You can use this to lure the buggers out and kill them with borax. Borax is a compound found in most laundry detergents. It looks like white powder and us available in most hardware stores. Borax happens to be the most effective roach killer! It works by destroying the insect’s exoskeleton. The pests do not develop a resistance to it, unlike pesticides or insecticides.

Just mix borax powder with sugar. Put the mixture in places frequented by roaches. The sugar will act as the bait. When it attracts the roaches, they will be covered with borax. Once roaches are covered in borax and go back to the nest, their exoskeleton gradually breaks down. Roaches in their nest will be affected as well. Continue putting the borax and sugar mix in various places in the home until the pests disappear.

Borax should be handled with care. It’s toxic when ingested. The compound contains boric acid which is toxic by mouth. If you have pets or children, consider trying other methods to prevent accidents.

Diatomaceous Earth and Cocoa Powder

Just like borax, diatomaceous earth contains compounds that destroy roach exoskeletons. Diatomaceous is a non-toxic earth. It’s safe to pets and humans alike. Mix diatomaceous earth with cocoa powder. Add the mixture to the highest places in the home. Roaches love high places. So add the mix on top of your kitchen cabinets or spaces near the ceiling.

The pests will be attracted to the cocoa powder. And when they’re covered with diatomaceous earth, their exoskeleton is gradually destroyed. Once they come back to the nest, they will feed the cocoa powder laced with diatomaceous earth to other roaches. Soon they will all die.

Other Tips

The key to preventing pests from infesting your home is to avoid making the space conducive for breeding. This means clean your home to prevent cockroaches. They are attracted to food and water sources. Check for pipe leaks and repair them to cut roaches’ access to water. Keep the garbage can closed all the time so they don’t get food. Make sure the house is clean and free from food debris.

Finally, seal all small openings with clear caulk. This prevents roaches from coming out and spreading their germs inside your home.


Facebook Fan Page

Be first to get an exclusive and helpful articles every day! Like us on Facebook