Tips On Getting Rid Of Cockroaches

Cockroaches are unsightly insects that can be a sign of an unsanitary home. Check out these tips on getting rid of cockroaches:

• Clean!

Cockroaches are attracted to food, dirt, stagnant water, and grim. Thoroughly clean your kitchen and bathroom to get rid of anything that might be attracting roaches. Cockroaches are attracted to water as much as food, so keep your bathroom sink/bathtub drained and dry. Cover the trashcan in your kitchen and empty it frequently, especially if it contains organic trash. Do not leave dishes and stagnant water in the sink and make sure to clean out your garbage disposal often. Wipe down the counters and make sure all food is sealed or put away. Sweep crumbs from the corners of the cabinets and under the sink. A spotless kitchen will keep the roaches away!

• Seal Entry

Look for cracks, holes, and gaps where the cockroaches could enter from outside. Caulk the cracks you find outside your home and get sufficient weather stripping for the doors. Patch any holes in the drywall you find in the basement. Plug the gaps around kitchen/bathroom pipes with steel wool.

• Repellents

Cockroaches hate the smell of bay leaves. Put some crushed bay leaves in a few small bowls and place them in areas where you have seen cockroaches. Catnip also has the same effect on cockroaches. Sprinkle some catnip around your house to successfully repel cockroaches from problem areas in your home.

• Natural Insecticide

Try non-toxic insecticides that are safe to use around children and pets. You can make a natural roach trap by mixing baking soda with sugar. The roaches will eat the sugar, but the baking soda will cause their stomach to explode. Apply boric acid (powdered) to areas under the sink, around the cabinets, and in the corners of the countertops. Boric acid will dissolve the exoskeleton of the cockroach and cause it to die of dehydration. Sprinkle borax or diatomaceous earth around your house. The particles will also wound the roach’s exoskeleton causing it dehydration.

• Store-Bought Options

Get roach traps that are non-toxic and safe to use around children/pets. Consider buying roach spray to quickly kill the roaches in their tracks (although they are quite toxic). Spray your shoe with roach spray if you step on a roach to kill it. This is important because the eggs that are expelled can still hatch after the roach is killed.

Note: Call an exterminator if the roach infestation in your home is severe.