A cockroach infestation can also bring a host of diseases and leave behind droppings and dander that aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma. When you want to get rid of these pests without endangering your family or pets, you may want to use home remedies instead of chemical products. These 12 home remedies for roaches let you kill these pests fast without spending a fortune and moving out for a week.
1. Bay Leaves
Bay leaves have a strong and unpleasant scent that repel roaches, which makes it one of the most recommended methods to get rid of roaches fast without spending a lot of money or putting your family at risk of exposure to chemicals. You can use this home remedy for roaches every day without compromising your budget.
Necessary items
- Fresh bay leaves
- Rubber bands or ties
Directions
First, tie the fresh bay leaves into bundles of 3-5 using the rubber bands or ties. Then, place the bundles of bay leaves in corners around your home, on shelves and bookcases, behind appliances, and anywhere else you have seen cockroaches.
2. Mint
Mint oil is a great way to get rid of roaches fast since its strong scent repels roaches. It also dries out the roaches’ skin and outer shell if the pests touch it. This natural roach killer can be purchased at any grocery or health food store and poses no danger to pets or kids.
Image source: MaxPixel
Necessary items
- Mint oil
- Cotton balls
- A spray bottle
Directions
Place cotton balls with mint oil on them in the corners of rooms, under furniture, and in other areas where roaches tend to dwell. You can also make a spray by diluting the oil with water for easier application. You can apply mint oil as a home remedy for roaches every day until the pests are gone.
3. Moth Balls
Moth balls are another home remedy for roaches that you might have around the house since they are toxic to roaches. However, they are also toxic to pets and children, too. As such, you should use this home remedy for roaches with caution and make sure that you keep your kids and pets away from this roach killer. You should also ensure that your home is well ventilated so that the moth balls do not pose a health risk.
Necessary items
- Moth balls
- Cloth satchels or bags if you prefer to keep the moth balls out of reach from pets and kids
Directions
Place the moth balls behind counter appliances, in corners, behind bookshelves, and in closets to fight roaches. You can use this method of getting rid of roaches as often as needed until pests are gone.
4. Mouthwash
One of our unique tips for how to get rid of roaches fast involves using mouthwash as a natural roach killer. The astringent quality of the mouthwash dries out roaches’ skin when they touch it. It also deters roaches from coming into your home if you spray it around doorways or windows. Mouthwash poses no danger to your kids or pets. To use it as one of your home remedies for roaches, you should buy mint or peppermint mouthwash instead of cinnamon for the best results.
Image source: Flickr
Necessary items
- Peppermint or mint mouthwash
- A spray bottle
- Cotton balls for soaking in the mouthwash
Directions
Place cotton balls soaked with mouthwash in corners, behind small appliances in your kitchen, in closets or on bookshelves to kill roaches.
5. Ammonia
Ammonia is another one of the best home remedies for roaches that you can use without spending a lot of money. Just like bay leaves, ammonia has a strong and offensive odor that repels roaches. The pests cannot tolerate the smell or the feel of ammonia when they touch it. As a natural roach killer, it is very effective.
Necessary items
- Ammonia
- Water if you prefer to distil ammonia
- A spray bottle
Directions
Apply the ammonia in corners, behind appliances, and elsewhere in your home. Keep pets and children away from the treated areas. However, you should use this home remedy for roaches with caution. Protect your hands, nose, eyes, and mouth while applying ammonia and make sure that your home is well ventilated.
6. Cedar
Cedar wood is a natural roach killer that has been used for years to get rid of these pests. To protect your kids and pets, you should use cedar wood in places that they cannot access, such as behind the fridge or stove.
Image source: Flickr
Necessary items
- Cedar wood shavings or chips
- Cloth bags or satchels
Directions
Create sachets of cedar wood shavings if you want to use this home remedy for roaches in your living room, dining area, or bedrooms. Replace the wood shavings or chips regularly for continuous roach control and prevention. If no pets or children live in your household, you can also spread the shavings or chips in areas roaches tend to dwell in.
7. Bleach
Bleach can also be used as a home remedy to fight and kill roaches. However, you should also use this remedy with extreme caution if you have children or pets. Make sure that your home is well ventilated while you use bleach to kill and repel roaches in your kitchen, bathroom, and elsewhere.
Necessary items
Directions
To use bleach to get rid of roaches, you should first dilute it with water as undiluted bleach can cause burns or exposure to toxic bleach fumes. Then, carefully pour it into a spray bottle and spray it directly on roaches to kill them. You can also pour diluted bleach down the drains to deter roaches from crawling into your sinks and on top of counters.
8. Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest
Roaches despise the acid found in lemon juice and lemon zest. To kill roaches naturally and to keep them out of your home, spray lemon juice in your doorways, around window sills, on counters, and anywhere else you have seen roaches. Lemons are cheap and available year-round and pose no harm to your pets or children. They can even make your house smell fresher than before!
Image source: Pixabay
Necessary items
- Fresh lemons
- A fruit peeler or grater
- A spray bottle
Directions
You can also place the zest of lemon in corners, behind appliances, and other places to kill and repel roaches. Clean up the juice and zest regularly to avoid these natural roach killers from devolving into sticky messes.
9. Boric Acid
Boric acid is an inexpensive and effective way to kill roaches in your home and is generally safe for humans and pets.
Necessary items
- Boric acid
- A “puffer” bottle or squeeze bottle for proper application
Directions
Apply boric acid in doorways, window sills, in corners, and anywhere else you have seen roaches. You can also use it outside in your yard to deter roaches from entering your house. A small “puff” of boric acid is typically all that is needed to kill roaches. However, you should follow the directions closely before applying it in your home.
10. Soapy Water
One of the best ways to kill cockroaches involves spraying them with soapy water. The soap dries out their bodies and causes their skin to burst if applied directly on the little pests. This method requires that you come into direct contact with roaches, which might be unpleasant if you are afraid of or repulsed by these pests.
Image source: Flickr
Necessary items
Directions
Mix the dish soap with warm water until bubbly and spray directly onto roaches. Spray this solution whenever you see the pests in your home for one of the most effective home remedies for roaches.
11. Cayenne Pepper, Garlic, and Onion Water
A spray made from cayenne pepper, garlic, and onion proves to be very effective in killing and repelling roaches. It’s not yet clear why cayenne pepper repels roaches, but these three ingredients have highly irritant components that provide an unhospitable environment for roaches.
Necessary items
- Cayenne pepper flakes
- Garlic
- Chopped onion
- Water
- A spray bottle
Directions
Boil 4 quarts of water, take it off the stove, add the other ingredients to the mix, and pour it into a spray bottle once it’s cooled off. Apply the spray to corners, floors, counters, sills, and doorways to repel and kill roaches.
12. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are a relatively unknown yet highly effective way to get rid of roaches in your home fast. This tip for getting rid of roaches also lets you recycle coffee grounds (regular or decaf, both work) that you would otherwise throw away. The roaches are attracted to the smell of the grounds, which you can use to trap them and permanently get rid of them.
Image source: Flickr
Necessary items
- Used coffee grounds
- A tin can
- Water
Directions
Place the coffee grounds in the bottom of the can. Pour enough water in the can to barely cover the grounds. The roaches will crawl in to eat the grounds but drown before they can escape the can.
Conclusion
Cockroaches make your home unsafe and unhygienic, and commercial roach repellents or killers contain harsh chemicals can endanger pets and children even more than roaches do. Fortunately, you can get rid of these dangerous pests quickly by using any of these 12 home remedies for roaches today.
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