How to get rid of Cockroaches in your home with just 2 ingredients
Leave out bait traps so roaches bring pesticides back to the nest to kill the entire infestation.
Spray roaches with insecticide or a concentrated liquid roach killer to kill them on contact and deter them from the area.
Try dusting diatomaceous earth or boric acid along cracks and crevices to use them as natural pesticide powders.the traps wherever you’ve seen cockroaches, such as in your cabinets, under your sinks, or along the baseboards near entryways.[1] Put the traps in each corner of the room and leave them out for 2–3 days before replacing them.In a pinch, make your own sticky traps by wrapping a piece of cardboard in duct tape so the adhesive is facing out.
Keep track of how many cockroaches you catch on each trap so you can see what areas in your home have the biggest pest problems.Use a spray specifically labeled for roaches since it will be the most effective. Whenever you see a roach, take out the insecticide and spray it directly on the bug to kill it. Apply the spray on cracks and crevices and along baseboards so any roach that walks through the area gets coated in the insecticide and dies.[3]Follow all safety instructions on the product’s label since they may vary between brands.
If you don’t have any spray on hand, try misting the cockroaches with rubbing alcohol to kill them.[4]
Since insecticides use chemicals, keep pets and children away from the areas you’ve treated.the bait in an area where you know cockroaches will encounter it, such as along baseboards, under the sink, and in corners.[5] When the roaches eat the poisoned bait, they’ll bring it back to the nest to help get rid of the infestation.[6]Bait stations may take several weeks to kill all of the cockroaches since their eggs could hatch after you get rid of them.
Alternatively, look for gel baits that you can apply under the lip of your counter or hinges of your cabinets.Keep pets and children away from any areas where you apply pesticides since they can be toxic.
Concentrates can be particularly effective at preventing reinfestation since they usually deter roaches for 1-2 weeks or more.Cockroaches get dehydrated when they walk through diatomaceous earth. Use a bulb syringe to spread the diatomaceous earth. Apply a thin layer that’s barely visible around cracks and crevices so cockroaches have to walk through it. Try spreading it in other places too, such as underneath your sinks, along baseboards, and inside cabinets.[10]Keep diatomaceous earth away from pets and other people since prolonged exposure could cause lung irritation.oil, or citronella oil since they’re the most effective at getting rid of young cockroaches. Spray the essential oil directly on the cockroaches when you see them. Otherwise, just spread the oil around the baseboards where you’ve seen cockroaches most frequently to keep them away.[12]Reapply essential oils once a week so they stay effective against roaches.Dust a thin layer of the boric acid powder into the cracks around cabinets and baseboards. Leave the boric acid for about 1 week before vacuuming it up and replacing it.[13]To attract more roaches to the boric acid, mix in 1 part powdered sugar or flour. Roaches will be drawn to the food source so they’re more likely to ingest the boric acid.
Boric acid isn’t highly toxic to humans and pets, but try to use it only where the roaches will get to it to prevent exposure.
Avoid using boric acid outside since it’s toxic to plants.
Some people claim to kill roaches with baking soda, or by mixing baking soda and boric acid, but baking soda isn’t an effective insecticide.[14]