15 Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Roaches Quickly

It is not for nothing that the general prediction is that the cockroaches will inherit the earth. These resilient pests can survive a nuclear explosion, forget feeble commercial bug killers. However, it is not a nuclear explosion or expensive commercial pesticides that you need to get rid of these domestic monsters. A better knowledge of what works as household roaches remedy can go a long way in not just ridding your home of these pests but also ensuring that they do not return. Here is what you need to know to undertake the task of roaches control by using simple but effective domestic methods that kill cockroaches and do not leave harmful traces behind.

The main causes leading to harmful roach infestation are listed below

• Poor domestic hygiene.
• Irregular pest control measures.
• Stored food in uncovered containers attracts cockroaches.
• Infestation possible even in clean homes through drain pipes and small crevices.
• Roaches can survive with the bare minimum requirements for sustenance.
• They multiply very fast.
• Cockroaches build nests in remote corners and crevices, flattening their body easily to fit any space.
•  Cockroaches are highly resilient pests.

The following are a few signs to help detect a roach infestation:

• Shell casings of hatched eggs of roaches are usually spotted.
• Cockroach feces resembling ground coffee or black pepper will be visible.
• A serious infestation may cause a pungent, musty odor.
• Dead cockroaches may be visible from time to time.
• Roaches can be heard scurrying about at night.
• Spotting a roach in the daytime is a sign of severe infestation.
• Prolonged stomach related problems; especially in children may be due to a roach infested kitchen.

Here are some remedial methods and techniques that serve as the best roaches repellent, and can be tried at home. Try these effective home remedies to get rid of roaches quickly and solve your problem, how to keep away roaches permanently to your home.

1. Bay Leaves

Easily available in any grocery store and a common ingredient in kitchens, and a solution for those seemingly permanent roaches, bay leaves are surprisingly effective. Leave a bundle of them near sinkholes, corners, and crevices where roach nests are likely to be to fend off the pests. You can also place a packet of bay leaves in cupboards to protect books and clothes from cockroaches.

2. Ammonia Solution

Cockroaches often hide in sinks and drain pipes. Ammonia is a top class household roaches home remedy in these situations. Add a cup full of ammonia in a bucket of water and flush it down to sinks and toilets to clean out the pipes. The strong pungent smell will ward off the roaches nesting in pipes and sewers.

3. Moth Balls

Mothballs are excellent for warding off all kinds of pests including roaches. Place a few in your cupboard and near specific areas prone to infestation or likely to be the nesting area for roaches. However, they are not good for humans either so it is important to keep them away from children.

4. Mint Oil

Spray mint oil directly at the pests or in sinks and corners of your kitchen and bathrooms where roaches are more likely to settle. They may not work as fast as some other home remedies but are a natural and non toxic way of keeping your home roaches free over time.

5. Listerine

Listerine not only has antiseptic properties as a mouthwash but can also be used to disinfect your house. Dilute Listerine solution with some water and spray this mixture at nests or pests or around the kitchen and bathrooms to get rid of roaches.

6. Cedar

Cedar can be available in the form of balls, chips, or blocks to ward off all kinds of pests including roaches. One of the best roach repellents, cedar is often used to line cupboards and closets to keep these troublesome pets away.

7. Petroleum Jelly Trap

If you are feeling particularly creative, line the rim of a jar with petroleum jelly and leave it overnight with some food in it as a trap. The roaches will climb in for the food but will be trapped in, unable to escape because of the petroleum.

8. Bleach

Bleach is one of the most common disinfectants used in the house. Mix it with water and pour it down sinks and toilets to keep your home clean and free from roaches living in drain pipes, sinks, and sewers. The bleach solution will drown away the troublesome roaches and their nests.

9. Lemon

Lemon has natural anti-pathogenic properties. Add lemon juice to the water you use to mop your floors, kitchen tops, and bathroom cabinets to keep germs away and repel roaches that cannot stand the citric smell.

10. Borax

Sprinkle borax near corners, crevices, sinks, and pipes in kitchens and bathrooms and leave it overnight.  Being nocturnal creatures the roaches scurrying about at night will come in contact with the borax that dries out their exoskeletons and acts as a slow poison. Those affected by it will take it back to their nest effectively killing the other roaches too.

11. Soap Solution

Make a heavy soap solution in water and throw or spray it directly at the pests. Most of them will die instantly because soap clogs their pores making it impossible for them to breathe.

12. Pepper, Garlic and Onion solution

This potent mixture can be concocted by adding one tablespoon of pepper, a clove of garlic and half an onion mashed up together and added to a litre of water. Add some liquid soap if you want, and sprinkle this solution on kitchen and bathroom areas roaches frequently at night. You may also use this water to mop the floors or counter tops and cabinets. Roaches who cannot stand the smell of this combination are likely to leave your home alone.

13. Cucumber

Leave some cucumber slices or peels overnight around kitchen counters and cabinets or near sinks and crevices where roaches may be especially active. Cucumbers are excellent roach repellents and are a non toxic, organic way of getting rid of these pests. You may also use cucumber along with bay leaves to ward off pesky roaches.

14. Boric Acid and Cornstarch or Sugar

Use a mixture of sugar or cornstarch in addition to boric acid to kill harmful and persistent roaches. The sugar and cornstarch act as bait, attracting the roaches while the boric acid serves as poison for them, drying out their exoskeletons. This is a very effective method for getting rid of troublesome pests or a serious infestation. The only downside is the large number of dead cockroaches to clean the next morning.

15. Coffee Trap

Fill the bottom of a jar with ground coffee to lure in the roaches that are attracted to the smell of caffeine. Fill the jar with water so that roaches drown in it, when they try to climb into the jar. The water clogs their pores and makes it impossible to breathe. The coffee trap is a great home remedy to getting rid of cockroaches.

Some precautionary measures to prevent roach infestation are:

• Use non toxic disinfectants to keep the house clean.
• Seal cracks in walls, cabinets, doors, and cupboards.
• Screen or seal drain pipes and sink outlets.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Vacuum regularly.
• Remember to take out the garbage and clean the dustbins.
• Use trash cans with lids.