How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

One of New Zealand’s ickiest pests, cockroaches are simply gross. From the creepy way they move to the diseases they spread, cockroaches repulse us. However, they are widespread. They could be lurking in your kitchen or hiding in your garden. Outside, they are just a nuisance. Inside, they can be dangerous. No wonder people want to get rid of cockroaches fast.

Preventing Cockroaches From Entering Your House

Just like in other parts of life, prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping cockroaches out of your house is essential to your pest control strategy. Even if you have to exterminate, you want to ensure that more roaches cannot get inside.

Seal any cracks, holes, or gaps that could let roaches in your house. They can squeeze through even tiny cracks. So, you want to caulk holes and add weatherstripping around windows and doors, too. Do not forget your pipes. Roaches can crawl in around pipe openings or even up pipes and vents.

Get rid of food sources for roaches. Cockroaches are attracted to food above all else. So, any crumbs, dirty dishes, or accessible garbage can attract them. You need to regularly and thoroughly clean your kitchen. Make sure your food, including pet food, is stored securely. Do not eat in other rooms, or if you do, throw away your trash and clean the area. Do not leave pet food out. Instead, take up the bowls when your pets finish eating.

Look around your yard. While roaches in your yard are not necessarily a problem, they will try to make their way inside. Like other insects, they might travel from your flower beds to your house. So, move mulch away from the foundation of your home. Leaving even a tiny gap can help prevent roaches from getting inside.

Do you have cardboard boxes in your attic, basement, or closets? You should get rid of it. Cardboard is a food source for cockroaches. They also love to hide, live, and breed in them. You want to get rid of the cardboard you use to store things and empty boxes you may have stored in your home. It is the cardboard itself that attracts roaches, not necessarily the contents. Cockroaches communicate with pheromones. The cardboard soaks up the scent of the pheromones, so roaches use them to attract one another.

Roaches dislike some smells. They are not fond of the smell of citrus, especially lemon, peppermint, or lemongrass. Add these scents to your cleaning products or spray them around your home. While it will not kill roaches, it will make them want to leave.

Finally, check for water leaks. Like other living things, roaches need water. So, seal up leaks, and make sure and clean up any water spills.

DIY Remedies to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Of course, prevention tips do not get rid of the roaches you may already have. You can try some natural DIY methods to get rid of cockroaches. Mixing one part sugar or honey with one part baking soda and putting it in a dish near where you have seen roaches may kill them. Some suggest sprinkling diced fruits or vegetables, usually onions, with baking soda and putting them in active spots instead. Either way, the baking soda creates a gas that roaches cannot process, which kills the roaches. Even better, baking soda is non-toxic to your family and pets. However, sprinkling it on a food that is toxic to pets, such as onions, can be dangerous.

Another excellent DIY remedy is diatomaceous earth. That is not a poison, but a particular type of dirt made up of pulverized algae fossils. It works because it is sharp and can dehydrate insects. It is affordable, safe, and easy to use. You can even use it on floors and carpets in your house, but you will have to vacuum afterward thoroughly.

While boric acid is not toxic to people and pets, it can be deadly to roaches. It sticks to their legs and wings. They lick it off to clean themselves, ingesting it. You can attract roaches to boric acid by sprinkling some on peanut butter and putting it where you have seen cockroaches. While effective, this process can be messy, and it takes several applications to be fully effective.

Borax is another product that can kill roaches. Combine equal parts sugar and borax and dust any areas where you have seen roaches. The borax is dehydrating, which kills adults and babies.

We are Here to Help

Suppose you have tried these DIY prevention and extermination tricks, but still have roaches. In that case, it may be time to call in the professionals. At Flick, we offer safe and effective extermination and pest prevention programs. Contact us today to find out more.