In some places, tea tree oil is used as an antiseptic. It's also a natural insect repellent that's toxic to cockroaches. Like mint oil, tea tree oil can be mixed with water and vinegar to produce a roach repellent solution that you can spray in cracks and crevices to keep bugs away.
Many homeowners report that roaches don't like tea tree oil. You can combine 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water with a few drops of tea tree oil and apply the mixture with a spray bottle to deter cockroaches from specific areas.
Research has found that some essential oils—especially rosemary oil—are effective at repelling roaches. Rosemary oil was found to offer a 100% roach mortality rate at the concentration range of 2.5% to 30%. So mix it with water and spray away at your problem areas!
You may love the smell of fresh citrus, but cockroaches hate the scent. That means you can use citrus scented cleaners in your kitchen and bathroom to chase any lingering roaches away. You can also keep a few citrus peels around your home in strategic places.
The best way to get rid of roaches fast is to sanitize your home, eliminate hiding spots and stagnant water, store food in airtight containers, and use glue strips, bait, boric acid, or liquid concentrates.
Pine-Sol and Fabuloso are strong, all-purpose household cleaners. Similar to bleach, these products kill roaches on contact. Some homeowners suggest spraying Pine-Sol around the outside of your house to keep cockroaches away.
Rosemary oil was the most toxic oil against S. longipalpa because it caused 100% mortality of the cockroach nymphs at all concentrations (Table 1). The next most effective oils were oregano and eucalyptus oils because they killed 100% of the nymphs at the concentration range of 5–30%.
It's a fact that cockroaches are afraid of humans and other mammals or animals that are bigger than them. They see us as predators and that fear triggers their instinct to scatter away. However, they dislike strong and distinctive scents such as citrus, peppermint, lavender and vinegar.
Essential oils can be a very effective – and natural – way to deter roaches. But it's important to choose the right ones! So what smell do roaches hate? Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options.
Distilled vinegar does not kill or repel roaches, making it completely ineffective. Distilled vinegar will help keep your kitchen clean, giving cockroaches less to snack on. However, roaches can live for months at a time without any food at all, and they will eat almost anything to survive.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
A versatile oil that is known for its antiseptic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, Tea Tree oil has also been studied and shown to be an effective insect repellent. Most Effective for Mosquitos, Bed Bugs, Dust Mites, Lice, Ticks, Bees, Ants and Spiders.
Natural Insect Repellent:
Add 1 or 2 ounces of essential oil (tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, peppermint or lavender) to a 12 or 16 ounce spray bottle. Add water and swirl. Spray on all exposed areas and clothes before going outside.
In some places, tea tree oil is used as an antiseptic. It's also a natural insect repellent that's toxic to cockroaches. Like mint oil, tea tree oil can be mixed with water and vinegar to produce a roach repellent solution that you can spray in cracks and crevices to keep bugs away.
Alternatively, let the lavender steep without heat for two days. Strain the lavender out of the mixture, let it cool and put the lavender water into a spray bottle. According to the hack, just spray this where you see roaches and it should repel the nasty bugs from your home.
For cockroaches, window cleaner can make them temporarily unconscious so that you can squash them. This works on initial contact, but Windex will not continue to kill bugs after it has dried. Laundry Detergent – Dilute a few drops of laundry detergent or dish soap in water and use the mixture as a spray.
Cockroaches seek places where they can find ample food. Food crumbs, spills, leftovers, and pet food are the most common food sources. Kitchen trash and grease on stovetops and countertops can be inviting for roaches, and they may also get into stored food items.
Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth around areas where roaches travel and frequent. The sharp particles of diatomaceous earth damage the waxy, protective exoskeleton of the roach, causing it to dehydrate and die, typically within 48 hours of contact.
Dusts – A few insecticides used for cockroach control are applied as dusts or powders. Most familiar to householders are boric acid and diatomaceous earth. For controlling cockroaches, boric acid tends to be more effective. Roaches succumb to boric acid after crawling over treated surfaces.
It is possible to completely get rid of roaches in your home with the right type of treatment but they will not stay away forever. Once you eradicate the current infestation you need to stay proactive about keeping them away.
A cockroach infestation is a sign that something in your home is attracting them, though, so wipe up spills on the counters or floor when they happen, don't leave dishes or food sitting out, and empty your trash cans daily. Having a daily cleaning routine helps prevent pests by addressing such things.
It can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months to completely eliminate roaches.