The best way to get rid of cockroaches permanently is to remove whatever it is that's attracting them in the first place. These require little more than good housekeeping and kitchen cleaning: Empty the garbage regularly or keep it sealed.
The good news is that even if these pests seem like they could survive even the apocalypse, you can get rid of them and prevent them in a few simple steps. The key is patience and vigilance. Overall, This Old House recommends hiring a professional pest control company to eradicate the roaches in your house.
The best way to keep cockroaches away permanently is to make the home less inviting. Make sure to keep the home clean, clean up food messes, take out trash at the end of the day, seal any cracks or gaps around windows, doors and the foundation, and fix any issue that might lead to high moisture content within the home.
Home remedies like diatomaceous earth, baking soda, boric acid, citrus, essential oils, and borax can be effective ways to get rid of roaches. If you want to take a more aggressive approach to eliminate roaches, glue traps, bait stations, and liquid roach deterrent concentrates are all excellent options.
However, this is a process that can take several weeks. There are different factors that affect how long it takes cockroaches to die after treatment. The species of roach involved makes a difference. For example, it can take up to five weeks to completely rid your property of German cockroaches following treatment.
One of the worst problems homeowners can face are cockroaches, and they can be truly tenacious. You can spray, put out bait stations, and clean thoroughly, only to find that the roaches keep coming back for more.
With an exoskeleton of overlapping plates connected via a stretchy membrane, their bodies are extremely flexible and their legs are fast making cockroaches hard to kill. Their speed allows them to squeeze into the tiniest cracks and crevices and to crawl away quickly as soon as a foe is detected.
Citronella
Citronella not only works great for repelling mosquitos but also cockroaches. While the candles don't work well against roaches, you can use citronella oil as a deterrent. You can mix it with water and use it as a spray or simply wipe down areas with the diluted mixture.
To help keep these trouble areas roach free, spray them weekly for basic prevention and every 3-4 days if you're currently experiencing a heavy roach problem. If after two weeks, you're not seeing the results you want, simply adjust to a more frequent spraying schedule. Don't forget to spray and seal entry points.
Some factors that can attract cockroaches to clean houses include: Moisture. Leaking sinks and appliances create conditions in which roaches thrive, since they offer a readily available source of water as well as the warm, sheltered spaces that provide the ideal harborage for cockroach nests. Untidy landscaping.
So what smell do roaches hate? Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too.
Boric acid: Used correctly, boric acid is one of the most effective roach killers.
If cockroaches get enough borax on the outside of their bodies, it actually damages their exoskeletons. This causes them to rapidly dehydrate and die; a thick coating of borax will certainly get rid of roaches overnight.
If cockroaches want to get in, they are going to find a way to survive. Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to get rid of. While having cockroaches in the home doesn't necessarily mean your home is dirty, a clean home can be a great way to keep your home cockroach free.
Expect An Influx of Roaches
It's common to see roaches after a pest control treatment. They come out of their hiding spots because they are dying. You can use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the ones you see, but you don't need to use any chemicals.
If it is between 10 to 25 roaches, it can be a moderate one. But if it exceeds 25, it can now be classified as a heavy infestation. You should know that the few roaches you see at home are not the only ones you have to deal with. There may be 40 to 50 roaches hiding within your place that you don't know.
If 100 roaches are sprayed with a chemical, it may kill 95 of them. The remaining five are resistant to the pesticide, and they may pass that resistant gene on to their off spring. So over time, the species may develop a tolerance.
Mix shampoo, dish soap or fabric softener with water in a spray bottle. Spray enough onto a giant roach and it'll kick the bucket in under a minute! Tip: Smaller roaches die more quickly from surfactants, and with less spray. To kill a giant cockroach with surfactant, you'll need to seriously douse it.
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.
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.
Bleach can be a useful tool for keeping roaches from visiting in the future. It is an effective and common cleaning agent in many homes, and the pungent aroma of the chlorine it contains is familiar to just about anyone. Turns out, roaches can't stand the overwhelming smell, either!
You may see roaches for a week or two for slow-acting treatments until they eventually taper out. Because of their high tolerance to pesticides, products could take a few days to impact the pests. Just take some time and avoid panicking if you see any remaining roaches still living in your home.
Use a Raid® Max Bug Barrier product to help keep ants and roaches and othe rlisted bugs out of your home. Or, spray this product along baseboards, inside cracks, and behind appliances.
Don't be afraid to spray in your cabinets and pantry, your bathroom and other areas where you don't want to find roaches. Tip: If you're also using baits to kill cockroaches, don't spray peppermint oil on the baits.
In that scenario, you can buy what are called desiccant dusts—like diatomaceous earth, a non-toxic substance you can find on Amazon—and that will dehydrate the eggs, thereby killing them.