Last updated: Oct 30, 2022
Do you have a cockroach infestation in your home?
Yes, you probably do and if not the chances are you once had it or will have at some point in future. And this is because roaches are one of the most common household pests.
You can find these insects on all continents except Antarctica, and they can survive anywhere from rainforests to deserts. There is even a popular belief (and a little to research to back it up) that they are among the few (very few) creatures that can survive a nuclear explosion. What does all this mean? Simple! They are hard pests to control.
So what do you do when dealing with roaches?
Do you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on an exterminator or find ways to get rid of them on your own? The second option is the best not only for your pocket but it is also more convenient in the long run since you might have to deal with cockroaches over and over again. And roaches are easier to exterminate than you think.
Are you ready to learn how to get rid of roaches without an exterminator? Let’s get started.
How often do you come across cockroaches in your house?
Do they bother you or you just take them for “regular” household pests that you will exterminate when you get some free time? Most people tend to brush off the threat that roaches pose because they look harmless. But what many do not know is that they are quite dangerous insects.
Not only will these insects spoil your food but they are also dangerous because of the following reasons.
Asthma is a common problem for kids that live in houses that are facing a cockroach infestation. It is in most instances a sign that they are allergic to the roach feces and saliva.
You can reduce the symptoms of asthma by ventilating and vacuum cleaning the house as you look for a permanent solution to your roach problem.
Anybody that suffers from an allergy will tend to be very sensitive to a roach infestation. The feces from the insects and the flakes from their bodies can trigger allergic reactions.
Houses with severe cockroach infestations put the inhabitants at more risk of allergy. But, the allergic reaction can vary from one person to the other.
While many people will only experience annoying itches, for others it can be a severe skin inflammation and difficulties in breathing. Yes, roaches can make life that unbearable for you.
Do you know that cockroaches can spread typhoid? Sounds odd, doesn’t it?
However, it is a fact with scientific research to back it. Not only will cockroaches spread typhoid but they are also known to spread others diseases like salmonella, coliforms, and hepatitis.
These ailments will at least make you spend a lot of cash on treatment and waste a few days doing nothing as you recover but they can also be fatal. And this means that although the probability is low, roaches can kill you by giving you some disease.
Even if you do not get allergies or one of the viruses that cockroaches spread they can still destroy valuable items in your home.
These insects are famous for leaving stains and disgusting odors on fabric and other things. Some will even chew and destroy paper or fabric objects.
So now that you are tired of seeing roaches running around in your hose and understand that they can be dangerous, how do you get rid of them?
Here are some of the best ways.
You can find borax in most stores, and it is also quite inexpensive. Borax is classified as an insecticide, and it has been so for more than half a century. But what many homeowners might not know is that it is one of the best ways to get rid of roaches.
Well, did you know that?
There are two easy ways of using borax to kill cockroaches.
The first and probably the most common way of using borax entail spreading the powder around your house. When doing this, it is advisable to concentrate on the areas where you believe the roaches frequent in search of food or their nest if you know where it is or have seen it.
Gaps and holes are their favorite hiding places, and so they are also where you should apply the borax. Also, make sure that it does not clump during the application and brush it to form a thin layer.
In addition to using the powder, you can also make a paste by combining the borax with some water and sugar. Mix the three in equal parts and form the poison into some tiny balls.
Of course, wear some gloves when making the mix or wash your hands thoroughly afterward. You should then place the balls near gaps and holes or places where you know there are roaches. Roaches will like the taste of sugar and hence eat your tiny poison balls and die.
You already have some baking soda in your pantry, don’t you?
What you might also not know is that it can be a powerful weapon for fighting a cockroach infestation. Although baking soda is not harmful to humans and most other animals, it is poisonous for the roaches if they consume it.
But, the death will not be instant which means that you should not expect to get rid of them immediately. However, they will carry the baking soda back to their nest and kill their babies and other roaches.
You can also make a lethal roach killing paste with the baking soda, sugar and some water to make it more attractive to the cockroaches. Rub this paste on appliances, cupboards, and anywhere you have seen the cockroaches. And once you do all this you can relax and be ready to sweep out the dead cockroaches.
Adhesive traps for roaches use a similar concept to the rat glue boards. They are just a simple piece of plastic, paper or wood board with some glue. The bugs will be attracted to the board but will get stuck when they step on it. And so all you will need to do is to clear the insects from the board.
The Black Flag Cockroach Motel is an example of a useful adhesive roach trap. But, this method only works for trapping a few occasional roaches, and it will not be a solution to the infestation as it does not affect the nest in any way.
If you want to eradicate the entire nest of roaches the poisonous roach baits might be your best option. And if you get one that targets all roach species like Advion Syngenta Cockroach Gel you can get rid of all the roaches in the apartment in just a few weeks.
This method of roach examination works by attracting the cockroaches to come and consume a poisonous chemical. Any cockroach that takes the poison dies almost instantly. The roach bait is an inexpensive roach eradication method, and it can also be very effective if you use it well.
The traditional pest repellers that you use to keep out mosquitoes, flies and other bugs and rodents can also be useful when dealing with roaches. These repellers are ideal for those that prefer to keep the insects out of the house without necessarily killing them.
The KENW Ultrasonic Pest Repeller is a perfect example of a useful roach repellent. It comes in a set of six repellers to make it possible to distribute them throughout the house.
And that is very convenient, isn’t it?
You will want to keep these nasty insects away from all parts of your home. Also, these and other similar insect repellers do not use any poisons and are simple and convenient to use.
German cockroaches are among the most prevalent types of these pesky insects, and they are the type that you will find in many homes and restaurants. They can infect your home in just a short period, and all it takes is only one egg casing or even one egg-laying roach. But like many other cockroach species, it is still possible and relatively easy to get rid of them. So how do you do it? Here are three of the most effective methods.
Commercial baits and traps are an easy way of getting rid of the German roaches as you only need to buy and place them in strategic locations. There are also many options, and it will depend on what you prefer or are willing to spend.
Gel bails are one of the most common when it comes to dealing with the roaches, and they are also quite efficient. Most will come in a tube, and you only need to squeeze it to dispense the gel. For the best and quick results, you should apply the gel behind trashcans and along door trims and windows. Also use it in other areas like under the sink, crevices where the roaches might be hiding.
Well, gel baits are very effective in killing the German roaches, but they can also be harmful to pets and kids. You would never want to put your loved ones in danger, would you? Luckily there are still many other bait and trap options. The sticky traps are an example of one such alternative. These traps will contain some pheromones that these bugs will find irresistible. But once they enter the traps they get stuck and suffocate.
That sounds quite easy, doesn’t it?
Diatomaceous earth provides a non-toxic and one of the most effective ways of getting rid of the German roaches. And one of the most impressive facts about this method is that unlike other insecticides it is almost impossible for the bugs to develop immunity to diatomaceous earth.
Since it is an abrasive substance, it will kill the cockroaches when they ingest it and by cutting their exoskeleton system and dehydrating them to death. Also, they will carry it back to their nest where it rubs off on the others and hence helping you kills off an entire colony. When applying diatomaceous earth, you will only need to sprinkle a fine layer in areas where these insects frequent and repeat this every 4 to 5 days until you kill all of them.
Boric acid is another useful method of getting rid of the pesky German roaches. Just like diatomaceous earth, the boric acid will destroy the outer skin layer on the cockroaches and hence killing them. It also has some pesticide properties and it poisonous to most types of bugs.
You can prepare a boric acid bait by combining it with some sugar and flour. Next, make the mixture into some balls and place them in cracks and crevices or in areas where you have seen the roaches. Also, you can spread a fine layer of the mixture in these areas and replace it after every few days until all the annoying German cockroaches die out.
Now that you have various methods of dealing with roaches things should be easy for you. But, do you always have the time to prepare the borax or baking soda pastes and spread them?
For many homeowners, the answer is NO since they plan for almost every second that they have to spare. However, with the following simple prevention and protection rules, you will not need to deal with roaches at all.
The smell of food will attract bugs, and so even a few particles left on the floor for a while are enough to draw in some roaches into your home. And so keeping your kitchen and the rest of your house clean at all times is one of the most straightforward and useful methods of keeping the roaches out.
Cracks and holes are the favorite hideouts for cockroaches, and they are also how they get into your house. Sealing them will make sure that they do not have anywhere to hide and so they will be easy to locate and exterminate.
Check for gaps between your countertop and the wall, baseboard and also cracks in your walls and furniture. Sealing all these cracks and holes will take longer, but in the end, it will be worth it since all the roaches will vanish due to lack of a favorable habitat.
Did you know that some cockroaches can go for months without food?
Mostly the females can go for at least one and a half months without eating anything. However, all roaches can only go for a few days without water.
What does this mean?
Cockroaches will always be attracted to water and moisture from any leaking pipes. Repairing even the tiny leaks and ensuring that you do not leave any standing water in the sink will cut off their water source.
Roaches are not as hard to deal with as many other pests, and this is despite the fact that they are always coming back into the house. And by observing the following simple do’s and don’ts the extermination should be even easier for you.
The Do’s
The Don’ts
The reality is that cockroaches will always find a way to get into your home. But with the simple solutions above you should not have any difficulties exterminating them. And with our prevention and protection tips, do’s and don’ts you can reduce the frequency of which you have to deal with these annoying insects.
Now that you know how to get rid of roaches without an exterminator, go ahead and just get it done.
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