Cockroaches are an unwelcome house guest. And if you spot one, it is quite possible that there is an entire family of roaches hiding somewhere. Of course, there are numerous pesticides in the market to deal with the problem, but using these products means exposing your family to highly toxic chemicals. Trying out natural ways to keep these pestering pests at bay is the best way to go about it. If you’re also a homeowner wondering how to get rid of cockroaches, then use these simple DIY methods to free your home from this nuisance.
How to get rid of cockroaches fast
- Clean your home
- Keep surfaces dry
- Natural bait
- Keep your house cool
- Set traps
- 2-ingredient recipe that works
Clean your house
Cockroaches in kitchen are a complete no-no. Just like all household pests, a little prevention is better than cure. You need to ensure that your house is clean, because cockroaches, above all other pests, are most attracted to leftover food crumbs and residues, standing water, damp spaces and decomposing food items in your dustbin. This means if you wipe kitchen surfaces, countertop and kitchen stove before turning in each night then you would have stopped the growth of cockroaches in the house. Never leave dirty dishes in your sink and also mop the floor using soap and water to keep cockroaches away forever. It may seem a difficult task to do every day, but it is always better to do small cleaning tasks daily than spending most of your time deep cleaning home on a weekend.
Keep surfaces dry
An interesting fact about cockroaches is that they can live without food for a month, but can’t live without water for more than a week. Therefore, you will find these critters – mostly – scurrying under your sink. Fix leaky faucets in your washroom and make plumbing repairs so that you have clean and dry surfaces. Do not over water indoor plants and always keep kitchen utensils dry and place them upside down to drain excess water. Also, seal off any kind of openings from where cockroaches can enter the house. Cockroaches are thigmotropic, which means that they like to be touched on all sides! They want all sides of their body to rub against solid surfaces. Ever wondered why cockroaches love to crawl in through tight spaces and crevices in your house?
DIY natural cockroach bait
For a cockroach free home use a natural bait to kill roaches. Visit a local superstore and bring some boric acid. Grind sugar into fine powder and take three parts boric acid and mix it into one part powdered sugar. The sweetness of the sugar will lure the cockroaches while the boric acid in it kills them. The best part is that boric acid isn’t hazardous for your family or pets. However, sprinkle it at a place where kids do not crawl and accidentally consume it. You can sprinkle the mixture under the refrigerator, below the sink, under the stove, washing machine, dish washer and in tight corners where kids can’t reach. If you want to cover the crevices in cabinets and cupboard, where you can’t sprinkle the powder, then take 1 part peanut butter and three parts boric acid. Mix it well. Apply the sticky mixture inside drawers, cabinets and at entry points of cockroach infestation. These are some of the most effective natural ways to get rid of cockroaches.
Set traps
Another DIY way to get rid of cockroaches is to set a trap. Take a bottle with a narrow opening and a broad base. Add some pieces of bread and pour some water. Then pour oil on the inner sides of the bottle so that it is coated nicely. If all goes well, the cockroaches will get attracted to the bread crumbs and will get inside the bottle for a feast but they won’t be able to climb out because of the oily surface on the sides of the wall. You can later kill cockroaches trapped in the bottle, by pouring a soapy solution.
Keep your space as cool as possible
A cockroach crawling in your bedroom is creepy enough, but imagine if it starts to fly! The mere sight sends shudders down the spine. The German cockroaches are the most common type. Then there are American cockroaches as well. When temperatures soar high in summers, they have the ability to spread their wings and fly. It is said that the rising temperatures trigger roaches to make use of their muscles more. Well, you can’t control the heat wave outside, but you can keep your house cool and that is one way to keep cockroaches away.
2-ingredient recipe that works
Cockroaches have something called spiracles. These are small holes in their bodies. The spiracles are responsible for sending air directly to the tissues using tubes which are known as the tracheae. In order to kill cockroaches keep a solution made of soap and water in a spray bottle. Whenever you see a roach, instead of spraying harmful chemicals in the house, spray the soapy solution and within minutes the cockroach will suffocate, topple over its back and die. Another natural way to get rid of cockroaches could be to boil water and add soap or washing detergent in the hot water. Pour this boiling mixture in toilet drains, gutters, toilet seat and in the kitchen sink. The roaches will be kept away forever if you follow the practice every 15 days – religiously.
Some fascinating facts about cockroaches
- Cockroaches can survive a month without food
- They can only live a week without water
- Cockroaches can eat almost anything and everything – from food residues to faeces.
- Their repulsive diet is OK for them because they do not consume food to get nutrition. They have bacteria in their bodies that produce amino acids and vitamins.
- Even if you cut off a cockroach’s head, it can still live for a week.
- Survival after decapitation is mainly because cockroaches do not breathe through their mouths. They have small holes in their bodies through which they breathe.
- They can hold their breath in water for around 30 minutes. Don’t think that you can kill cockroaches by flushing them in the toilet.
- Cockroaches are older than dinosaurs! They evolved around 359 million years ago.
These were the most natural ways to get rid of cockroaches forever. You can also use these tips to get rid of other common pests at home. For more articles related to lifestyle and home decor, check out the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
