6 Easy Ways To Get Rid Of Cockroaches From Your Home

Aug 10, 2018

Nobody wants gross pests, such as spiders and ants, in their homes. Cockroaches especially are one of the most hated pests of all. These annoying creatures are very unpleasant to look at, they can trigger allergies, contaminate your food, and even carry diseases. They also carry the stigma that your house is dirty if you have them. 

However, this misconception is not true at all. While cockroaches do thrive in environments that are messy and dirty, they can be found in clean and tidy homes, as well. That is because they can still find food and water in the craziest places. 

What do you do if you turn the light on one day and spot one of these vile creatures scurrying to hide underneath the stove? 

We know it is a shock. Your clean home is suddenly infested with these disgusting bugs, but don’t worry, we have a number of ways that can help you get rid of these pests. 

Roaches are looking for two main things when they pick your home to infest: food and shelter. So it is very important to clean up even the tiniest of spills immediately when they happen. Any leftovers should be covered and stored properly, and make sure that your dry goods are sealed well in your cupboards. 

You should also periodically pull out your refrigerator and stove and clean up any food residue that gets left behind. Always make sure your garbage cans are tightly covered, cleaned, and left out on the curb weekly. The same goes for your recycling cans. 

Roaches are fast creatures, but that doesn’t mean you cannot outsmart them. You don’t want to immediately spray pesticides on your countertops, as these can cause health problems in some people. Instead, consider a gel bait to easily and quickly solve your roach infestation. 

Roaches love to be in warm, dark areas. That means you can find them in boxes and bins, within stacks of cardboard and newspaper, and behind your appliances. Be sure that you don’t leave anything open in your garage or kitchen. Use steel wool or caulk to seal up any crevices they may be hiding in. As mentioned before, make sure all of your recyclables are emptied regularly, to avoid them hiding in the bottles and cans. 

Boric acid is a substance commonly found in things like toothpaste and laundry detergent. It is also effective when used to kill cockroaches. While the chemical is non-toxic to people, it is deadly to roaches. Just be sure to read all of the instructions carefully before you apply it to the area you are having the issue in. It can be useless if it isn’t applied right. 

A safer alternative to boric acid is a baking soda and sugar mix. Mixing up equal parts of the two will act as a bait. The roaches will eat the sugar, as they are attracted to it, but the baking soda will slowly kill the roaches when it mixes with their stomach acid.

You may have tried every one of the solutions above to no avail. Sometimes, you need outside help, and that is okay. Call a pest control professional who can identify where your problem is coming from and help you get rid of it once and for all. Remember, that’s their job. Bugs happen and you shouldn’t be ashamed that you have a problem. 

Do you have any more tips that could help readers get rid of their roach problem? Tell us in the comments!