Cockroaches are a pesky and annoying pest in many households. They not only dirty living spaces but also carry dangerous pathogens. Here are some simple yet highly effective cockroach control tips that you can apply right away.
Cockroaches reproduce very quickly and can affect both the environment and human health. Maintaining a clean home is crucial to keeping them at bay. Regularly clean your house, especially the kitchen, and don’t leave leftover food out in the open. Seal and repair any cracks in walls or pipes, take out the trash daily, and ensure the trash bin is always covered.
Additionally, try these effective cockroach control tips that don’t require chemicals. Instead, use harmless, natural ingredients like the ones listed below:
Fragrant Leaves
Bay leaves are a natural cockroach repellent. Use them to effectively control cockroaches. (Photo: Space T)
Mint, basil, and bay leaves all have refreshing and aromatic fragrances. However, these pleasant scents are actually a cockroach’s worst enemy. When they detect these smells, they can become disoriented and have difficulty communicating.
Simply place a handful of these fragrant leaves directly in their paths, and the cockroaches will retreat from your home.
Citrus Peels
This cockroach control tip will not only help get rid of cockroaches but also leave your home smelling fresh and pleasant. To make the most of these ingredients, dry citrus peels from oranges, lemons, or grapefruits. Place the dried peels in areas where cockroaches are frequently spotted. Alternatively, mix lemon juice with some water and spray it in places cockroaches tend to frequent.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Cockroach control using peppermint essential oil is both safe and effective. (Photo: Reddit)
Cockroaches detest the smell of peppermint essential oil. Mix the oil with water and spray it directly on your kitchen sink, bathroom, or any other cockroach hiding spots. While peppermint oil may not work as quickly as chemicals, it is a natural and safe way to control cockroaches without harming your health.
Coffee Grounds
Cockroaches are attracted to the smell of coffee, but the caffeine in coffee can be deadly to them. Therefore, coffee grounds can be used as an effective and safe cockroach control method.
Simply mix coffee grounds with water to create a wet mixture, but ensure it’s not too watery. Then, divide this mixture into small containers with lids and place them in areas where cockroaches are often seen. The cockroaches will be lured by the coffee’s aroma and crawl into the containers. You can then seal the lids and wait for them to perish inside.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is not only a common kitchen ingredient but also an effective cockroach control solution. Mix white vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and spray it on surfaces, floors, and cockroach-prone areas. Due to the strong smell of vinegar, ensure your house is well-ventilated when using this method.
Alum
Alum can alter the cockroach’s living environment, making it difficult for them to reproduce and thrive. Additionally, the distinctive smell of alum repels cockroaches, keeping them away from your home.
Cockroach control tip using alum: Dissolve alum in a bucket of warm water and use this solution to mop the floors, especially in areas where cockroaches are frequently spotted. Once the floor dries, the alum water will seep into the cracks and leave behind a scent that cockroaches find repulsive. After some time, those pesky cockroaches will disappear from your living space.
Baking Soda and Sugar
In addition to its cleaning properties, baking soda is also effective for cockroach control. (Photo: bTaskee)
One of the simplest ways to control cockroaches is to use a mixture of baking soda and sugar. The sugar will attract the cockroaches, while the baking soda will react with the acid in their stomachs, causing poisoning and eventual death.
Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener
Simply sprinkle laundry detergent in cockroach hiding places or mix it with fabric softener and water and spray it in corners and crevices. After a few applications, the cockroaches will be eliminated as they cannot survive ingesting or inhaling the detergent.
Source: VTC News