How to Get Rid of Roaches Fast Using Home Remedies

Sighting a cockroach in your house is never a good sign as it typically means there are many more hidden roaches scurrying around in the dark. Fortunately, roaches can be dealt with using home remedies if they are identified at an early-enough stage. Here are our top suggestions as far as getting rid of roaches overnight using natural home remedies.

How to get rid of roaches

1. Make a Boric Acid Roach Bait

Our first suggestion is to make your own roach bait using boric acid, sugar, and a bit of water. Mix them together to create a cookie-like dough which you will then place around the house. Place the boric acid “cookies” near kitchen appliances and openings along the wall including power outlets. Boric acid can eliminate cockroaches by disrupting their digestive system. The roaches will find the bait hard to resist due to the scent of sugar.

As an alternative, you could also try mixing peanut butter and boric acid together. Dab some of the paste on small pieces of cardboard paper then place the paper near roach-infested spots. Harris sells roach tablets which use boric acid as an active ingredient if you prefer to purchase ready-made roach control products.

2. Keep Your House Clean

Whether you are dealing with American cockroaches or German roaches, prevention is the most important step when it comes to permanent pest control. Most of the roaches would never appear in your house in the first place if you don’t give them a reason to. There are several key things that will attract roaches to a house, including food and water. If you haven’t already been doing so, get in the habit of cleaning your house every day. Vacuum every spot along the floor and make sure the trash bags are thrown away on a regular basis.

3. Clear Out the Clutter

It’s not just food that roaches are attracted to. Cockroaches are the ultimate survival machine because they will feed on other organic matters. This is an opportunity for you to clear away all unwanted clutter in the house. This includes stacks of old newspaper, cardboard boxes, and clothes that you haven’t worn in years.

4. Create a Barrier with Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a fantastic natural home remedy for eliminating cockroaches. The effects aren’t immediate but you should at least see a gradual decline in cockroach population after you have sprinkled a fine layer of food-grade diatomaceous earth around the house. This could also be a good solution if you want to eliminate the bugs without having to touch them.

The food-grade version isn’t toxic and safe to use (even with pets at home) as long as no one accidentally breathes in a large amount of it. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally-occurring powder which can kill roaches by absorbing the oils and fats from the insect’s exoskeleton. It also works well for pests that are often confused as roaches, such as palmetto bugs and waterbugs. It may help to attract some sugary bait to attract the roaches into the pile of powder.

What attracts roaches aside from food?

1. Standing Water

Cockroaches can survive without food for a long period of time but not without water. Look around your home, specifically the kitchen and bathroom, and eliminate any standing water caused by leaking faucets and pipes.

2. Over-watered Plants

Moist soil may attract cockroaches to your potted plants. Observe your plant watering habits and make sure you aren’t over-watering the container. You can tell by the amount of water that drains out to the plant container tray.

3. Cardboard Boxes & Paper

Cockroaches will eat almost everything, including cardboard boxes. The boxes may also provide a great hiding place for the roaches. Stop your hoarding habits and get rid of any unused cardboard boxes and newspaper at home.

4. Debris Under Appliances

A lot of people tend to neglect their home appliances when it comes to cleaning chores. Don’t forget to vacuum and clean the areas underneath appliances like ovens, refrigerators, microwaves, and kitchen stoves.

5. High Humidity

In addition to moisture, cockroaches prefer dark, humid environments. Use a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture in the air. Dehumidifiers can also get rid of airborne allergens. Make sure you also turn on the bathroom exhaust fan while you take a shower.

6. Cat & Dog Litter

Have a pet at home? Make sure you clean the pet litter boxes on a regular basis. Cockroaches aren’t just attracted to food. They are attracted to poop as well.

Roaches Common FAQ

Do Cockroaches lay eggs on clothes?

Yes, cockroaches lay eggs in clothes. It can happen if you have wooden dressers for your clothes. It also depends on the areas of the house that the cockroaches have invaded; the bathroom, garage, kitchen, under the sink, and on pantries. Cockroaches like to lay eggs in areas that will absorb their odor. Clothes, cardboards, books, and wood are their favorite spots. You will find cockroaches in warm and moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms. They also like living in proximity to a food source. Roaches will lay multiple eggs at once inside a capsule-like case called ootheca. Their eggs have different appearances depending on species.

Can Cockroaches smell food?

Yes, roaches can smell food. That ability has made them some of the best scavengers out there. Roaches smell both natural and man-made food, allowing them to survive in every habitat. There are some types of foods that attract the roaches more than others. Sugars, for instance, are a roach magnet. They love sugar more than anything else. Starch is also a roach favorite. They will eat anything starchy, including books, bindings, papers, and cardboard. When roaches are away from a food source, they feed on grease since it has ready fat. This explains why roaches can survive in strange places. Keep your stove free from grease; otherwise, you risk roach infestation in your kitchen.