Cockroaches are definitely unwelcome in any home. These crawlers easily multiply and cause an infestation. Therefore, getting rid of them without the use of chemicals can be truly challenging.
Many people prefer natural methods to avoid introducing toxic chemicals into their homes. So, let us delve into the ways you can naturally fight off these unwelcome visitors and ultimately maintain a safe, clean house.
Understanding Cockroach Behaviour
These household invaders flourish in areas with easy access to food, water, and cover. They usually spread out in hidden places that contain food waste, grease, and crumbs.
Furthermore, if you see one of these nocturnal bugs during the day, then it usually indicates a large infestation. So, understanding their habits can be crucial. This knowledge will aid you in formulating a natural extermination strategy.
Keep a Clean and Dry Environment
Roaches thrive in damp, unclean environments. Thus, maintain a clean and dry house to successfully keep roaches away.
These nighttime scavengers feed off meal leftovers, grease, and any organic matter. Therefore, always keep your kitchen worktops spotless, store food appropriately, and clean any spills.
An additional appeal to these unwanted guests is leaking pipes or faucets. Hence, fix moisture problems to eliminate damp areas where they thrive.
You should do this by first turning off the water supply, drying out the washbasin overnight, cleaning counters, and mopping up spills. Later on, fix any leaky pipes. Remember, roaches just survive a few days without water, but can go for weeks without food.
All in all, natural roach management critically depends on the lack of water.
Use Essential Oils
Tea tree oil and peppermint oil work like a miracle in deterring these kitchen critters due to their powerful smells. In fact, the strong aroma of peppermint oil not only freshens the air, but also chases away roaches.
To create a simple spray, mix 10 drops of peppermint oil, a bit of dish soap, and water together. Then, distribute it in places where they lurk, like behind your machines or under your sink.
Tea tree oil functions similarly to peppermint oil. Thus, spray it widely in places where roaches hide. To do so, mix around 10 drops with two cups of water and a spoonful of vinegar.
While these oils don’t kill these crawling pests instantly, they act as strong repellents, making your home less inviting. For the best effects, be consistent in application.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, or DE, serves as an effective natural remedy for cockroach infestation. It’s among the safest, yet most successful, pesticides out there. By breaking down their outer shell, it causes them to dehydrate and eventually die.
Scatter a thin coat of the powder where you’ve noticed cockroach activity. This includes areas behind your appliances, under your sinks, and near the skirting boards. Since it takes many days to work its effect, be patient.
Use food-grade DE instead because it is safe for pets and people, but deadly for bugs. Last but not least, steer clear of getting it soaked since moisture ruins it.
Baking Soda and Sugar Trap
An old but quite effective natural remedy is sugar and baking soda mixed together. Even though these creepy crawlers are drawn to sugary items, baking soda proves lethal to them.
In order to make the trap, toss the two ingredients where you have seen roaches or on a shallow plate. Over time, their numbers will begin to decline.
Citrus Peels and Citrus Oil
Roaches hate citrus smells. To ward them off, use citrus oil and orange peels. You can also mix water with a few drops of citrus oil to create a citrus spray. Afterwards, wipe the peels along baseboards, windowsills, and under sinks.
Additionally, you can use citrus-based cleaners to clean your countertops and kitchen floor. Though the fresh aroma draws in humans, it completely turns off cockroaches. This approach is especially helpful in chasing them away before they settle in.
Bay Leaves as a Repellent
Bay leaves have purposes beyond cooking. They can also be an effective natural pest repellent. Crush a few bay leaves and spread them in places where roaches tend to frequent. The smell will ward them off.
As a bonus, leave full bay leaves under the sink within kitchen cabinets or near points of entrance. Although bay leaves will not kill cockroaches, their smell will deter them from hanging about. If you have pets, using bay leaves is a reasonably priced and safe approach.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a natural yet somewhat toxic pesticide that has been used for pest control for years.
When applied, it gets inside cockroach bodies when it comes into contact with them. Accordingly, they eat it while they clean themselves, which in return poisons them.
Dust a thin layer of boric acid in places they frequently visit. Then, use it in small amounts so that roaches don’t avoid it.
On that account, intake can be dangerous, so it is recommended to keep it away from small children and pets. Consistent use over a long period of time helps boric acid be most effective.
Seal Entry Points
Natural methods can help prevent cockroaches from re-entering your home.
Therefore, look for any possible access spots in your house, such as holes around windows, doors, or pipes. Afterwards, seal them with caulk or another appropriate filler.
Long-term roach control depends on this preventive action, since it inhibits them from returning after you have used your natural treatments.
Make sure you look specifically at window sills, door frames, and baseboards. A roach can enter from the smallest cracks.
Keeping Cockroaches Out for Good
To maintain the benefits of these natural remedies, frequently clean your house, eliminate food crumbs, and use a natural repellent to prevent a comeback.
Since cockroaches are strong animals, a persistent cleaning regimen is absolutely important. Hence, check the places they can return to often, and then reapply the natural solutions to keep them off permanently.
Despite our best efforts, natural approaches by themselves don’t totally eradicate a serious infestation. Under these circumstances, professional roach pest control treatments could be required.
Many businesses provide eco-friendly insecticides that fit your goal to avoid strong chemicals and efficiently eradicate cockroaches from your house.
Conclusion
Indeed, cockroaches are difficult to get rid of. Nonetheless, they can be naturally exterminated without the use of harmful chemicals.
As mentioned above, there are lots of natural and easy ways to help you get rid of them, such as diatomaceous earth and essential oils.
Therefore, regularly clean your surroundings, seal vulnerable entry points, and use natural deterrents. This way, you will guarantee a house free from these unwelcome guests.
