Cockroaches: What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Them?

When you first spot a cockroach in your house, you may be startled and quite upset. If left unchecked, more cockroaches may appear and you can start to feel like there’s an alien invasion inside your home. If you employ the right approach, you can prevent a cockroach infestation in the first place and keep your home free of these pests for good. If roaches have already invaded your space, they can always be eliminated. Here are tips to prevent as well as how to get rid of cockroaches:

1. Maintain a Clean Home

Cockroaches thrive in an environment with ready access to food and water. Get rid of food particles and all sources of excess food to starve your roaches and drive more away by cleaning your home. Develop a habit of sweeping your floor down to the pantry and cleaning utensils after every meal. You should also keep fruits and vegetables safe inside the refrigerator, away from cockroaches and other scavengers. You may store flour, cereals, sugars, grains, and other cooking supplies away from cockroaches in sealed boxes, bags, and plastic bags.

2. Close Possible Entryways

Cockroaches can get into your house through entryways like cracks on the wall and plumbing lines. Fill all gaps between tiles on the wall and large gaps under your doors. You can use foam or steel wool to fill gaps and keep away cockroaches looking for the shortest way in. You may also need to install a barrier using a wire mesh to keep out roaches coming in through attic vents and chimney. 

3. Fix Leaks to Cut Off Water Supply

Water is an essential requirement for living things. If you have leaking pipes, cockroaches can multiply in the shortest time. Cut off the water supply to minimize cockroach infestation. You may benefit from a regular inspection of taps, pipes, and flush tanks, and other water sources for long-term results. Fixing water leaks protects your house from molds, water damage, higher bills, and other vermin in desperate need of water.

4. Recycle or Reuse Newspapers and Boxes

Cockroaches love newspapers and cardboard boxes for concealed hiding spaces, breeding, and shelter. Reducing the number of newspapers and containers in your house can help prevent cockroach infestation. Reuse, recycle, or donate old newspapers and boxes to relevant bodies and individuals, putting them to better use. Going forth, you can read news online to have fewer newspapers in your home or office. Plus, do not hold old boxes and newspapers in your shed, backyard, or garage.

5. Use Store-bought Solutions

In case your DIY solutions fail, you can seek further solutions from the nearest store or supermarket. Professional products like store-bought traps, glue strips, and boric acid powder are effective and easy when cleaning. You may also need a pesticide spray once in a while to rid your home of cockroaches and other bugs. Involve your entire household for safety purposes and effective maintenance for durability.

6. Use Available Home Supplies

For chemical-free cleaning, use a mixture of water and liquid soap to block breathing pores and limit breathing. Other simple remedies include:

• Coffee grinds and water
• Water and fabric softener
• Sugar and borax
• Sugar and baking soda
• Water and ammonia solution
• Catnip herb
• White onion, cayenne pepper, water, and garlic,
• Making a sticky tap
• Essential oils
• Borax and baking soda
• Bottle traps, boric acid, and hair spray

You may need to supplement home remedies with occasional store-bought solutions for immediate cockroach elimination.

7. Use Traps

Use your kitchen supplies to lure cockroaches to certain death. For example, you can place a bottle trap containing ground sugar and coffee around your cockroaches. Use boiling water on the trapped cockroaches and dump them right away. If you don’t prefer DIY projects, opt for store-bought traps in home improvement stores and supermarkets. Store-bought traps emit a scent to attract your roaches to a sticky substance. Check your traps after a while to execute your “prisoners” and rid your home of cockroaches and other bugs.

8.  Hire exterminators

Cockroaches are resilient and may survive through the various home and DIY remedies. In case of several failed attempts to kill cockroaches, hire a Terminix professional exterminator to make your home roach-free with minimal exposure to chemicals. Review services and compare prices to find the best deal for your needs. After the extermination, schedule regular exterminations or proceed with home remedies to protect your home from a cockroach infestation in the future.

Conclusion

Periodically, remove unused clothing, furniture, food, appliances, and clothing to avoid the re-emergence of cockroaches in your home. Make a point of keeping a clean house, cutting off the water supply, and blocking possible entryways. If DIY home remedies come short, you can enlist an exterminator to rid your home of cockroaches and other bugs.