5 DIY Roach Repellents That Actually Work, According to Pest Pros
Finding pests like silverfish or house centipedes in your home is never fun, and getting rid of them can be quite the chore. One particularly gross culprit that can make its way into your home is the cockroach. If you’ve got a bad infestation, you’ll likely have to call in a professional exterminator to wipe out the problem, but what if you’re just seeing the occasional bug in the kitchen? You might try taking on the role of cockroach killer all on your own.
While you can purchase specific poisons and bait traps for cockroaches in hardware stores, you can also make progress in getting rid of and preventing cockroaches with some natural solutions. These natural cockroach killer methods use just one or two ingredients — some of which you might already have at home. Check them all out below.
1. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a white powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are a type of algae. It’s found in many common household products, and if you buy food-grade diatomaceous earth, it’s safe for pets and people — but not for roaches, as the powder destroys their exoskeletons.
Thoroughly clean your apartment and clear or seal up any possible roach food sources like crumbs, trash, or easily accessible pet food before applying a deterrent.
“Sprinkle light layers of diatomaceous earth where you’ve seen cockroaches,” says Rocky Beninato, founder of Quality Affordable Pest Control in Toronto. Roaches will also take the bait back to the nest to feed others, fighting your pesky pest problem at the source.
2. Spray Essential Oils
Research has found that some essential oils — especially rosemary oil — are effective at repelling roaches. Rosemary oil was found to create up to a 100% roach mortality rate at a concentration range of 2.5% to 30%. So mix it with water and spray away at your problem areas!
However, other oils can help. “For a DIY method that can boost more proactive measures, cockroaches are generally averse to eucalyptus and lavender,” suggests Beninato.
Although eucalyptus and lavender smell pleasant to humans, they can be harmful to pets, so if you have dogs and cats, rosemary oil is a safer bet.
3. Strategically Place Catnip or Bay Leaves
That’s right — your cat’s favorite herb is actually a natural roach repellent. Roaches are sensitive to the chemical nepetalactone, which is the active ingredient in catnip.
Placing small satchels of catnip around the areas of your home where you’ve seen roaches should keep them at bay. Catnip won’t kill roaches, but it’s a great option for preventing them from coming back after you’ve finally gotten rid of them.
Bay leaves can also be effective at deterring roaches, and chances are you already have them tucked away in your cabinet.
To get the most out of them, “place bay leaves in pantry shelves and kitchen cabinets,” advises Ben McAvoy, founder of Insectek Pest Solutions in Phoenix. Roaches dislike the smell and may avoid those areas.
4. Mix Borax and Sugar
Studies have found a combination of sugar and boric acid — a cousin to baking soda — to be a very effective roach killer.
“Make a paste using boric acid and sugar, then place it in areas where roaches frequent,” recommends McAvoy. If you can’t find boric acid, borax is more readily available and does the same thing.
Simply mix three parts borax to one part sugar for bait, then sprinkle your mixture in places you’ve seen roaches to keep them at bay.
Important to note: Unlike diatomaceous earth, boric acid isn’t harmless to kids and pets, so keep them out of the area where you’re using it until you clean the mixture up. “Boric acid is toxic to roaches but should be used carefully, away from children and pets,” McAvoy says.
5. Make a Homemade Trap
McAvoy also says you can get creative and set a trap using products you likely have at home.
“Create traps using a jar with petroleum jelly around the rim or a bottle with a bit of sugar and water inside,” he says.
The sugary mix will attract roaches, but once critters enter, they struggle — and typically fail — to escape.
6. Block Their Entry (and Give Them No Reason to Come Back)
If you have a roach problem, you can kill existing bugs — but you’ll only fix the problem if you also figure out why and how they were there in the first place.
First, try to figure out roaches’ entry point and seal it so they can’t get back inside. “Use caulk to seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and other entry points where roaches can enter your home,” advises McAvoy.
Also, tidy up your kitchen and try to eliminate clutter, as roaches thrive in unkempt spaces with lots of spots to hide. “Keep your kitchen and other areas free of food crumbs, grease, and spills, which attract roaches,” McAvoy adds.
Decluttering and organizing your home will also help eliminate hiding spots that can keep roaches hidden from sight.
When to Call in a Professional to Deal with Roaches
Before calling in a pro, there are roach treatments you can purchase and apply yourself. However, as with any home chemical application, proceed carefully. “Always use caution when using pesticides or chemicals, and follow safety instructions and guidelines carefully,” says McAvoy.
If the problem worsens or persists, it’s time to call a pro. “For large infestations, sometimes professional pest control is the only option, as it can be costly and time-consuming to try and fix it yourself,” says Darren Backhouse, a partner at MJ Backhouse Pest Control. “If you’ve exhausted all other options and are still finding roaches, or if you can’t find out where they’re coming from, it might be time to call in the experts.”
Want to make things easier on yourself? Some store-bought options use the same ingredients. Check them out below.
Harris Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer
Amazon
$8.26
Wondercide Indoor Pest Control Spray
Amazon
$36.99
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