Roaches might be killed by pesticides, but more will come if your home is still appealing to them.
Cockroaches are not only small and fast, they are adaptable, meaning they learn fast which foods are safe and which are not. This makes it tough to kill them with pesticides and traps alone. An effective way to control and eventually eliminate cockroaches is to make your home unappealing for future invasions. Does this Spark an idea?
Moth Balls
Cockroaches will avoid moth balls. This is a difficult repellent method, as you don't want the moth balls near your food, but if you place them in areas such as cracks, on top of cabinets and behind cupboards, the cockroaches will avoid going near them. If you have pets, place moth balls in an area not accessible to them.
Spices
Bay leaves can be inserted easily into cracks and crevices and cockroaches do not like them. These are safe to scatter in cupboards and under appliances as well, making the potential hiding places unappealing to the roaches. Garlic or fresh cucumber slices are other options often already in your kitchen. Roaches prefer rotting food, so the smell of spices like garlic and bay leaves and fresh cucumber repels them. Garlic powder can be sprinkled in cracks, corners and behind baseboards to make them inhospitable to roaches. Roaches also avoid cloves, peppermint, rosemary, and tansy. These spices contain chemicals that when concentrated enough, may work to keep cockroaches away.
Catnip
Catnip has a natural repellent which roaches hate. Simmer some catnip in hot water and put the "tea" into a spray bottle. Spray it wherever you see roaches frequenting. Another option is to make a sachet filled with dried catnip and place it in and behind cabinets and areas you've seen roaches running into or out of. This option may be difficult if you have cats because the smell of the catnip may cause them to seek it out and ruin your efforts. Then again, if you have cats, you probably don't need to control cockroaches as the cats do that for you.
Hedge Apples
Hedge apples, the large sticky green fruit found on the Osage orange tree are a natural roach repellent. This tree is native to Texas and Oklahoma although you can find it growing in other regions. Repel roaches by placing the fruit in a room, either on a plate or in a bowl. It can repel not only roaches, but ants and spiders as well. When the green color fades to brown, toss it and replace with a fresh one.
Management and Prevention
It is not enough to simply repel roaches because if you don't keep the methods up, the roaches will simply return. To prevent future infestations, determine which parts of your home they may be coming in through. Check for cracks or holes in your walls, floors and around windows and doors. Seal any that you find and clean your home to ensure there are no dark, humid places that attract roaches. Clean away food and garbage as quickly as possible to limit rotting food or decaying organic matter in your home. This removes their food source and makes your home unappealing to roaches. Do not leave pet food out overnight and wash dishes as soon as you finish using them. Vacuum cracks and crevices in kitchens and dining rooms to remove crumbs or food that may be stuck in the cracks. Repair leaky faucets as well. Roaches need water and by removing a possible source, you make your home more inhospitable to future roaches.
Tags: your home, moth balls, cracks crevices, fresh cucumber, have cats, home unappealing