Do you wake up every morning at the sight of roaches feasting in you sink? Ewwww. Have they made themselves at home in your home? If yes, then please be aware that to get rid of roaches is a herculean task.
They snack on your food, damage books, electronics and wallpaper, litter your home with their droppings (it’s so gross) and some species of roaches are also the primary conveyors of harmful microorganisms.
How?
The harmful microbes are present in saliva of the roaches, and they spread their saliva on anything they come in contact with and infest that particular thing.
In this article, we’ll try to throw some light on what attracts cockroaches, how can you prevent them and some home remedies to get rid of roaches and are they effective or not.
Different species of cockroaches have different preferences regarding the climate of their habitat. Few choose to live in warm climate while others prefer cold climate. Their taste for food may also differ from species to species. Therefore, identification of the right species is essential for eliminating them.
3 of the most common species of cockroaches
1. German Roaches
The German Roaches (small roaches) are the most common of the smaller roaches and the most difficult to control.
They’re a health hazard because they carry bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans and cause diseases like gastroenteritis including dysentery, food poisoning and diarrhea.
They’re found in apartments, hotels and restaurants and “brought in”, usually via your luggage, belongings, boxes and packages. Bring in one egg capsule and six months later you’ve an infestation (it sounds scary, but it’ll look scarier.)
2. American Roaches
American cockroaches (large roaches,) also known as “palmetto bugs” or water bugs,” are more of an annoyance than a danger, because they don’t spread diseases.
They’re commonly found in open spaces like sewers and near garbage, instead of crevices and small cracks. Indoors, they can be easily located in moist, dark areas like crawl spaces, around bath tubs and basements.
3. Brown Banded Roaches
The Brown Banded Cockroaches are often confused with the German Roaches, but their habits are different.
They inhabit areas that are warmer and less humid and are therefore, often brought in dwellings in furniture.
They’re found only indoors and sometimes may be found throughout the building, especially in picture frames and ceilings.
What Attracts Cockroaches?
- Cockroaches are omnivores. But they’re especially attracted to grease, starch, sugar, meat and cheese.
- Decaying food items are favorite delicacies of a hungry roach in search of his next meal.
- These creepy pests are attracted to strong smells, such as compost or garbage, but are also very good at finding small crumbs or a drop of grease.
- In case of food shortage, they binge on household items, such as book bindings, cardboards, leather, glue, paper scraps, soaps, starch-based paints and nylon clothing.
How?
The digestive tract of these insects has a variety of protozoa and bacteria that enables them to feast on non-food items.
Roaches are attracted to dark, moist and messy places because they’re their favorite hiding place. So, keep your place spick and span.
How To Get Rid Of Roaches Naturally?
You can see the results of powerful insecticides, which are used to eliminate roaches, right away. But, in this process, you’ll expose your family to toxic chemicals.
However, getting rid of roaches without an exterminator is a slow but an effective process. It can also prevent the problem from reoccurring.
So, how’ll you do it?
1. Boric Acid And Sugar
Mix three parts of powdered boric acid with one part of powdered sugar. The sugar will lure the cockroaches and boric acid will kill them. Sprinkle it under and behind the refrigerator, dishwasher and stove, into cracks along the edges of cabinets and under the sink.
Although boric acid isn’t toxic to people or pets if used accordingly, but it can be irritating so keep it away from counters and out of children’s reach.
How Will It Work?
Cockroaches will crawl through the boric acid and its tiny particles will cling on their bodies. When, they’ll lick themselves to clean their body, boric acid will be ingested.
It’ll act as a stomach poison and they’ll die shortly after. Also, this trick will be very effective in getting rid of German roaches.
2. Boric Acid And Cocoa Powder
Mix one part of powdered boric acid, two parts of the flour and one part of cocoa powder. Dust a fine coat of this powder in cupboards, under the sinks, around toilets, in hollow spaces and in the corners to get rid of the roaches permanently.
How Will It Work?
Roaches will be attracted to this mixture and they’ll drag it with them to their nest and feed on it to meet their end.
As cockroaches are not picky eaters, the killed roaches will be eaten by other roaches and the cycle will continue and you’ll get rid of roaches permanently.
3. Borax And Sugar
Borax is same as boric acid, but is more toxic. Just mix equal amounts of sugar and borax to make a mixture to serve the roaches.
Then, place or apply this mixture near the places where you usually see roaches and where kids and pets are not reachable.
How Will It Work?
Borax is commonly utilized by commercial exterminator to kill roaches. As it harms the digestive system of roaches and dries out their exoskeleton and this will help to get rid of roaches with no further issue.
4. Baking Soda And Sugar (that’s quite obvious)
Mix equal quantity of baking soda and sugar and then add a little water to it. Put this bait in small plastic plates. Now, place the plates wherever you believe the roaches will find them.
How Will It Work?
The sugar smell will attract the roaches (we guess, they have a sweet tooth,) and soda is poisonous because after reacting with water it’ll produce gas, which will cause the roach’s stomach to burst.
Basic Rules To Keep The Roaches At Bay
- Keep your house in apple-pie order, especially your kitchen. Make it a point to clean your kitchen counter with anti-bacterial spray before going to bed.
- Don’t let the used dishes sit in the sink for too long.
- Sweep and mop the kitchen floor to clear all the spills and crumbs.
- Don’t keep the trash in the house for more than two days as this will attract the cockroaches. Also, keep a trash bin with lid.
- Fix leaking faucets because cockroaches love water. They can live up to a month without food, but they can’t survive for more than a week without water.
Starve the Roaches = Parch the Roaches - Keep yard debris away from the house because they’re the breeding places of roaches. They just love piles of wood and other hiding places. When weather turns colder, they’ll migrate inside the house, to keep themselves warm.
- Seal all the cracks and holes on the exterior walls of the house and also inside your house to block the entry of roaches.
- Fill all the openings around the pipes in your kitchen and bathrooms.
- When not in use, close off drains in showers, sinks and bathtubs.
- Roaches can enter your house even through vents. Block their entry by using mesh screens over or under the vent covers.
- If you’ve knocked out roaches manually or incidentally stepped on it, then make it sure to clean up the mess properly. Because dead cockroaches will attract their brethren to feed on them.
For Best Results
- More baits you place and the closer you place them More roaches will find and eat the bait.
- Never place the bait in the area, which is sprayed with aerosol or liquid insecticide. Otherwise, roaches won’t eat the bait.
- Actually, the roaches eat the bait product and then some return to the nest to kill the ones in hiding. So don’t fret if you see a roach right after placing the baits!
- Roach baits are designed in such a way that they can compete with other food sources. So, cleaner your house and free from food and drink residue, the better.
Winding Up
These little creatures with eerie appearance and unpredictable movement can keep the best roach killer on its toes. Even the best cockroach killer will never be able to kill all of them because they’re engineered to survive (pun very much intended.)
But, with the above mentioned remedies to get rid of roaches, you can control them and protect your home. Or you can go old school, just hit the repulsive roach with your slipper (haha.)
Also, these remedies don’t work like snapping your fingers, so keep your cool and be patient. If you liked this article and have benefited from it, then share it with your friends so that they can also make their home roach free.
