How to Get Rid of Roaches

Guide Note

Cockroaches are nasty pests. They damage your property, eat your food and spread disease. This guide will tell you how to get rid of cockroaches and how to make sure they don't come back.

Table of Contents

Roach Control Tips
  1. Always keep your kitchen clean.
  2. Get rid of moisture by fixing dripping faucets and eliminating standing water.
  3. Keep your food in air-tight, plastic or glass containers.
  4. Don't leave food standing out.
  5. Keep trash and compost piles away from your home.
  6. Clean up your yard.
  7. Block access to your house by caulking cracks and crevices.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by Annie Wong)
(Creative Commons photo by Annie Wong)
  • Once your home is full of roaches, it can be a real challenge to eliminate them. But if you follow the steps in this guide, you should be able to rid your home of these pests.

Step 1: Prevention

(Creative Commons photo by Michael Cote)
(Creative Commons photo by Michael Cote)
  • The surest way to keep your home safe from roaches is to do everything you can to make sure they never get inside in the first place. Some basic sanitation will go a long way towards keeping pests away.
  1. Always keep your kitchen clean. Clean up all crumbs, spills and other food remnants. Roaches are drawn to grease, so pay special attention to the area around the stove. You can clean in a green way by using cleansers from eco-friendly companies.
  2. Keep your food in air-tight, plastic or glass containers, and never leave food (including pet food) sitting out for long.
  3. Never leave a pile of unwashed dishes in the sink. If you must for some reason, let them soak in soapy water.
  4. Keep trash and compost piles away from your home, and take out your trash regularly.
  5. Cockroaches are drawn to water, so fix dripping faucets and eliminate standing water. If need be, use a dehumidifier.
  6. Clean up your yard. Remove any wood or other debris near your home. Roaches can hide in this debris, and in colder times of the year they will try to move indoors.
  7. Trim trees and bushes so they're not touching your home. This will eliminate one possible route for roaches, ants and other pests to travel indoors.
  8. Seal all entry points to your home. Block access to your house by caulking cracks and crevices. Be sure to caulk the baseboards and walls of your first floor as these are some of their favorite entryways into the home.
  9. Weatherstripping will do a lot to block pests from entering the home.

Step 2: General Tips for Dealing With an Infestation

(Creative Commons photo by brandi valenza)
(Creative Commons photo by brandi valenza)
  • Let's say your home is already infested. What do you do? Here are some general rules of thumb. These will help get rid of roaches regardless of which type has moved in. Later, we'll offer more info on specific species.
  • Find Where They Live
  • When you find roaches in your home, the first thing you should do is track down their colony WARNING: Ad-heavy.
  1. Cockroaches tend to hate the light, so they are most active in the middle of the night.
  2. Wait until it's dark, then turn on a light and watch where they run. This will lead you to their hiding places, and then you will know where to focus your attack.
  1. Borax, or Boric acid, is highly effective against roaches.
    1. Borax is widely available and simple to use. Be sure to only buy boric acid that's specifically sold for pest extermination, the kind in squeezable, plastic bottles.
    2. Borax is much less toxic than most other insecticides, and is intended for indoor use. But it is still potentially dangerous and less than 5 grams is enough to be a lethal dose for children and animals.
  2. You can also get good results with roach baits. Roach bait contains a mixture of poison and roach food.
    1. Apply the bait anywhere you've seen roaches. Roach bait is often sold in a plastic, child-proof container, but just to be safe you shouldn't leave it anywhere that children or pets can find it.
    2. Roaches will drag it back to their homes and it will spread through the colony.
  3. You can use cockroach traps, popularly known as "Roach Motels".
    1. Traps lure roaches inside, holding them in place with an adhesive.
    2. Get several traps and place them where you frequently spot roaches.
  4. You can also make your own traps and baits.
    1. In the so-called Vegas Roach Trap, a jar placed next to a wall can serve as a simple, homemade trap. Any bait can be used, such as coffee grounds, or chocolate.
    2. A solution of soap and water can be deadly against roaches. Splash a little directly on roaches, aiming for the roach's head, abdomen or belly. The roach is probably dead, but it could just be stunned. Crush it and dispose of it in the trash outside.
  5. Spray insecticides can be effective.
    1. Insecticides are carefully formulated, using certain chemicals that may work on one pest but not another, so be sure to use an insecticide that specifically states that it kills roaches.
    2. Spray everywhere cockroaches may be found, including under sinks, in vents, etc.
    3. You can also buy aerosal bomb sprays that do the work for you, but you will need to air your home out well before returning.
    4. Spray insecticides have several disadvantages. They release toxic fumes, so they require caution to use. Also, while baits like boric acid attracts roaches, thus killing more of them, most spray insecticides repel roaches.
    5. Remove all food, eating utensils, pets, children and people with asthma to a safe area before spraying, and open all the windows. Be sure to follow all instructions and precautions on the container.
  6. Liquid concentrates were once only used by professionals, but are now available for public use.
    1. Liquid concentrates are a poison and/or deterrant that is slightly diluted with water and sprayed or mopped across various surfaces in the home.
    2. Concentrates repel roaches for up to 2 weeks after being applied.
  7. Professional grade pesticides are generally are not sold in stores. They are a lot stronger (and more dangerous) than what you will find in stores.
    1. When looking for professional grade pesticides be sure to look for ones that contain Cypermerthrin or Demon WP.
    2. You will want to spray it around the perimeter of your home and in your basement and along cracks and crevices. This can repell re-infestation for up to 3 months.
  8. You may also want to apply an organic desiccant like diatomaceous earth to the perimeter of your house. This is a product made from fossils, and it is very harmful to the exoskeletons of roaches.
    1. You should get the kind that is specifically sold as an insecticide, and not the kind used for swimming pools.
    2. Diatomaceous earth can be used indoors or outdoors.
  1. Follow the "Prevention" tips above for keeping your home and yard clean, but be even more thorough. Eliminate any possible source of food for the roaches, including stray fingernail clippings, stray hairs on the floor, etc.
  2. Vacuum your entire living space. Vacuuming will go a long way towards eliminating the allergens of roach dust.
  3. When you vacuum, use a crevice tool to clean up as many roaches and eggs as possible, and dump the dust bag outside.

TIP: Be prepared to try multiple techniques against your roaches. Often, just one approach isn't enough.

Step 3: Dealing With Specific Cockroach Species

(Creative Commons photo by Jason Mouratides)
(Creative Commons photo by Jason Mouratides)
  • There are thousands of different species of cockroach, but namely 5 common types found in the US. Knowing which kind of pest has infiltrated your living space will greatly improve your ability to rid your home of roaches.
  • American Cockroach
  1. Description: Reddish-brown, 1.5 inches long or larger, and have wings but seldom fly.
  2. Living Environment: Perfer moist and warm environments. Can be found in bathrooms, basements, etc.
  3. Best Defenses
    1. Large infestations in homes are uncommon, so you should be fine if you focus your efforts on sealing your home's entry points and minimizing the moisture in your living space.
    2. Use traps if need be.
  • German Cockroach
  1. Description: Adults are pale or medium brown, 1/2 inch or larger. Two dark stripes and a light stripe run along the body. Winged, but rarely flying.
  2. Living Environment: These cockroaches are the most prevalent in North America. They are one of the most resilient species of cockroach. They need less water than other cockroaches. They are originally from North Africa and prefer warm air, so they are often found near furnaces or other sources of warmth.
  3. Best Defenses
    1. Focus on sanitation. Keep food picked up, dishes should be washed immediately, and trash should be taken out nightly.
    2. One of the most successful ways to get rid of this pest is the use of roach bait and roach traps that contain boric acid.
  • Brown-banded Cockroach
  1. Description: Shades of light brown, about 5/8 inch long, with two light and very visible bands. All have wings, but only the males fly.
  2. Living Environment: The Brown-banded cockroach prefers warm and dry places, like its cousin the German Cockroach. These roaches can be particulary destructive to clothes, books and other property and they prefer elevated areas, such as in wall fixtures.
  3. Best Defenses:
    1. After you locate their colony, spray it with a Pyrethrin-based roach killer.
    2. After spraying, vacuum your bedroom, cupboards, shelves, etc., using a crevice tool to to get as many roaches and eggs as possible.
    3. Dust all their hiding spots with plenty of boric acid.
    4. Caulk around crevices, baseboards, and around shelves and cupboards, to reduce the chance of them returning.
  • Oriental Cockroach
  1. Description: Oriental cockroaches are brown or black and shiny, 1 inch or larger, and the males are capable of short flights while the females cannot fly. They are slow-moving, and prefer locations at or beneath ground level.
  2. Living Environment: The Oriental cockroach enjoys very wet environments. You're most likely to find these nasty creatures in and around garbage cans. They prefer decaying food. Due to their affinity towards rotten food, they are very good at spreading food-borne illnesses like salmonella.
  3. Best Defenses
    1. Get rid of the moisture. These roaches love wet, humid environments. The best way to get rid of them is make it as dry as possible, don't leave any water running or sitting anywhere. Use a dehumidifier if possible.
    2. After drying out and warming up your home, dust the major roach traffic areas with boric acid.
  • Smoky-brown Cockroach
  1. Description: Dark brown or black, with well-developed wings it can emply to fly impressive distances.
  2. Living Environment: Smoky-brown roaches are more prevalent outside in greenhouses and gardens. They may find their way into your home if they detect the scent of rotting fruit or vegetables.
  3. Best Defenses
    1. These roaches love organic food and materials. To get rid of these roaches, it is best to start with their food source. Clean any organic materials from doorways, windowsills or any building entrances.
    2. As with other roaches, it's best to apply caulk to any openings in the building.

Conclusion

  • Roaches are a destructive and potentially dangerous pest, so take it seriously if they invade your home. If you follow this guide, you should be able to rid your home of roaches. But if these techniques aren't working after a few months, you have a serious roach problem and should seek professional help.

Subscribe to Mahalo's Weekly How To Email Newsletter

  • Get our best How To tips and ideas in your inbox each week

Resources

Related Searches

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs | How to Clean Your Kitchen | How to Clean Out Your Closet | How to Get Rid of Ants | How to Get Rid of Fleas | How to Clean Your Apartment | How to Clean Your Bathroom | How to Clean Your Kitchen | How to Get Rid of Mice