In a pinch, make your own sticky traps by wrapping a piece of cardboard in duct tape so the adhesive is facing out. Keep track of how many cockroaches you catch on each trap so you can see what areas in your home have the biggest pest problems.
Follow all safety instructions on the product’s label since they may vary between brands. If you don’t have any spray on hand, try misting the cockroaches with rubbing alcohol to kill them. [4] X Expert Source Kevin CarrilloMMPC, Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019. Since insecticides use chemicals, keep pets and children away from the areas you’ve treated.
Bait stations may take several weeks to kill all of the cockroaches since their eggs could hatch after you get rid of them. Alternatively, look for gel baits that you can apply under the lip of your counter or hinges of your cabinets. [7] X Expert Source Kevin CarrilloPest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
Keep pets and children away from any areas where you apply pesticides since they can be toxic. Concentrates can be particularly effective at preventing reinfestation since they usually deter roaches for 1-2 weeks or more.
Keep diatomaceous earth away from pets and other people since prolonged exposure could cause lung irritation. [11] X Research source
Reapply essential oils once a week so they stay effective against roaches.
To attract more roaches to the boric acid, mix in 1 part powdered sugar or flour. Roaches will be drawn to the food source so they’re more likely to ingest the boric acid. Boric acid isn’t highly toxic to humans and pets, but try to use it only where the roaches will get to it to prevent exposure. Avoid using boric acid outside since it’s toxic to plants. Some people claim to kill roaches with baking soda, or by mixing baking soda and boric acid, but baking soda isn’t an effective insecticide. [14] X Research source
If you have a pet, check that their food is sealed and stored too so the roaches don’t get to it.
Avoid overwatering houseplants since roaches can be drawn to the water in the soil. [18] X Trustworthy Source EDIS Electronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’s peer-reviewed articles Go to source
Avoid storing lots of cardboard boxes near your trash can since they make perfect hiding spots for roaches.
Put things away in their proper places rather than leaving clutter since roaches could find new places to hide.
Be sure to clean your gutters and window wells since leaves and other debris could build up.
