Are Home Remedies Successful in Roach Control?
The sight of a roach crawling along your floor is both frustrating and disconcerting. Their cringe-worthy appearance, association with dirt and filth, and ability to spread several harmful diseases and trigger allergies make their extermination a top priority. These nocturnal pests invade a home searching for food and shelter and multiply quickly.
The immediate reaction to the sight of a cockroach (or any signs of their presence) is to look for a way to get rid of them as quickly and safely as possible, to protect the home and family. However, instead of hiring a local pest control expert to manage the situation, some may resort to home remedies known to treat the infestation.
Let’s look at some popular DIY home remedies and how successful they are in roach control:
Cucumber peels
It is a DIY method used for years to repel cockroaches naturally. People are supposed to place cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen and around sinks and cabinets. It is believed that the smell of cucumber keeps cockroaches at bay. However, it is only a myth, and no scientific evidence supports this remedy.
Fabric softener
Fabric softener is one of the most popular and widely used DIY home remedies to kill roaches. The method involves mixing three parts of a fabric softener with two parts of water to create a mixture for spraying on the popular cockroach hotspots. The solution is supposed to suffocate the roaches by blocking their pores. Though the spray effectively kills roaches, the method is not efficient in controlling or eliminating an infestation. It needs direct application on the cockroach, and being a nocturnal pest, they mostly remain hidden from human sight.
Coffee grounds
When mixed with water and placed in a jar with holes, coffee grounds work as a trap to catch pesky cockroaches. It is a safe and effective way of trapping cockroaches; it is only a temporary solution and won’t work with severe infestation issues.
Bay leaves
Crushing bay leaves, a popular kitchen spice, into a powder and sprinkling it around cockroach hotspots repel them. But it is not of much use as the smell of a few crushed leaves is not powerful enough to drive away cockroaches.
Soap and water
Spraying a soap and water solution on cockroaches works similar to the fabric softener remedy and has the same issues with controlling the roach population. The spray will not work to kill hidden cockroaches, and thus the infestation will persist.
Other DIY home remedies
Lemon, borax balls, and over-the-counter sprays are other remedies people use to control cockroaches. However, the main issues with DIY pest control methods are that they do not offer a long-term cockroach control solution, and there is always a risk of recurrent infestation. These methods only provide temporary relief and will not do much if there is a severe infestation. Keep the house clean, empty trash cans daily, declutter regularly, and seal cracks to make the environment less appealing for cockroaches.
Which is the most effective method of cockroach control?
The best way to control cockroaches is to hire a professional pest control expert. They can identify the type of cockroach infesting the house, apply safe solutions for their extermination, and take preventative steps to prevent future entry.
Russell Pest Control boasts a team of trained and certified technicians for providing comprehensive residential pest control solutions in the Phoenix Valley. From silverfish control, ants control, and roach control to wasp control and honey bee removal, expect nothing but the best from our family-owned business. Call today.
