If you’re having cockroach issues you’ve come to the right place, Read on to discover the best cockroach repellents! Roaches tend to seek warm environments during the winter months and head straight inside your home where they can also find food. Our team has lots of remedies for getting rid of roaches, but most cockroach repellents have harsh chemicals. If you’re looking to solve the problem in a more natural way, check out our 7 natural cockroach repellents below.
1. CAYENNE, GARLIC, AND ONION POWDER
Try heading over to your spice rack to concoct the perfect mixture to ward off the roaches! Walk around your home and sprinkle all cockroach-prone areas with this spice mixture. Cockroaches have a keen sense of smell and will generally stay out of any areas treated with this potent combination.
2. TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is known for its ability to fend off bugs of all kinds. For roaches, try making this DIY mixture at home in a spray bottle and spraying it throughout your home. While repeated applications may be necessary, our recipe below should prove to be effective! Keep in mind that tea tree oil works better as a repellant as it may not be lethal to the roaches.
• 1/4 cup of tea tree oil
• 2 cups of water
Shake well and start spraying!
3. BORAX AND SUGAR
Combining borax and sugar is a very effective combination that kills off roaches. The right combination is about three parts borax to one part sugar. Once you combine the two ingredients, sprinkle it around your home to keep the roaches at bay. Borax is effective against cockroaches because it acts as a poison in their stomachs and damages their exoskeleton and digestive system. Borax works by sticking to a cockroach’s legs via static electricity, and once the roach goes back to its hiding place, it will clean itself by eating the white powder. Because Borax doesn’t attract roaches it is important to mix it with sugar to ensure the bugs come in contact with the product. Borax is also effective against ants, bedbugs, mites, spiders, and other crawling pests
4. DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (DE)
Diatomaceous Earth is a natural repellent composed of fossilized algae. When roaches come into the repellent, it dehydrates their exoskeletons and wears away at their body like sandpaper. DE works best when sprinkled around your home. We recommend sprinkling DE around baseboards and cupboards, anywhere that you notice the roaches. By creating a thin barrier you can ensure the best results possible. Diatomaceous earth can be hard on your lungs so we recommend wearing a mask when applying and avoiding this product if you have asthma or any other lung concerns.
5. BAKING SODA
Baking soda is a cheap and effective way to get rid of roaches. When cockroaches eat baking soda it will damage their exoskeleton and internal organs. Baking soda can kill cockroaches around 12 to 24 hours after initial consumption. A great DIY roach bait is to dice up a handful of onions and sprinkle them with baking soda, as cockroaches dislike the taste and scent of baking soda. The smell of the onion will entice the cockroaches, and the baking soda will kill them.
6. MINT OIL
Mint oil is effective at repelling cockroaches due to its strong scent and toxicity to the insects. A study conducted by researchers at Auburn University1 found that mint oil repelled 100% of American and German cockroaches during each day of their 14-day experiment. Mint oil will also kill cockroaches on contact when mixed at a 4% or higher concentration. The strong scent of mint oil is believed to be a major factor in its effectiveness as a repellent, due to cockroaches’ keen sense of smell. Additionally, mint oil is a natural and non-toxic alternative to chemical insecticides, making it a safe option for use in homes with children and pets
7. ROSEMARY OIL
Rosemary is our top choice and will give you the best odds of taking care of your cockroach situation. According to a study by the Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2, Rosemary Oil at 2.5% concentration has a 100% kill rate within 24 hours. Rosemary oil leaves a pleasant smell while being extremely effective against cockroaches, and safe for humans unless they are allergic to it.
If none of these natural repellents seem to be working for you, then it might be time to call in the Bugman! Reach out to our bug experts here or give us a call at 604-854-2847.
