Homemade Roach Killer – 13 Natural Sprays & Remedies

Are you looking for homemade roach killers to stop an infestation? Here are 13 natural remedies to get rid of roaches completely.

In this guide, I’ll be discussing natural roach killer options that work.

Cockroaches are among the most annoying pest insects on Earth. They fly around unexpectedly, they pile up leftover food and trash cans, and they can spread diseases.

Getting rid of them is a must, but how? There are two ways to go about this, naturally or by chemical means.

Keep reading.

Facts About Roaches

Do you know that there are over 4,500 types of roaches in the world? And that when they make themselves comfortable in any place they love to call home, it becomes challenging to get them out completely.

Why?

Because one female cockroach can produce over 30,000 cockroaches in a year, so it doesn’t take long to have an infestation of roaches once a cockroach is around.

They are known for their high breeding rate, which is why it is essential to take quick action once you spot roaches in your home or environment. They know how to take over a household within a limited space of time.

Cockroaches are very nasty pests, they are not only a nuisance around the household, but they are also carriers of bacteria that can spread around and transmit germs and diseases to members of the family.

What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home

Roaches love warm and humid environments, and your home provides just that. Similar to other pests, roaches also explore people’s homes in search of food and water.

There is so much your home can offer them and they would see every opportunity to let themselves in.

Among the things that can attract them include –

• Dirty dishes in the sink
• Crumbs on the floors or counters
• Garbage
• Pet food on the floor
• Excess moisture
• Leftover food in empty cans, plates, or containers

If you have all these as constants in your home, then you can expect to have lots of visiting roaches. Thankfully, there are natural roach killers you can use to get rid of these dirty, annoying pests.

Natural Roach Killers Vs Chemical-Based Roach Killers

There might be a debate as to which method of roach extermination is the best. Using purely natural means or using chemical pesticides?

SEE: Roaches and Mothballs

Chemical pesticides work very well against roaches and every other insect pest, as it kills them in a matter of minutes. They are also sold commercially so they can easily be bought from a pesticide store near you.

Another advantage of using chemical-based insecticides is that they are ready-made, so all you have to do is pop the lid and apply.

But with the advantages come some disadvantages. The major downside is that they are harmful not only to the pests, but to humans, animals, and plants as well.

FACT: Ammonia Roach Control

It could be very tragic if you were to accidentally leave a chemical-based insecticide within reach of a child or pet, as they could ingest it out of curiosity.

Natural roach killers on the other hand are very safe to use around your home and your yard. They have no harmful effects on the environment or people so they are pretty safe to use.

They may not be as deadly as chemical-based Insecticides, but they get the job done all the same.

Homemade Remedies Against Cockroach Infestation

You don’t have to dial an emergency number, yet after you confirm that some roaches have turned your home into their dwelling place, your next line of action is to get rid of them.

There are several ways to eradicate roaches; you could either employ the service of a local pest control personnel or, you can help yourself. In helping yourself, you can either use some potent chemicals or resort to homemade remedies in exterminating them.

However, the use of a chemical isn’t just advisable; it is a risky venture. It is highly toxic; it can harm your pets and can contaminate your edibles. Plus, you need to vacate your home if you need to apply insecticides.

But here is a leeway out; with homemade remedies, you can wipe out the entire colony of cockroaches and permanently kiss them goodbye forever, especially as you maintain a healthy environment.

So give one of the homemade remedies a try today

13 Natural Roach Killer Options That Work

Diatomaceous Earth

DE is probably the most popular natural roach killer you can find. This is all thanks to how potent it is at killing these pests. It is sold in pretty much all pest control stores so you can simply go out and buy a box of it.

Using it on the roaches is a simple task, all you have to do is pick out some of the powder with your fingers and sprinkle it all over the areas where the roaches are active and most likely to travel.

If you don’t know where to look, then let me give you some clues. Sprinkle under the kitchen sink and bathtub, especially if they have leaking pipes, this is because roaches love the moisture, so those will be among their favorite spots.

Also sprinkle around the garbage can, as that is a spot where they will definitely visit.

Boric Acid

Boric acid can also work wonders against roaches. All you have to do is mix equal amounts of boric acid, flour, and sugar to form some dough.

Place small balls of dough around areas where the roaches can easily access it. They will be attracted by the flour and sugar and approach. When they do, they will feed on it and be killed by the boric acid.

Areas, where you can place the dough balls, including under the sinks, by kitchen cabinet, garbage can, drawers and fridge

I have to warn you though, do not use Boric acid in your home if you have pets. This is because boric acid is dangerous to pets and will poison them if they ingest it.

Garlic Spray

The sulfur contained in garlic is something insects like fleas and bees cannot stand. Its effects are too harsh and overexposure to it can be lethal to roaches.

Go roach hunting. Visit the areas where the roaches are very active and spray on them directly. Check behind the cabinets, under the sink, around leaking pipes, and the trash can.

Spray on as many as you can find, and if you run out of garlic spray, then you can whip up another batch.

Garlic And Cayenne Pepper

Combining garlic with some cayenne pepper will cause the roaches all sorts of inconveniences and eventual death.

One fact about cayenne pepper is this- cayenne pepper is not only a repellent like other herbal repellants, but it also exterminates cockroaches and makes sure that they are permanently out of your domain.

When you have some cayenne pepper with garlic and add some onions, the cockroaches in their thousands or millions are in for it.

Here is how it works; mix garlic, cayenne pepper, and onions in a pot of boiling water for at least 10 minutes.

Then put out the heat and let the mixture cool. After this, add the liquid solution to a spray bottle and apply it to every infested area.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a powerful natural remedy when it comes to killing roaches. It works by attacking the pest’s growth hormones and hindering their ability to lay eggs or feed.

With these natural abilities compromised, the roaches will be dead in no time.

Neem oil sprays are sold commercially. You can also combine it with liquid soap to produce quicker results.

Vinegar

Combining apple cider vinegar with liquid soap can kill roaches too.

You just need to add a few drops in a container and mix them with some liquid soap and water. Stir thoroughly then pour in a spray bottle.

Head on to the areas where the roaches are present and spray directly on them.

Swatting

Yes, you can kill roaches yourself without the use of any substance. All you need to do is get a bug swatter and smack the roaches as you come across them.

This has to be the oldest means by which humans have killed roaches, and it remains effective against a small population of roaches.

I have to mention though, smacking a roach too hard can cause it to burst open, thereby releasing a whitish/yellowish fluid that could stain your carpet or walls.

This wouldn’t be a problem if you don’t mind cleaning up afterward, but if you do, then scrap this option.

Also, if you are afraid to come close to a bug (insect phobia), then this method of killing roaches is not for you.

Drowning

Roaches may be tough insects, but they aren’t strong enough to Dave themselves from drowning. You can drown these pests using several methods.

First, you can set a simple trap using a container with apple cider vinegar, liquid soap, and water.

Mix some vinegar with liquid soap and water inside a deep and smooth plastic container. Stir well so the solution foams.

The vinegar and moisture will attract the roaches and they will make their way into the smooth plastic container. Unluckily for them, they will not be able to get out, as their legs and wings will be soaked in the vinegar/liquid soap mixture. The more they struggle, the more soaked they get and they begin to drown.

Be sure to leave the container open so the roaches can easily gain access.

Make Sure the container is placed in areas where the roaches are very active or are likely to visit. It will be extremely hard for them to resist a vinegar/liquid soap aroma.

Use Glue Traps

Another way you can kill roaches naturally is by trapping them using a glue trap and burning them alive.

Sounds mean, but that’s one sure way to kill them.

Visit a store near you to buy as many glue traps as you will need and place them in areas where the roaches usually travel or hide. It will only be a matter of time before they stumble across the glue traps and get stuck.

You can leave the trap over a few nights so there’ll be enough time to round up as many roaches as possible.

Check on the boards to see if they are full. When they are, take the roach-filled glue traps outside and burn them.

You can also dip the roach-filled glue trap into a container of soapy water and drown them if you’re not a fan of burning insects alive.

Then again, you could simply take the traps outside and leave them out there. The roaches will eventually die on the traps, either from dehydration or hunger. Also, a bunch of roaches stuck on a glue trap is easy pickings for certain bird species that love munching on roaches.

Dish Soap, Peppermint Oil, And Baking Soda

Dish soap, peppermint oil, and baking soap is a dangerous combination that can spell doom on the cockroaches’ kingdom living or nesting in your home.

Typically, only liquid dish soap and water are enough to get rid of cockroaches, but they can only work when you apply them directly to the cockroach. But this natural combination is deadlier than most insecticides that work as contact exterminators.

All you need to do is get an empty spray bottle. Fill it with some water, add your liquid dish soap, add your peppermint oil, and then the baking soda.

Close the spray bottle and shake the content properly to mix the ingredients well. After this, your solution is ready for action- spray it in areas where you think the cockroaches might be hiding.

But then, this combination will not only get rid of cockroaches, but it also works well in exterminating bedbugs, mites, fleas, spiders, etc.

Coffee Grounds

Unlike other home remedies, roaches love coffee. So the idea is to kill them by using what they love the most as bait (I love this idea).

Cockroaches love eating organic food and coffee is their favorite- they love the aroma. So using coffee and water will effectively lure them out of their hiding place.

To get at them, just get some jars and cups that you are willing to dispose of when you are done with the roaches. Add some water to the jars- make it half full. Then put some coffee into the little cups one after the other and put those small cups in the pot.

Place each of the jars by suspected areas of infestation- the kitchen, bathroom, and wherever you suspect they might have nested

It works this way; the cockroaches are attracted by the aroma of the coffee in the coffee, so they climb into the jar to get to the coffee, but they end up drowning in the water.

Check your trap and keep disposing of them by flushing them in the toilet. You can keep trapping them till they are all exterminated and you are free to take in a fresh breathe in your home.

Sugar and Baking Soda

One of the most effective alternatives to pesticide or insecticide as you may call it is baking soda. It is a natural exterminator, and you don’t need to vacate your premises to use baking soda against roaches.

The best way the baking soda works is when you mix it with sugar (another way of using what they love as bait) in a bowl. Mix the combination properly and then pour them into suspected areas of infestation.

The sugar will attract them but the baking soda will exterminate them.

Bay Leaves

Bay leaf plant is a natural insect repellant. It repels flying insects including cockroaches. Cockroaches can’t stand the smell of a bay leaf.

Bay leaves are herbs that are mostly used by Asians in cooking. Only a handful is enough to do the trick, depending on the level of infestation. Or better still buy the dried bay leaves.

Make sure the leaves are grounded in powdery form. After this, you should sprinkle the powdered bay leaf around your house but concentrated on the area of infestation.

You will be surprised at the speed at which those little pests will vacate your premises at the faintest smell of a bay leaf.

Catnip Herb

Some herbs repel cockroaches and send them out of your home for good.

Nepetalactone is the active ingredient of this effective cockroach repellent, and it is non-toxic to members of your household, including your pets, except cats. You shouldn’t use this herb if you have a cat around.

To use this herb, you can pour some catnip into the water and let it simmer. You can now stream the solution into a spray bottle and then spray it in every suspected area of infestation, including your kitchen cabinets and around your bathroom.

If you want a lasting remedy, just get some small sachets and start filling them with catnip. Fill as many sachets as you can and leave them around your house, especially around your kitchen and bathroom.

The ideal thing to do when you see a sign of cockroach activities in your environment is to get rid of them immediately. But then you have to know what signs to look out for, right?

Even if you don’t get to see a cockroach in your household, it does not mean they are not around; you just haven’t been fortunate enough to come across them.

But when you see any of the signs below, just know that your household is busted, and you have a cockroach invasion.

Preventing Roaches From Entering Your Home

Preventing the roaches from even getting into our home is always the better option.

There are steps you can take to make sure your home isn’t suitable for them.

Cleaning up food crumbs, fixing leaking pipes, and taking out the garbage are among some things you can do to reduce their population in your home.

Also, seal off crawl spaces in-between your windows and doors and use window mesh screens.

Summary

Roaches are very irritating pests that aren’t welcome in the home.

Using homemade ingredients in mitigating a cockroach infestation is not only cost-effective; it is a very productive method of eradication that presents little or no risk of toxic exposure.

You don’t need to vacate your premises to get rid of your pest, and you won’t need the help of a local pest control company to help you carry out the task.

I trust this article on natural roach killers has been helpful.