How to Get Rid of Roaches With Simple Products

It’s late at night, and you spot a cockroach sneaking across your counter. Rather than grabbing your shoe to smack it, learn how to get rid of roaches and keep them out of your home forever. Roaches aren’t just gross—they spread germs and diseases and can contaminate your food. Luckily, you can master the art of getting rid of roaches with a few simple ingredients (even if you live in an apartment).

Why Do I Have Roaches in My Home?

Roaches end up in homes for a number of reasons, and it’s not always your fault. Here are the main culprits for cockroaches in your home: 

• Nearby infestations: If your neighbors have a cockroach problem, you’re more likely to have one, too. Or, sometimes, you might buy a house without knowing it has a roach infestation. 

• Food left in the open: If you forget to put leftovers away or leave bits of food in the sink, roaches might congregate. They’re also skilled at finding unsealed food, such as open pantry items.

• Dirty dishes: Cockroaches love spills, food debris, and drips. Leaving a sink of dirty dishes overnight can be a feeding ground. 

• Leaking water: A dripping faucet or leaky pipe can attract cockroaches due to the moisture. 

• Damp basement: A warm, damp basement can become a roach’s favorite haven.

• Uncovered trash: If your trash can doesn’t have a lid, roaches can find their way in. 

• Clutter: Roaches like hiding and can accumulate in stacks of cardboard or old boxes. 

• Gaps in the home: If you have holes or cracks around your windows and doors, roaches may sneak in to look for food and water. 

• Vents and pipes: Roaches can enter through pipes and vents, especially those that aren’t sealed or have cracks. 

• Secondhand items: Roaches can enter your home via used furniture and boxes of goods.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Roaches?

The cost of hiring a cockroach exterminator ranges from $100 to $600, with a national average of $200. Monthly and quarterly treatments may be necessary, though, depending on the infestation level.

Signs of Cockroaches

If you notice signs of cockroaches in your home, it’s likely you already have an infestation. Roaches breed quickly, but finding them sooner rather than later helps you get rid of them faster.

Watch for these signs of cockroaches:

• Roaches near your sink, countertop, trash, or pantry (most visible at night)

• Tiny, dark droppings that resemble coffee grounds

• Light brown, shell-like exoskeletons that roaches shed

• Small, brown, or tan capsule casings with eggs

• Musty or sour odor

• Dark smear marks near wet areas

• Holes or tears in food packages

• Crumbs or food droppings

• New allergic symptoms, such as itchy eyes and congestion

Check in the crevices and gaps behind the fridge, under the dishwasher, in and around your microwave and oven, beneath cabinets, in the pantry, under your kitchen sink, and in damp areas of your basement. Roaches hide in moist, warm, and cluttered areas and use these spots to lay their eggs.

How to Get Rid of Roaches

You can get rid of roaches in your home or apartment by using poisonous traps, boric acid powder, baking soda, and other local hardware products. Use multiple killing methods and stay consistent for at least three months. Partner with a roach control pro to speed up the process and ensure permanent elimination. 

Set Roach Bait Traps

Find roach bait traps at your local hardware store and set them in areas where roaches often go, such as under the sink and behind the fridge. The bait includes a slow-acting poison that the roach carries back to the nest, contaminating the entire population. Replace the traps every two weeks.

Keep roach bait traps out of reach and locked away from children and pets. 

Cover Roaches With Boric Acid Powder

Keep a container of boric acid powder on hand. Anytime you see a roach, resist the temptation to squish it. Instead, coat it in boric acid powder. The roach will travel back to its nest and die. Then, the other roaches will eat its body and consume the boric acid powder, which kills them, too.

You can also create a trap with boric acid powder. Put peanut butter or onion in the middle of a paper plate and surround it with boric acid powder. When the roach goes for the food, it covers itself in the powder and takes it back to the nest. 

Boric acid powder is dangerous if ingested, so keep it away from children and pets.

Spread a Mixture of Baking Soda and Sugar

Mix equal parts white sugar and baking soda. The sugar attracts the cockroach, and the baking soda causes their insides to expand and explode. Sprinkle the mixture on a piece of food, such as an onion, and leave it overnight in spots you’ve seen roaches. The roach travels back to its colony to die and contaminates the whole population. 

Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth Near Roach Paths

Diatomaceous earth is a natural pesticide that dehydrates the roaches and kills them. Spread it behind your fridge or under your sink. Wear a mask while sprinkling the diatomaceous earth because it can irritate the lungs. Clean the area and refresh the diatomaceous earth once a week so it stays potent. 

Create a Borax and Onion Mixture

Borax dehydrates roaches and is a natural way to kill them. Sprinkle borax under the sink and behind your fridge, where the roaches travel. Place onions or sugar in the path. A roach will cover itself in the borax and travel back to the nest, which kills other roaches in the process. 

Keep borax away from children and pets.

Combine DIY Efforts With Professional Pest Control

Cockroaches are notoriously challenging to get rid of and are superstar breeders. Sometimes, even your best efforts aren’t enough to keep roach infestations at bay. 

If you’ve attempted to remove them yourself with little success or want to get rid of roaches faster, work with a local cockroach control professional. They’ll partner with you to get rid of roaches fast and effectively. They’ll also prevent return infestations. 

How to Prevent Roaches and Keep Them Away

Keeping roaches away is just as important as killing them when they show up. Here are key tactics to keep these bugs out of your house for good.

• Clean every night: Keep your sink free of dirty dishes, spray and wipe your counters, and sweep and mop your floors. Dry out the sink and put away all food items before you go to bed each night.

• Store all food in airtight containers: Use plastic containers with airtight lids on all pantry items, cooking oils, and produce.

• Secure your trash can lid: Keep your trash and recycling covered and sealed with a well-fitting lid. 

• Take out trash regularly: Take your trash out at least once a week and before you leave on vacation. 

• Seal gaps in your home: Use caulk to seal around your windows, doors, pipes, and vents. 

• Fix leaks: Roaches love moisture, so fix water leaks in your pipes, faucets, and showers.

• Use natural repellents: Incorporate vinegar, lemon juice, and bay leaves while cleaning to keep roaches at bay, especially near food sources.

• Remove clutter: Clean out junk and unwanted items from your basement, storage shelves, and drawers to eliminate roach hiding spots. 

• Vacuum and sweep every two to three days: Ensure you clean your carpets, rugs, and floors regularly to eliminate food crumbs that attract roaches. 

• Keep roach baits in high-traffic areas: For up to a year after you see the last roach, keep traps in key areas to ensure elimination.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

You can eliminate small roach infestations yourself if you are meticulous in your clean-up and use roach-killing methods consistently. But if you want to get rid of roaches faster or you have a significant infestation, work with a local cockroach control pro. They have the expertise to safely use chemical methods to eliminate cockroaches. They also provide a detailed approach to inspecting your home and preventing future infestations.

The cost of cockroach extermination ranges from $100 to $600, but expect some repeat treatments to ensure full elimination. The cost to do it yourself ranges from $50 to $100, depending on the materials and how long it takes.