Does Clove Oil Kill Roaches?

Cockroaches reproduce quickly and can be challenging to eliminate once they inhabit your house. Consequently, it’s crucial to deal with roaches as soon as you notice them. You can try out different homemade DIY like clove oil.

Clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum) can kill and repel roaches because it contains Eugenol, a natural insecticide. Crushed cloves produce a strong smell that roaches don’t like, and they will keep away from it.

Using clove oil alone can be a good way of repelling cockroaches, but if you want to eliminate them, you might have to apply some degree of ingenuity.

It is much more effective to use different types of bait to attract the bugs and entice them to come into contact with the clove oil-infused products. You can opt to mix the latter with other essential oils, such as citrus and peppermint, to eliminate the pesky creatures from your space.

How long does it take for clove oil to kill roaches?

Clove oil takes about 6 hours to kill roaches and about 30 minutes to completely repel the creatures from an affected surface. However, the duration may vary depending on what you mix with the oil, its concentration, the extent of a cockroach infestation, etc.

Clove oil is often used as an additive to different types of insecticides. It is much more potent when mixed with chemicals such as diatomaceous earth (a powder-like substance formed by grinding fossilized diatom shells) and other treatments to attract and contain the insect’s populations.

How to get rid of roaches with clove oil

You can opt for several techniques when dealing with a roach infestation within your space.  Although clove oil can kill cockroaches by itself, the insects are more likely to run and wait till the substance dries out. 

Clove oil without additives is better suited to repelling roaches rather than killing them. A downside to relying on a clove oil solution is that the remedy is only effective for a limited duration.

Mixing the oil with peppermint oil, citrus extracts, and other viable organic chemicals not only acts as a safe homemade solution to roaches but also helps to ensure that your mixture remains potent for longer.

Here’s how to get rid of roaches with clove oil:

1. Using clove oil without any additives

Clove oil has numerous uses and benefits within your living space. The oil doubles up as an organic solution to insect attacks, weed control, air purification, etc. You can also use clove oil for your hair and skin as a food additive.

Cockroaches (and other insects) hate the smell of clove oil and often tend to stay far from it. Besides, the insects seem to know that the oil harms their well-being as it can easily harm them by dissolving their exoskeletons.

You can try mixing clove oil with different bait types to ensure the insecticide becomes more appealing, lethal, and long-lasting. But clove oil works fine if you only intend to engage in DIY roach prevention. 

How you can make a clove oil insecticide at home;

Quantity: 1 liter 

You will need:

• 1 Litre of warm water
• 10-15 drops of clove oil
• 10-15 drops of a liquid soap solution

(alternatively,  you can make a clove oil solution by extensively grinding a teaspoon of dry clove seeds, soaking them in a small cup for about 2 hours, then using a sieve to extract a ready solvent).

1. Mix 10-15 drops of clove oil concentrate with 10-15 drops of liquid soap stabilizer.

2. Add about 1 liter of warm water to the blend and shake thoroughly.

3. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray under the sink, shelves, and other dark spaces where the insects are likely to hide.

4. Repeat the process at least three times a week.

2. Mix clove oil with diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine powdery substance that effectively eliminates roaches and other pesky insects from your space. The product works by breaking down the waxy layer of the insect’s exoskeleton, causing it to die from dehydration.

Roaches carry the chemical to their hiding spots through their legs as they scurry around for food. Mixing clove oil with diatomaceous earth creates a potent and efficient method for controlling large cockroach infestations for a more extended time.

Quantity: 1 Liter

What you need:

• 1-2 tsp diatomaceous earth powder
• 10-15 drops of clove oil concentrate
• 10-15 drops of liquid soap
• 1 liter of warm water

1. Prepare a clove oil-based insecticide by mixing10-15 drops of the oil concentrate with an equal amount of liquid soap stabilizer and shake thoroughly.

2. Add a small amount of DE powder to the concentrate while adding water to keep the mixture from becoming too thick.

3. Pour the blend into a spray bottle and spray on the affected areas.

Another alternative involves spraying the clove oil insecticide on its own before using a squeeze bottle to spread the powder over the moist surface.

3. Mix clove oil with essential oils

There are numerous varieties of essential oils that you can use to keep roaches at bay. Common types of essential oils that you can mix with clove oil to create a homemade insecticide include lavender oil, rosemary oil, sandalwood, etc.

Essential oils work similarly to clove oil, and the two readily complement each other. Making an insecticide from clove oil- an essential oil blend is easy, quick, and safe for your kids and pets. Besides, both have an aromatic scent that leaves your room feeling fresh and clean.

Here are a few ideas on eliminating roaches using a combination of clove oil and essential oils.

What you need:

• 1 liter of warm water
• 20-30 drops of peppermint oil (or any other essential oil of choice)
• 10-15 drops of clove oil
• A dispersing agent

1. Pour 10-15 drops of clove oil into a mixing container and add about 20-30 drops of an essential oil concentrate
2. Pour a dispersing agent into the blend and shake thoroughly
3. Add 1 liter of water and shake until the solution becomes even
4. Spray on the insects or affected sections of your space.
5. Repeat the process 2-3 times a week, depending on the severity.

You can also add small quantities of crushed garlic and vinegar to make your insecticide more potent for repulsing the insects and keeping them away from our homes. This is also a good way of killing roaches without an exterminator, which may be expensive.

4. Mix clove oil with alcohol

A blend of clove oil and alcohol can help repel cockroaches and keep them off your home for a limited duration. Clove oil is highly soluble in most alcohol varieties, including vodka, isopropyl alcohol, etc

Always remember to exercise caution and to take safety measures when dealing with alcohol (and other dangerous chemicals) within your home. You can opt to mix the alcohol-clove oil extract with other ingredients to increase its effectiveness and improve potency for longer periods, as the latter might evaporate quickly after exposure.

What you need:

• ¼ liter alcohol concentrate (about 
• ¾ liter water (about 72% of the total mixture)
• 10-15 drops of clove oil (about 3% of the total mixture)

1. Pour 10-15 drops of clove oil into a mixing container
2. Add alcohol in small amounts while stirring until the oil dissolves
3. Pour water into the concoction, put it in a spray bottle, and spray across affected spaces such as holes in the walls, under kitchen sinks, etc.
4. Repeat the process a few times a week.

Some people advocate spraying alcohol directly on roaches, but the method could be more hazardous to your family and pets.

References:

• The insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth against adults and nymphs of Blattella germanica – PMC
• Evaluation of Some Plant Essential Oils against the Brown-Banded Cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Blattaria: Ectobiidae): A Mechanical Vector of Human Pathogens