How To Get Rid Of Roaches Without An Exterminator?

Dive into our comprehensive guide on “How to get rid of roaches without an exterminator” and discover both natural and chemical solutions to reclaim your home.  

Whether you’re seeking pet-friendly remedies or more potent chemical methods, this blog has got you covered. Don’t let roaches rob you of peace any longer! 

How to get rid of roaches without an exterminator: Naturally with Home Remedies?

Roaches are notorious for their resilience and can often seem like they’re here to stay.

However, before resorting to harsh chemicals or costly extermination services, consider these natural home remedies. Not only are they friendly to your wallet, but they’re also less harmful to your household and the environment. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is not your ordinary dust. This natural insecticide, made from crushed fossilized algae, is a roach’s worst enemy.

When the critters come into contact with DE, its sharp microscopic particles penetrate their protective exoskeleton, leading to dehydration and eventual death. 

• Pros: It’s safe, effective, and won’t break the bank. Moreover, it’s child and pet-friendly. 
• Cons: Be prepared for a bit of a cleanup. DE can be messy, and you’ll need to reapply it. After its action, you’ll need to dispose of the roach casualties. 

>> Read more: Diatomaceous earth for roaches – Cockroach Killer, All You Need to Know!

Baking Soda

Think baking soda is just for cakes and cleaning? Think again. When combined with sugar, it becomes a lethal treat for roaches. While they’re drawn to the sugar, consuming the baking soda disrupts their internal system, leading to their demise. 

• Pros: Safe for households, effective, and affordable. 
• Cons: It might take a few applications, and you’ll need to remove the deceased roaches afterward. 

Boric Acid 

This compound, a mix of water and boron found in fruits and plants, might be benign to us, but it’s fatal for roaches. Once they come into contact with boric acid, it adheres to them, and when consumed, interferes with their nervous and digestive systems. 

• Pros: Natural, non-toxic, affordable, and efficient. 
• Cons: Though relatively harmless, it’s best to be cautious if you have pets or little ones running around. Also, be ready to hunt down and dispose of the aftermath. 

Borax

Borax might be a staple in the laundry room, but it’s also a potent roach killer. Combine it with sugar, and you’ve got a recipe for destruction. The sugar tempts the roaches, while the borax acts to dry them out from the inside. 

• Pros: Kills all life stages of roaches and is budget-friendly. 
• Cons: Can be messy and requires reapplication. And of course, the removal of the end results. 

Citrus

Turns out, what’s refreshing for us is repelling for roaches. Lemons, in particular, are their pet peeve. A few drops of lemon oil in your mop water might go unnoticed by you, but roaches will be scurrying the other way. 

• Pros: Affordable and safe for households with children and pets. 

• Cons: This remedy repels, but doesn’t kill. 

Essential Oils

It seems these aromatic oils are good for more than just aromatherapy. Roaches detest certain scents like peppermint, lemongrass, citrus, and oregano. A spritz of these essential oils can keep these pests at bay. 

Clove oil kill roaches by disrupting their nervous system and causing them to suffocate. You can mix clove oil with water and spray it around your home to repel roaches

• Pros: Natural, safe for households, and affordable. 

• Cons: Repels but doesn’t exterminate. 

Caulk All Entry Points 

To truly tackle the issue at its root, ensure roaches can’t get in to begin with. Check for cracks, gaps, and other entry points in your home. Seal these with caulk to deny roaches access. 

• Pros: Effective and budget-friendly. 
• Cons: Regular maintenance is required as caulk can degrade over time. 

How to get rid of roaches without an exterminator: With Chemical Methods?

In the battle against roaches, many homeowners often gravitate towards conventional chemical methods. And why not? These methods promise quick results, dealing with the pesky invaders efficiently.

Let’s explore some of the most common chemical techniques that can assist you in claiming back your roach-free home. 

Use Glue Traps to Identify Problem Areas

Think of glue traps as reconnaissance missions in your war against roaches. These adhesive-coated sheets attract the unsuspecting pests with their scent. Once the roach walks onto the trap, it gets stuck, unable to escape.

Strategically placing these traps where you’ve noticed roach activity can help you identify major problem areas. 

• Pros: Fast, effective, and kid and pet-safe when properly placed out of reach. 
• Cons: Requires frequent checking and replacement. It’s not a comprehensive solution for major infestations but is excellent for monitoring and managing smaller ones. 

Set Bait Stations 

If you want a solution that spreads destruction throughout the roach community, bait stations are your best bet.

Roaches are attracted to the bait, consume the poison, and once they return to their nest, their carcasses become a secondary source of poison for other roaches. 

• Pros: Quick and efficient. 

• Cons: Not the most appealing to look at and can be toxic. Dead roaches left behind might end up harming non-target animals if ingested. 

Use a Liquid Concentrate 

Liquid concentrates are roach repellents that can be purchased from most home improvement stores.

Designed for versatility, they can be sprayed into those hard-to-reach spots or mixed with mop water for a more comprehensive approach, such as Demon Max. 

• Pros: Fast-acting, versatile, and affordable. 
• Cons: Might contain toxic chemicals, making it a less suitable choice for homes with young kids and pets. 

>> Read more: Roach fogger for car: Your Route to a Roach-Free Ride.

Use an Insect Growth Regulator 

Worried about roaches turning your home into their breeding ground? Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) can intervene.

They specifically target the younger roach population, ensuring they never mature to reproductive age. 

• Pros: Effective in halting roach reproduction cycles. Affordable. 
• Cons: Doesn’t affect adult roaches. The effects might not be immediately visible, requiring patience. 

Hire an Exterminator 

Sometimes, the situation calls for the big guns.

Professional extermination teams are trained to handle infestations in the most efficient manner, ensuring that the roach problem is resolved without putting anyone at risk. 

• Pros: Comprehensive, safe, long-lasting results. 
• Cons: Could be pricier compared to DIY methods. 

Roach Bombs: Avoid if Possible

Roach bombs or foggers might seem like a tempting solution, given their promise of rapid results.

However, these devices, which release pesticides into the atmosphere of a room, come with their set of complications. 

• Pros: They work fast. 
• Cons: Highly toxic and flammable. Their effectiveness is skewed more towards flying pests. Not safe for households with children or pets, and they necessitate leaving your home during the treatment. 

>> Read more: How to bomb your house for roaches

Conclusion

Learning how to get rid of roaches without an exterminator doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Whether you lean towards natural home remedies or conventional chemical methods, there’s a solution that can bring relief to your roach-ridden worries. 

Interested in more pest control tips and tricks? Dive deeper into Pestweek‘s treasure trove of expert advice and ensure those pesky intruders stay at bay. 

Calina Mabel

Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.

All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.