BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Rid Your Home of Cockroaches

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (7 Ratings)

Cockroaches can transmit bacterial diseases and hepatitis virus and have been known to spread dysentery and typhoid fever. Many people are allergic to them.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Growth Regulating Insecticides
Insecticides
Pesticides
Sugars
Baking Soda
HEPA Vacuums
Lidded Metal And Glass Containers
Caulks
Pipe Insulation

Step1

Eliminate sources of food and water. Store food in tightly sealed metal, glass or hard plastic containers. Remove trash from kitchens promptly, and place in containers with tight-fitting lids. Repair any plumbing leaks in or under your home. Place pet water bowls in a pan of soapy water at night.

Step2

Vacuum all corners to remove tiny food crumbs. If anyone in the house is allergic to roaches, be sure that your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter.

Step3

Prune plants away from vents near your home's foundation where roaches can creep in. Remove piles of debris.

Step4

Caulk cracks and crevices wherever possible, both inside and outside.

Step5

Check furniture and appliances that have been in storage for egg cases.

Step6

Consider insecticide only if you must; cockroaches learn very quickly to avoid fast-acting insecticides such as insecticide spray. If you must use an insecticide indoors, dust a slow-acting one such as boric acid under cupboards and into cracks and corners. Remember that boric acid is permanently ineffective once it becomes damp.

Step7

Use baits and sticky traps as effective alternatives to spraying indoors. Add insect-growth regulators to baits to increase their effectiveness. Look for them where insecticides are sold.

Tips & Warnings

Tropical in origin, cockroaches require humidity and warmth as well as a food source. They prefer to live in cracks and tight crevices and are nocturnal. Bathrooms and kitchens are favorite haunts.
Avoid the use of aerosol foggers. These can make the problem worse by dispersing the cockroaches over a wider area.

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Comments

fearlessfox said

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on 3/14/2008 You never say what the sugar and baking soda are for or how to use them?!
Also, boric acid can be dissolved in water to paint on surfaces for up to a yr. of roach control,(see:http://www.dfwx.com/boric.htm), so your statement in Step 6 is false.

fearlessfox said

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fearlessfox said

Flag This Comment

on 3/14/2008 You never say what the baking soda and sugar are for or how to use them?!
Also, boric acid can be dissolved in water to paint on surfaces for up to a yr. of roach control, so your statement in Step 6 is false. (See http://www.dfwx.com/boric.htm)

fearlessfox said

Flag This Comment

on 3/14/2008 You never said what the sugar & baking soda is used for or how to use it?!
Also, boric acid can be dissolved in water to paint on surfaces for roach control for up to a year(see:http://www.dfwx.com/boric.htm), so how can it be ineffective when damp??

fearlessfox said

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on 3/14/2008 You never said what the sugar and baking soda is for or how to use it!?
Also, boric acid can be dissolved in water to make a paint-on solution for surface roach kill, so why do you say it is "permanently ineffective once it becomes damp"?
"A Safe Surface Insecticide may be formulated by dissolving Boric Acid in plain water to make a 5% to 10% solution of clear liquid. Heating the water first makes it easier to dissolve the white powder. This simple inexpensive, household chemical is deadly to all insects, is safe enough to use around children, and on interior surfaces (test first on a small hidden area to check for possible -- but rare -- discoloration of finishes). Don't expect instant results, give it some time, occasionally additional applications are needed. It lasts about a year, or until the surfaces are washed"....taken from http://www.dfwx.com/boric.htm.