How to Control Cockroaches

Besides being annoying, cockroaches are also pests. While they live outside, they will also invade interior spaces including homes. Because they carry microbes that can cause allergic reactions including asthma, they must be eliminated if possible.

While it may not be feasible to totally eliminate the cockroaches, you can control and reduce their numbers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boric Acid or Borax
• Caulk
• Cleaning Supplies

1. Take a look around your home to see what might be attractive to roaches. They will feed on pet food, crumbs, or any type of decaying food. It is best to clean up the kitchen and dining area and keep counter tops cleaned off by frequent washing after preparing food.

2. You can use insecticide sprays or bombs, but these may be harmful to pets or children. A safer control is boric acid. You can either purchase boric acid at a hardware store, or use Borax, a laundry additive. Either will be in a powdered form. Be sure to read the directions and follow the cautions on the container. Boric acid should not be directly applied on surfaces or areas where food is handled and prepared.

3. Sprinkle boric acid along the baseboards and behind appliances such as the stove and refrigerator. Use a whisk broom to push the powder down into the cracks or crevices at the edge of the linoleum or carpet. Apply where ever you see cockroaches moving about, or where you suspect they may be getting in.
   Use caulk to seal cracks in along the foundation or where the walls meet the foundation.
   Smash or step on any cockroach you can. Actually you can kill a lot this way, as you prevent them from laying eggs and reproducing.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a tightly sealed garbage can inside the house.
• Remove any food scraps or kitchen waste you save for compost by taking them outside each day.
• Smash or step on any cockroach you can. Actually you can kill a lot this way, as you prevent them from laying eggs and reproducing.
• Clean up any uneaten pet food as well.
• Always try to promptly clean up the kitchen whenever you cook, so that you eliminate their food sources.