Create a Safe, Effective Roach Killer with Household Items
Getting rid of roaches can be a tricky task. Not only is it often difficult to determine exactly what’s in the store-bought sprays, but hiring an exterminator can be cost prohibitive. Fortunately, there are DIY roach-killing methods that use safe, readily available ingredients. Here’s how to make your own homemade roach killer.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, or DE, is a great option for killing roaches. This fine rock powder is abrasive and absorbent and will penetrate the cockroach’s exoskeleton and then absorb water from its body, resulting in the roach’s death. To use it effectively, spread the powder in areas where roaches are known to travel.
Boric Acid
Boric acid has been used as an insecticide since 1948 and is now generally considered safe for humans. To make a roach killing paste, simply mix equal parts boric acid, sugar and water. Spread the paste in areas where you’ve spotted roaches. As they clean themselves, they’ll ingest the substance, leading to their demise.
Baking Soda
Just like boric acid, baking soda can be used to make a roach killing paste. Simply mix equal parts baking soda, sugar and water. Apply the paste to areas where cockroaches have been found. The roaches will take it back to their nest, leading to the elimination of the entire colony.
Liquid Soap and Water
One of the simplest roach killing methods out there is a solution of liquid soap and water. Mix one teaspoon of liquid soap with a cup of water and spray it onto any roaches you spot. The mixture will clog the roach’s pores and cause it to suffocate.
Just Water
Finally, something as simple as water can be used to lure and kill roaches. Place a jar of water in spots where you often spot roaches, as they’ll climb in but will be unable to escape. The jar will drown the roaches, eliminating them one by one.
If you’ve spotted roaches in your home, don’t despair. You can easily make your own homemade roach killer using safe and readily available ingredients. Try using diatomaceous earth, boric acid, baking soda, liquid soap and water, or just plain water to get rid of those roaches. Depending on the size of your infestation, it might take a few applications of any of these substances to get the job done, but they are all sure to be effective in permanently eliminating roaches from your home.
Facing a cockroach infestation can be incredibly frustrating and it’s essential to get rid of them quickly. Hiring an exterminator can be expensive, leaving it up to you to find an effective solution. Fortunately, you don’t have to raid the effects of your wallet to get rid of these unwelcome guests. Learning how to make a homemade roach killer is a great way to get rid of roaches at an affordable cost.
Let’s start with diatomaceous earth (DE), which is an incredibly effective and organic way to kill roach eggs. DE is a rock-based product with abrasive and absorbent properties, so it quickly cuts into the outer shell of cockroaches and causes them to dehydrate. You can find this product in most home improvement and health food stores or online. To ensure it’s efficiency, spread the powder in areas where roaches travel.
Boric acid is a commonly used insecticide and is believed to be no more hazardous to humans than table salt. To make your own roach killer using this ingredient, combine three teaspoons of boric acid with three teaspoons of sugar and three teaspoons of water. Make sure to mix the ingredients together to make a paste then apply the paste in areas where you’ve spotted the dreaded roaches. Boric acid will stick to the roaches’ legs, arms, and other parts of their bodies and the cockroach will eat it as it cleans the sticky substance off its body. Eventually, the acid will make its way into the nervous and digestive systems and cause the roach to die.
If you prefer not to use boric acid, baking soda is another natural way to kill roaches. To make a paste, mix three teaspoons each of baking soda, sugar, and water. Apply the paste in areas such as cabinets, under the sink, and around the stove areas. Like boric acid, the baking soda will need to be ingested to be effective, so the roaches will need to take it back to their nests, allowing them to be killed naturally.
Another homemade roach killer that you can use is a mixture of liquid soap and water. To make the spray, simply mix one teaspoon of liquid soap into a cup of water. When you see a roach, spray it with the mixture, which will clog their pores, preventing them from breathing. This will eventually be lethal.
Finally, you can kill cockroaches just by using water. To do this, simply fill a jar with water and place it in corners where you usually spot the invaders. Roaches love to explore new places so they will often examine the jar and crawl in, only to then discover that they can’t get out, eventually drowning. One downside is that this method only eliminates individual roaches and not the entire nest but it’s still a useful tool to have in your arsenal.
Using the correct methods can definitely help take control of a cockroach infestation. Homemade roach killers may take a bit of trial-and-error but the most important thing to remember is that if you keep trying, you can eventually get rid of them. With the various homemade recipes contained in this article, you should be able to finally get rid of cockroaches in your home at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional exterminator.