Pest infestations in the homes are an unpleasant and irritating sight for homeowners. One such pest is cockroaches, which are known for contaminating food items and spreading diseases. The most challenging task is to control roaches because of their fast reproductive rates. As a homeowner, the key challenge remains in finding the right solution to get rid of roaches. There are many home remedies to tackle roaches; however, in this article, we focus more on alcohol as a remedy.
Is Alcohol Effective in Killing Roaches?
Alcohol is undoubtedly an effective way to control roaches. However, the impact depends on the type of roaches and the concentration of alcohol. There are multiple scientific views on the effectiveness of alcohol, which you should know. Some say alcohol is effective only at the places where cockroaches pre-exist, whereas others have different views. Some are of the opinion that it's a permanent solution, and others opine that it is a temporary solution. Let's have a look at how alcohol kills roaches in different ways.
Alcohol is scientifically known as "Isopropyl alcohol", which has anti-microbial properties. When alcohol is sprayed on roaches, it enters their body through the exoskeleton and disrupts the function of organs because the cell membranes of their organs get affected. Rubbing alcohol also disrupts the physiological function as well as the respiration and osmoregulation affecting the regular functioning of their body parts.
Another function of rubbing alcohol on roaches is dehydration. Rubbing alcohol on roaches results in loss of water due to the evaporation property of alcohol, leading to dehydration and death of roaches.
Effectiveness of Alcohol on Different Varieties of Roaches
The impact of alcohol varies depending on the type of cockroaches. Here are the species of cockroaches on whom alcohol works effectively, but in a different way.
The American Cockroach: Alcohol is highly effective on American roaches as these roaches get slow, their reproduction capacity is reduced, and they become more vulnerable to predators.
Australian Cockroaches: These roaches completely hate alcohol because high concentrations of alcohol can paralyze Australian roaches affecting their mobility and can disrupt their nervous system as well.
Oriental Blatta Cockroach: Alcohol is also life-threatening for these roaches as alcohol causes dizziness in them and can also harm their wings and reproductive organs. Just like American roaches, these roaches also become more vulnerable to predators post-alcohol application.
Smokey-Brown Cockroach: Alcohol works in a different way on these roaches. Alcohol causes dehydration in them, leading to their death.
Punctulatus Cryptocercus: The exact impact of alcohol on these roaches is still not known, but it is presumed that it could be a defence mechanism.
Method to Prepare Alcohol Mix and Ways to Use It to Kill Roaches
The effectiveness of alcohol on roaches depends on the right method of application. The alcohol solution is a highly effective homemade solution that suffocates cockroaches as their breathing holes get clogged.
The first step is to prepare the solution by mixing one part of rubbing alcohol with one part of alcohol and putting it in a spraying bottle or misting device. If you identify any roaches, spray the solution directly over them to ensure they are damp enough to disrupt their cell membranes, leading to death.
Safety Tips to Consider When Applying Alcohol on Roaches
It's important to follow the safety measures when applying alcohol on roaches to avoid mishaps. Here are some of the precautionary tips:
- Always wear protective gear like gloves and mask to protect your skin and the respiratory system from any irritation problem.
- Open all the windows to ensure proper ventilation to avoid the build-up of fumes and respiratory risk.
- When rubbing alcohol, keep it away from open flames and heat sources to avoid accidents because these are flammable.
What Are the Advantages of Using Alcohol to Kill Roaches?
Alcohol is a smart way to kill roaches for several reasons. Alcohol is non-toxic, safe for humans and pets, safe for the environment, easy to use, affordable and doesn't leave any harmful residue. It can be easily used in garden areas also owing to its non-toxic feature.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using Alcohol to Kill Roaches?
No preventive pest control measure can be flawless, and so is alcohol rubbing on roaches. There are fears of health hazards linked with rubbing alcohol on roaches, such as dizziness, nausea or headache, if inhaled accidentally. The flammable nature of alcohol also poses a threat of fire.
