Seeing cockroaches in any part of the house is an unpleasant experience, especially their infestation in the kitchen, which is not only unpleasant but unhygienic as they carry disease-causing bacteria that pose a threat to the health of the family members. The worst part of their infestation is that once they invade, it’s hard to get rid of them. There are DIY methods as well as pest control companies that help you get rid of roaches permanently. The method to deal with cockroaches depends on the intensity of the infiltration. In this article, we primarily focus on the DIY ways to get rid of cockroaches in the kitchen permanently.
Why Do Cockroaches Invade the Kitchen?
The roaches invade the kitchen for the following reasons:
Looking for food: The kitchen is part of the home where roaches get easy access to food in the open or loosely covered trash bin, on the countertop, and even on the floor.
In search of water: Just like food, roaches also find the source for water in the kitchen around the leaky pipes, dripping faucets, or water bowls kept for pets.
Dark shelter to hide: Cockroaches are found in dark spaces such as cabinets, under appliances, and drawers. They also find their way into the kitchen or other parts of the home through cracks in the wall or a stack of empty boxes.
The Trick to Keep Roaches Away From the Kitchen
If you know the reason for their invasion, then finding the trick to keep them away is a smart idea, as “prevention is better than cure.” Though, despite all the efforts, they find their way into the homes, especially in the kitchen and you have to get rid of them permanently, which we discuss later in the article.
Maintain Cleanliness in the Kitchen
A clean kitchen is one of the effective ways to keep roaches away from the kitchen. All you have to do is remove the food particles and food spillages from the floor and countertop, keep the sink clean, cover the garbage bin tightly, and fix the faulty faucets. Also, clean the countertop and stoves with disinfectant to keep them away.
Seal the Cracks and Gaps
Roaches get access to the kitchen and other parts of the house through cracks and gaps, so sealing the cracks and gaps in the doors and windows can help keep a check on their entry into the home.
Maintain a Dry Kitchen
A wet kitchen is a breeding ground for roaches, so the best way to keep a check on their entry is to maintain a dry kitchen. Make sure the area under the sink is dry and none of the pipes have leakage.
Trim the Plants and Maintain a Clean Landscape
Cockroaches are smart and find shelter in the plants and landscapes placed in the house, so it’s important to trim plants regularly and maintain a clean landscape. The best way is to keep the plants away from the kitchen area to avoid their entry into the kitchen.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Cockroaches Permanently
Rather than seeking professional help to get rid of roaches permanently, it’s advisable to do it through DIY methods. Here are some of the ways.
A Mixture of Baking Soda and Sugar
An affordable and effective method to permanently control the infestation of cockroaches is to prepare a mixture using equal proportions of baking soda and sugar and spread it in the areas where you notice their movement. This mixture works because sugar attracts roaches, and when they consume the mixture, baking soda causes gas, leading to death.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a chemical that kills roaches instantly. It’s recommended to make a dough using equal amounts of water, sugar, and boric acid and keep it where you notice their movement. Another way is to use boric acid powder in the corners where their movement is noticeable.
Roaches die immediately after consuming boric acid due to dehydration.
Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are used as a spice in cooking, but you can use them as cockroach repellant. All you have to do is boil some bay leaves in water and spray the water in every nook and corner of the kitchen and other parts of the house.
Peppermint/Citrus Spray
It’s an effective method to keep roaches away from your house because they hate the smell of peppermint and don’t prefer to live in areas with such a smell.
Use Essential Oils to Keep Roaches Away
Essential oils are aromatic, but roaches don’t like the smell and move away from the place with such a smell. You can mix a few drops of oil in water and spray near the infested area. Some of the essential oils that keep cockroaches away from the kitchen are:
Citrus: Citrus oils such as lemon, lime, and orange work effectively to repel roaches due to the presence of limonene in the citrus oil.
Kaffir lime: This is effective in repelling American as well as German cockroaches.
Oregano: This is highly effective in repelling the roaches.
Rosemary: Rosemary essential oil is highly toxic for brown-banded cockroaches. Rosemary oil kills roaches after 24 hours of exposure to the oil.
Insect Growth Regulators
An insect growth regulator is a perfect way to control fast-growing cockroaches. Insect growth regulator reduces the reproductive capacity of roaches, lowering their population. This method is highly effective in reproducing roaches rather than the fully grown cockroaches.
Diatomaceous Earth
It is a natural insecticide that consists of fossilized sea organism bodies that dehydrate roaches, leading to their death. You should sprinkle diatomaceous earth dust on the areas where you expect their movement.
Glue Strips
This method works when a small number of roaches have infested the kitchen. Glue strips are completely covered with a sticky substance, so when you place them near the infested area, cockroaches stick to the strip and die.
Gel Bait
This method is suitable for areas where it’s difficult to reach. In this method, gel is used with the help of syringes to apply in the corners of the house, in gaps or cracks, and inside the cabinets in the kitchen. It is a time-consuming method, as it takes three to four days to kill cockroaches.
