There are many ways to get rid of cockroaches, some better than others. Here are some of the better options, and how to use them most effectively.
11 Best Ways to Kill Cockroaches (And What Doesn’t Work)
Updated Aug. 31, 2024
Cockroaches are pretty amazing creatures. They lead complex social lives, have unique person alities and most species of the bug even prefer to be outside. But, if some do set up shop in your home, it’s important to get rid of them promptly.
“Cockroaches are one of the most common and stubborn pests because they can hide in numerous areas, reproduce quickly and develop resistance to treatments,” says Ian Williams, an entomologist and technical services manager with Orkin.
Some people are also allergic to their shed skin, saliva and droppings, which can cause asthmatic symptoms, coughing, itchy skin, irritated eyes and a runny nose. While there is no direct evidence that they transmit disease, they do often occupy filthy environments, so they have the potential to transmit bacteria and other pathogens, says Dr. Chad Gore, an entomologist and Technical director with Terminix.
Unfortunately, there’s no quick magic bullet, says Gore. But, there are effective treatments to get rid of cockroaches. From pesticides to natural remedies, here are some that work, along with a few that waste time and money.
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Know Your Roach
More than one kind of cockroach can infest your home, so if you can identify the species, it may affect your control strategy. While most control methods are effective on most common species, it does matter when deciding whether to apply insecticides inside or outside.
To ID your roaches, start with your state extension service’s website or identification clinic, says Gore. “They will likely accept both physical specimens as well as photos. Just make photos are good quality, clear, and show details.”
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Improve Sanitation
Prevention is the most effective cockroach control. Before using products, take away anything that’s alluring to them, like clutter, crumbs, open food and accessible garbage. Promptly clean up spills, vacuum frequently and regularly sanitize areas that might have spills or food debris, including gunk behind appliances.
“You also want to minimize the amount of free water they can have access to, so clean any spills and fix any leaking pipes or faucets,” says Gore.
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Practice Exclusion
Another important prevention step is exclusion. Cockroaches enter homes through cracks, vents and pipes, as well as on items like grocery bags, says Williams. “They are attracted to homes because they provide food, warmth, water and a million out-of-the-way nesting sites.”
To combat this, seal cracks and crevices around hiding spots and potential entryways like vents and plumbing penetrations with caulk or screens, and make sure your door and window seals fit snugly. You might want to also seal infested rooms, like the kitchen, from other parts of the house.
“Also, check that attics and basements don’t have unwanted openings,” says Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist at Mosquito Squad. “One way to do this is to visit your attic or basement during the day and look for any outside light peeking through.”
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Physically Remove Roaches
The most straightforward ways to get rid of cockroaches are to vacuum them up, trap them in sticky traps, squash them with a shoe or catch and release them outside.
“Using the vacuum approach can allow a person to remove a large portion of a population and immediately impact their reproductive potential,” says Gore. “Discard your vacuum contents into a bag and goose-tie knot it to prevent escape.”
Also, when getting rid of roaches, look for roach oothecas or egg capsules, which you’ll also want to remove and discard, says Crumbley.
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Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a powder made with fossilized remains of small organisms called diatoms. It can quickly and efficiently manage cockroaches and is considered a natural option, but it’s often misused and thus not effective, says Gore. The correct way to get rid of cockroaches with diatomaceous earth is to clean cracks and crevices where cockroaches are likely to be hiding, let them fully dry, and then sprinkle on a small amount.
“It must be light dusting, as cockroaches won’t crawl over large amounts, and getting them to crawl over it is essential,” says Rocky Beninato, a certified exterminator and founder of Quality Affordable Pest Control. “Once they do, it will pierce their bodies and drain the moisture from them.”
Make sure the diatomaceous earth stays dry, or it won’t be effective, and use this in conjunction with like bait, says Gore.
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Boric Acid
Another natural option, boric acid dust is also very effective when used properly, but again, most people don’t know how to use it the right way, says Gore. As with diatomaceous earth, apply a fine dust in cracks, crevices and voids where you suspect cockroaches are hiding. “Just light puffs of the dust is generally sufficient,” he says. “Less is best, and more can actually repel them.”
Unfortunately, many boric acid bottles have twist tops, which make light applications difficult. To counter this, Gore’s recommendation is to not open the twist top all the way, so you can limit how much comes out, and if the top is removable, add two or three metal nuts or some marbles so you can shake it slightly, agitate the dust, and get it airborne inside the bottle. Then when you squeeze it slightly you might get a better, light dusting.
Unlike diatomaceous earth, borates work by taking advantage of cockroaches’ frequent preening of their legs and antennae, which results in them ingesting the insecticidal dust.
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Bait Traps
Over-the-counter bait traps, which coax cockroaches out of their hiding places, can be very effective so long as you use enough of them based on the size of the cockroach population and follow the directions on the label, says Gore.
Beninato suggests Advion Cockroach Gel Bait. Use numerous traps and “leave your bait traps out as long as you see cockroaches, dead or alive,” he says.
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Spray
Aerosol and similar sprays are good for getting into cracks, but they only effectively kill one cockroach at a time, says Beninato. “It’s not practical for handling an infestation,” he says. “It can be good to use in tandem with other methods, however sprays come with concerns, as they can irritate the lungs. Squashing cockroaches with shoes or other heavy items is another option for bugs you see.”
Gore also warns that these aren’t very compatible with baits because they often contain pyrethroids/pyrethrins repellants. If those come in contact with the bait, they will keep cockroaches from eating it.
“And because they are repellent, they tend to get cockroaches to start scattering, which may push them to other areas,” says Gore. “Professionals often use these materials when they are trying to flush cockroaches from a void during inspection. In this case, they’re relying on other tactics to really do the heavy lifting once they get them flushed from an area.”
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Essential Oils
Some research suggests some essential oils can deter cockroaches, especially eucalyptus and lavender. But they don’t last long and are not a standalone solution for an infestation, say Beninato and and Gore.
“I’d generally only recommend using eucalyptus and lavender, either fresh or as essential oils, as a proactive measure to prevent cockroaches or in combination with other methods like diatomaceous earth and bait traps,” says Beninato. “Plus, they smell great to humans!”
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Call a Pro
If these DIY solutions don’t end up working, if you have a severe infestation, or if you want to be particularly proactive about quickly getting rid of cockroaches, it’s probably best to call in a pest control expert. They are trained in cockroach identification, exclusion, properly handling pesticides and various treatments (including some, like insect growth regulators, that are only available to pros) and thus can tailor a solution based on your specific needs and issues.
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Try Mulch for Outdoor Cockroaches
If you’re trying to keep outdoor species away from your house and plants, there are some mulches that seem to help repel some species. “For example, cypress mulch has been shown to contain several essential oils that cause repellency to the Asian cockroach,” says Gore. Also, among the insecticides, pyrethrins and some pyrethroids tend to be very repellent to cockroaches, he says.
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Common Mistakes For Getting Rid of Cockroaches
- Don’t buy the first insecticide you see,” says Crumbley. “Over-the-counter insecticides don’t always specify which roaches they work for or where to apply them. Take some time to research which products work best for your pest problem.”
- If you put out chemicals, don’t mix up your baits and repellents, says Crumbley. “Some roach products, like gels and pucks, might be baits, while others, like dust and aerosols, might be repellents. If you mix up which is which, you might try to repel and bait a roach simultaneously, which won’t yield any control results.”
- Don’t fall for the ever-revolving door of online life hacks. “Sprinkling coffee grounds or bay leaves has been promoted to repel roaches, but the reality is repelling roaches from one area of the home only makes them spread to another,” says Crumbley.
- Always choose a labeled product that has been reviewed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is labeled for cockroaches, says Williams. Follow the directions and do not over-apply chemicals.
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FAQs
What do cockroaches eat?
Cockroaches are omnivores and will eat just about anything in your house, including baked goods, fruit, cardboard, feces, wood, book-binding glue, plants, stamps, leather, fingernail cuttings, toothpaste, soap, other insects and even one another. “They have a preference for sweets, meats and starches, but are not picky eaters, so even garbage and sewage make it on the menu,” says Williams.
What smells do cockroaches hate?
A few essential oils seem to be offensive to cockroaches, like eucalyptus and lavender; they are repelled by insecticides containing pyrethrins and some pyrethroids. Otherwise, “there’s not much, in terms of smells/odors, that a cockroach won’t tolerate or even enjoy,” says Gore.
How do you get rid of cockroach eggs?
It depends on the species — and if you get it wrong with German cockroaches, it can actually make matters worse. Cockroach eggs (oothecae sacks) are well-protected. Some commercial pesticides designed for home use will kill them, but others will not penetrate them. So, the surest bet is to dislodge them from where the female cockroach stuck them, then throw them away or crush them and vacuum them up.
What household products kill cockroaches?
Boric acid can be sprinkled where you’ve seen signs of cockroaches and can kill them, but otherwise, it’s best to use a product labeled for killing insects. “Some at-home recommendations found on the internet, when not applied properly, can be dangerous to pets and people,” says Williams.
What household products don’t kill cockroaches?
Common household kitchen or laundry items like vinegar, baking soda and bleach don’t really work, says Gore. “Desperate homeowners also try various things in the home to repel cockroaches. I’ve seen cinnamon sprinkled around a home, trying to keep cockroaches away. I’ve also seen people store hedge apples in their kitchen cabinets to try to repel cockroaches. While these things may have essential oils that repel at high concentrations, in their natural form, they really don’t have any effect.”
“Bleach can kill cockroaches if they ingest it, but it is generally not recommended as a solution,” says Beninato. “You’ll have to ensure they all ingest it or soak them for a significant amount of time.”
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About the Experts
- Chad Gore, Ph.D., is an entomologist and Market Technical Director for Terminix, where he trains managers and technicians on topics including pest identification, challenging pest problems and other pest control tactics and techniques.
- Rocky Beninato is a certified exterminator and founder of Quality Affordable Pest Control, an eco-friendly and pet-safe pest control company based in Toronto.
- Ian Williams is a board-certified entomologist and certified wildlife control professional. He currently works as a technical services manager at Orkin, where he trains and educates Orkin pros and the public about pests.
- Emma Grace Crumbley is an entomologist at Mosquito Squad and a self-described bug nerd who uses her expertise to educate people about the fascinating world of bugs.
Originally Published: April 16, 2020
