Get Rid of Cockroaches Naturally: 11 Effective Ways

1. Get Rid of Leaks

One way to get rid of cockroaches naturally? Keep them away in the first place. If you seem to always come upon roaches in your tub or shower, there’s a reason. Roaches are attracted to sources of water. Fixing leaky pipes and faucets is a smart way to deter them. Making sure basements and crawl spaces aren’t damp is also essential. Consider getting a dehumidifier to keep those spaces dry. And be sure to empty any standing water inside and outside your house.

2. Keep the House Clean

Again, essential household maintenance can keep away roaches (and other creepy crawlies). Your garbage and crumbs are a feast for roaches. So keep your home as clean as possible. That means don’t leave dishes in the sink, always take the garbage out, and vacuum regularly.

3. Put Food Away

Keep all food packages closed and in airtight containers so nothing can get in. Using a garbage can with a lid that shuts tight is also a good idea.

4. Get Rid of Cardboard Boxes

You may not know that roaches are drawn to newspaper and cardboard boxes. That’s because it’s good material for nesting and breeding. Yuck. So, as tempting as it is to keep all those Amazon delivery boxes and cardboard packaging for other purposes, recycle them or use them ASAP so they’re not sitting around. 

5. Decorate With Cockroach Repelling Plants

Some plants are dual-purpose; they’re decorative and helpful in deterring roaches and insects. One thing to remember: if you have pets, like cats, be careful not to keep anything in your home that could be dangerous for them.

Chrysanthemum: These beautiful blooming plants contain a natural insect repellent called pyrethrin. The plants repel a whole range of insects, not just roaches.

Rosemary: This plant smells lovely to humans, but roaches hate the scent.

Catnip: The active ingredient in catnip is nepetalactone, which repels roaches.

Mint: Roaches are said to dislike the scent of mint and will stay away if it’s nearby.

6. Try Essential Oils

There are many good reasons to try essential oils as a roach deterrent. They’re generally safe for children and pets, are known to be fairly effective and smell good to humans. Some essential oils that are most commonly used for repelling roaches include citrus, lime, oregano, rosemary, and peppermint. Mix an essential oil (or a few) with some water and spray it where you’ve noticed roaches. 

Just keep in mind that essential oils won’t kill roaches but merely keep them away. If they’re already infesting your house, you may need to try a method that actually kills the bugs.

7. Sprinkle Baking Soda

There’s no need to invest in toxic roach sprays and poisons. Instead, try baking soda, one way to get rid of cockroaches naturally. Baking soda expands inside of the roach, causing it to explode. Mix baking soda with sugar or sprinkle it on a piece of food and put it out where you’ve seen roaches.

Remember that anything that kills roaches inside your home means you must clean up the results.

8. Use Boric Acid

Also known as Borax, this natural ingredient dehydrates the cockroach from the inside when they ingest it, eventually killing them. It’s recommended to put boric acid in the center of a paper plate and mix it with sugar or something else sweet to attract the roaches. Boric acid also works well on ants. 

However, if you have pets or young children, you may want to try a different method that is less messy and doesn’t require being left out in piles.

9. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is fossilized algae that kills roaches by sticking to their exoskeleton and drying them out. You do need to be careful while using this or boric acid because roaches will simply go around it if you pile it too high while attempting to lure them. 

10. Seal Your Home

If you’ve invested time and money killing the roaches inside your home, ensure more don’t get in. Close up cracks and open spots near windows, doors, pipes, and vents. Considering cockroaches aren’t the only creatures that will take advantage of a home that’s not well-sealed, it’s worth spending some time doing caulking.

11. Spray With Soap and Water

One easy way to kill roaches is using something you already have in your home: soap. Mix soap and water equally in a spray bottle and spritz the roach directly. The combination will suffocate and kill them.