7 Ways to Get Rid of Roaches Naturally

Cockroaches are very persistent and elusive pests. Besides rats and mice, cockroaches are at the top of the list when it comes to homeowner (and apartment dweller) concerns. If you regularly see cockroaches (or signs of them) in your home, the problem is likely bigger than you might think. This is especially true in apartments and multi-family dwellings, where cockroaches use the building's infrastructure as a cockroach superhighway, stealthily traveling from unit to unit using utility lines, cables, and natural gaps in the building. 

While it is always favorable to seek out natural treatments for pest issues, it's also important to go into cockroach control with realistic expectations. Sometimes cockroach infestations require an element of chemical control, and by shying away from methods of conventional pest control, the problem gets out of hand. Start with the natural steps in this guide, but don't hesitate calling a professional if there is no significant improvement.

What Causes Cockroaches?

Cockroaches thrive in the dark, warm conditions that are often found in our homes and structures. They get into homes by migrating indoors as the weather cools or, more commonly, they are brought into the home from an outside source, such as a grocery store, school, or neighboring apartment.

Roaches feed on almost any organic material but homes with what pros call "conducive conditions" are the most prone to infestations. Harborage areas for cockroaches include:

• Food-related mess in a kitchen where roaches are able to feed freely
• Accumulations of grease around or under appliances
• Water leaks that create the warm, moist conditions in which roaches thrive
• Garbage chutes in buildings that give roaches access to rotting organic material and let them travel between floors

Signs of Cockroach Infestation

Roaches are resilient, tolerating occasional freezing conditions, breeding very quickly, and becoming more resistant to many chemical treatments over time. Roaches are nocturnal, meaning you're not likely to see them during the day unless the issue has reached infestation levels.

Common signs of a cockroach infestation include:

• Musty odor
• Droppings, which are often linked to cases of allergy-induced asthma
• Dead roaches
• Shed skin
• Egg cases

7 Ways to Get Rid of Roaches Naturally

Starting with all-natural solutions is wise, but it's going to require some elbow grease and attention to detail. Natural cockroach control is all about removing and monitoring the conducive conditions described above.

Be sure to wear clothes that can get dirty, and have a dust mask and a high-quality flashlight handy.

Do a Deep Cleaning

Long-lasting cockroach control starts with a clean space. Filthy conditions provide cockroaches with food and clutter gives them places to hide.

Focus your cleaning efforts on kitchens, bathrooms, and garbage areas where cockroaches are attracted by food waste and drain scum, moisture from sinks, drains, and leaks, and where they find hiding places under sink cabinets and vanities. Thoroughly clean all those areas and fix any leaks.

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming is especially important when it comes to control of the German cockroach, the #1 interior invader. Not only does vacuuming remove food particles and asthma-causing droppings and roach bits, but it's also essential for eliminating future German cockroach populations. While some roach species deposit egg cases, German roach females carry their eggs on their backs. By reducing the number of adult roaches (including females), you're limiting reproduction and removing eggs all at once. Just don't forget to empty your vacuum frequently!

Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth, an all-natural solution to insect infestations, is non-toxic to both humans and pets. The results will not be instant, as you will need to sprinkle it around and wait for the cockroaches to feed on it. Expect to see results within two weeks.

Use Garlic as a Repellant

Crush a garlic clove and place around infested areas of your home. The smell is pungent and repels cockroaches.

Spray Lemon

One of the quickest and easiest options to repel roaches is to mix lemon juice with water in a spray bottle and spray around your home. Cockroaches are deterred by the smell of lemon.

Use Insect Monitors

Once you've cleaned and tidied your home, insect monitors are the best way to find out where cockroach populations are hiding in your home. Insect monitors are a type of glue trap that is folded together and placed in areas where insects like to hide. They're not just made for roaches; they also trap spiders, earwigs, and other occasional invaders.

Place assembled insect monitors in the favorite hiding places of cockroaches, such as:

• Behind the fridge or stove
• Underneath the sink
• Near the water heater
• Knowing the cockroaches’ hideouts will be very helpful should a pest professional need to get involved.

Seal Them Out

This method is best used in apartment buildings and in warm, humid climates where roaches live outside. Sealing cracks around your windows and doorframes helps keep roaches outside. Exterior doors should have door sweeps attached, and they should be in good working order, free of holes, and other damage.

If you live in an apartment building, ensure that the escutcheon plates (the small metal plates that seal the holes where water lines pass through) are in place and caulked tightly to prevent roaches
from passing between units using the water lines. If they're not, be sure to notify building maintenance.

How to Prevent Roaches

In addition to keeping your home tidy, here are a few more things to discourage cockroaches from settling in your home:

• Check grocery items before bringing them inside, especially cardboard packaging. Cockroaches like cardboard, especially produce boxes. Look them over before putting them in your cabinets and avoid bringing produce boxes into your home whenever possible.
• Combine good hygiene with periodic inspection and repair of the home's exterior to block cracks and crevices. Caulk off the areas where utility lines enter your home or structure.
• Keep foundation plantings and mulches set back from the foundation of the home to prevent nesting places for exterior roaches.
• Keep firewood piles stacked well away from the house.

When to Call a Professional

If you are not dealing with a severe infestation, you might be able to get rid of roaches with natural methods. However, for more severe infestations, especially those occurring in multi-family dwellings, it's best to get a pest control company involved. Improper cockroach control in your apartment building can lead to cockroach populations that are resistant to chemical treatments, creating much bigger issues in the long term.

If immediate and complete eradication is critically important, your best option may be to call an extermination service. While these pros are likely to use professional-grade products, most modern-day roach control programs are low-stress for owners and tenants and focus primarily on baiting programs as opposed to liquid insecticide treatments.