Quickly stop roaches and keep them from coming back with these expert pest control tips

Did you turn on your kitchen light and catch sight of some roaches skittering away? Even if you manage to squish a few, there may be more you haven’t seen yet. The thought of cockroaches hiding in your home may be unpleasant, but you can easily get control over these pests before they start to spread. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to trap, kill, and prevent those pesky roaches from growing into an infestation.

This article is based on an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

  • Put adhesive traps in cabinets, under large appliances, and in the corners of a room to stop cockroaches in their tracks.
  • Leave out bait traps so roaches bring pesticides back to the nest to kill the entire infestation.
  • Spray roaches with insecticide or a concentrated liquid roach killer to kill them on contact and deter them from the area.
  • ​​Try dusting diatomaceous earth or boric acid along cracks and crevices to use them as natural pesticide powders.
1

Set out adhesive traps.

2

Kill roaches on contact with insecticide spray.

  1. Get rid of roaches you see with a quick spritz of insecticide. Use a spray specifically labeled for roaches since it will be the most effective. Whenever you see a roach, take out the insecticide and spray it directly on the bug to kill it. Apply the spray on cracks and crevices and along baseboards so any roach that walks through the area gets coated in the insecticide and dies.[3]
    • Follow all safety instructions on the product's label since they may vary between brands.
    • If you don’t have any spray on hand, try misting the cockroaches with rubbing alcohol to kill them.[4]
    • Since insecticides use chemicals, keep pets and children away from the areas you’ve treated.
    EXPERT TIP
    Hussam Bin Break

    Hussam Bin Break

    Pest Control Professional
    Hussam Bin Break is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Manager. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and have since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Control has received Home Advisor's Top Rated and Elite Service Badges for quality of work and customer service.
    Hussam Bin Break
    Hussam Bin Break
    Pest Control Professional

    Our Expert Agrees: Repellants have a greater rate of success and can either eliminate the cockroaches or significantly decrease their presence. Use a heavy-duty method like chemical repellant instead of home remedies.

3

Leave bait stations in problem areas.

  1. The food in bait stations contains pesticides that slowly kill roaches. Place the bait in an area where you know cockroaches will encounter it, such as along baseboards, under the sink, and in corners.[5] When the roaches eat the poisoned bait, they’ll bring it back to the nest to help get rid of the infestation.[6]
    • Bait stations may take several weeks to kill all of the cockroaches since their eggs could hatch after you get rid of them.
    • Alternatively, look for gel baits that you can apply under the lip of your counter or hinges of your cabinets.[7]
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4

Apply liquid concentrate pesticide near entry points.

  1. Using liquid roach killer helps you control the toughest infestations. Follow the exact mixing instructions on the pesticide to dilute it properly since they may vary between brands. Once it’s mixed, use an aerosol sprayer or a mop to apply a thin layer onto the surfaces where you’ve seen the most roaches.[8] Focus on cracks or crevices around your cabinets, spaces under large appliances, and the edges of your basement.[9]
    • Keep pets and children away from any areas where you apply pesticides since they can be toxic.
    • Concentrates can be particularly effective at preventing reinfestation since they usually deter roaches for 1-2 weeks or more.
5

Dust diatomaceous earth into crevices.

7

Sprinkle boric acid in cabinets.

  1. Boric acid causes the roaches in your home to starve. Dust a thin layer of the boric acid powder into the cracks around cabinets and baseboards. Leave the boric acid for about 1 week before vacuuming it up and replacing it.[13]
    • To attract more roaches to the boric acid, mix in 1 part powdered sugar or flour. Roaches will be drawn to the food source so they’re more likely to ingest the boric acid.
    • Boric acid isn’t highly toxic to humans and pets, but try to use it only where the roaches will get to it to prevent exposure.
    • Avoid using boric acid outside since it’s toxic to plants.
    • Some people claim to kill roaches with baking soda, or by mixing baking soda and boric acid, but baking soda isn't an effective insecticide.[14]
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12

Deep clean your home.

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    How do roaches get into your house?
    Kevin Carrillo
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Cockroaches are absolute experts when it comes to hitching a ride into your home. Cockroaches can sneak in from a delivery package, the cardboard cutout for a 6-pack of beer, or airport luggage. Once they're inside, they're there for good and it can be pretty difficult to get rid of them.
  • Question
    Where do cockroaches hide?
    Kevin Carrillo
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Cockroaches like to hide in small openings that are only 1 or 2 millimeters wider than they are. You can find them at the top of cabinets, behind shelfs, in small openings around baseboards, and behind appliances. This is part of why they're a pain to get rid of; it can be hard to find where the cockroach's nest is.
  • Question
    Does cockroach bait actually work?
    Kevin Carrillo
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
    Kevin Carrillo
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Yes, the over the counter baits and sprays will kill cockroaches. You can always spray them with rubbing alcohol, too. That will kill them pretty quickly.
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Warnings

  • If you can’t get a handle on a roach infestation on your own, then call a professional exterminator to come get rid of them for you.
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References

  1. Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
  2. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7467.html
  3. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-23/E-23.html
  4. Kevin Carrillo. MMPC, Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
  5. Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
  6. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IG082
  7. Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
  8. https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/control-household-insect-pests
  9. Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.

About This Article

Kevin Carrillo
Written by:
Pest Control Specialist
This article was written by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News. This article has been viewed 10,445,567 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 179
Updated: January 27, 2023
Views: 10,445,567
Categories: Pest Control
Article SummaryX

To get rid of roaches, keep your kitchen as clean as possible to cut off their food source. Wash dirty dishes right after using them, wipe the floors and countertops regularly to get rid of crumbs, and clean up spilled food in your kitchen cabinets. Keep your trash in a sealed bin so roaches can’t get into it. Additionally, make your own cockroach bait by mixing 3 parts boric acid with 1 part powdered sugar. Sprinkle the bait in your kitchen cabinets, behind appliances, and in your pantry. The sugar will attract roaches, and when they eat it, the boric acid will kill them. Make sure to keep children and pets away from your cockroach bait. If you encounter a roach while you’re cleaning or putting out bait, spray it with soapy water to kill it. Keep in mind that it can take weeks or months to get rid of all the roaches in your home, so you may want to hire an exterminator if you can’t wait that long. To learn more about how to set roach traps and use pesticides, continue reading!

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