Ways to Kill Cockroaches

Before Taking Action

• Before you take any action in destroying cockroaches by spraying insecticides or laying traps, take a good look around your home to discover the areas these insects tend to frequent and where they enter your home. Seal up any cracks or crevices that cockroaches may use as an entry point and take measures to dry out any damp spaces. Keep food in air-tight containers and clean up crumbs and sticky messes to avoid attracting cockroaches and other pests.
  
  

Insecticide Sprays and Dust

• Insecticide sprays come in a variety of formulas, and many of them target cockroaches in particular. The most effective sprays are residual insecticide sprays because they protect your home over a long period of time. Apply insecticide sprays around floor drains and in other areas where you have found cockroaches. Insecticide dusts and wettable powders also can be effective. Only apply insecticide dusts to dry areas and avoid using them in well-traveled areas in your house unless you are able to leave your house for some time after applying the dust. Wettable powders are excellent for use on indoor surfaces and also can be adapted for outdoor use.
  
  

Baits and Traps

• Cockroach baits and traps most frequently use a slow-acting insecticide that will kill the insects that feed on it and also kill those in the nest who eat the food that is brought back from the trap. Baits and traps are safer for households that include children and pets because they do not involve the exposure of harsh chemicals, and the bait is enclosed inside a container. To use bait traps properly, position them under cabinets and appliances, near trash cans, and in other places where cockroaches are seen. Position the traps flush with the wall and do not spray any insecticides or cleaning products in the vicinity of the trap.
  
  

Natural Control Methods

• Look for natural or environmentally friendly roach control products at the store, or create some of your own natural roach repellents out of regular household products. Cucumber peels, garlic and bay leaves can be sprinkled near baseboards and cracks to repel cockroaches. A boiled concoction of catnip and water also can be used. Diatomaceous earth is a simple way to kill cockroaches without sprays or traps. Sprinkle some of the diatomaceous earth on countertops and behind appliances. When cockroaches track through the dust the particles will damage the exoskeleton and cause the cockroach to dehydrate. Boric acid also can be used in this way.