Like any other pest, cockroaches thrive in environments that meet their needs. And as much as we don’t want them crawling around our living spaces, those are the places that cockroaches usually hang around as it provides them with the right temperature, water – and food! Getting rid of cockroaches can be tricky due to many factors. Among these factors include the type of cockroaches and your companions at home. While setting up traps and using chemical baits are easy, you must keep in mind that doing so may expose your pets and children to those risks. To keep that from happening, here are a few tricks you may want to try to keep the cockroaches away from your property…
Silica Gel
Commonly found in small paper packets, silica gel can control the humidity in goods, making them a good solution to keep cockroaches away. The silica gel beads act as a desiccant that absorbs the moisture in the air, drying out anything that touches it. Cockroaches thrive with the help of moisture, so having this stuck to their bodies will eventually kill them. Make use of these beads by mixing them with sugar and sprinkling them in the areas where cockroaches are usually found and areas where your pets and children can’t reach. Keep out of reach of children and always consult a professional before using any treatments, especially chemicals.
Vasoline – Petroleum Jelly
If you want a less toxic approach to glue traps, make use of petroleum jelly instead. Smear petroleum jelly onto cardboard bits and place them in places where these pests are commonly found. You can place them outside their usual entryways and exit points, making your trap inevitable for their tiny legs to get stuck to. You may even add sugar into the jelly before smearing it into the cardboard to attract more of them as your traps still stand. Again, make sure that this trap is away from children and pets.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are one of the things that repel cockroaches the most. Cockroaches particularly hate oils such as tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender. Cockroaches are repelled by these scents because it masks the scent trails that they use to track down food sources. When used in higher concentrations, these oils can kill cockroaches instead of just repel them. You can use these oils in two ways: rubbing them using a cotton ball in areas where they’re usually found and mixing it with water in a spray bottle and spraying them in cockroach-infested areas.
Diatomaceous Earth
This substance is widely used in many households for cockroach control as it’s organic and non-toxic to pets and humans alike. This works the same way as the silica gel beads. Once the cockroaches get in contact with this substance or ingest it, their bodies will dry out, kills them eventually. Make this substance more attractive to cockroaches by mixing it in with sugar and sprinkling it in their hiding places and any entryways.
Borax
Another natural alternative to popular chemical-based cockroach repellents is borax. This acid is toxic to cockroaches and can disrupt the lining of their organs, killing them eventually. Create a mixture with two tablespoons of borax, two cups of sugar, and 1 litre of water. You may also add two drops of essential oils such as peppermint to make the mixture even more lethal. This mixture can be used to repel ants as well.
Get rid of cockroaches with professional help. With the right treatment, proper education and the right treatments, you can keep pests away. It’s always good to contact a professional that can keep them away for good. Get in touch with Picton Pest Control today!