By Alison Hoover
If cockroaches invade your D.C.-area home, it can take from a few days to a few months to remediate the issue. To prevent a big cockroach problem, take action with these preventives before they show up and apply these natural remedies when you first see signs of roaches.
Seal Entry Points
Sealing entry points will take the most time and effort, but it’s the best way to prevent cockroaches (and other pests) from entering your home in the first place. Cockroaches will enter your home through cracks and crevices in floors, walls, and windows. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal any openings — plus, this has the added bonus of increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
If you have a significant issue with pest infestations, you may want to consider hiring a professional to seek out points of entry and do the labor of sealing them up effectively.
Emphasize Cleanliness
Keeping a clean and tidy kitchen (and home) is the easiest way to discourage cockroaches from unwanted visits. Like other pests, cockroaches are drawn to food sources. Spills and crumbs are a buffet in the view of a cockroach, so it’s important to clean up messes every day.
Resist the temptation to snack on the couch so all food messes are contained to the kitchen. Sweep and properly clean counters daily. You also want to keep food in airtight containers. It may seem unnecessary, but transferring chips and cereals from torn bags to storage containers will help prevent foragers.
Use Natural Repellants
If these measures haven’t worked and you find cockroaches have taken up residence, there are natural options that don’t involve chemicals.
Deter Roaches with Scents
Cockroaches are naturally adverse to various smells including lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus. Since these are scents most humans enjoy, it’s simple to discourage cockroaches while refreshing your home. To get rid of roaches in your kitchen naturally, mix essential oils with water and spray around points of entry and places where you may have seen cockroach activity. Consider peppermint or cinnamon oil.
Alternatively, you can place bay leaves in cabinets and drawers. With bay leaves, however, you need to be mindful that other scourges may mistake them for a snack.
Boric Acid
When used properly, boric acid is a natural insecticide that is harmless to pets and humans. Sprinkle boric acid on surfaces where you’ve spotted cockroaches or suspect cockroach activity. As long as the dust stays dry, boric acid remains effective and will kill cockroaches as they walk across the covered surface.
Particularly in a home with pets and children, it may be best to sprinkle boric acid at night and clean it up thoroughly in the morning, repeating daily as needed.
Diatomaceous Earth
Derived from fossilized remains, diatomaceous earth is another natural option. Similarly to boric acid, sprinkle diatomaceous earth in places cockroaches frequent, such as behind appliances and along baseboards.
Diatomaceous earth works by dehydrating cockroaches and other pests. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth outside of your home for a similar purpose.
A Clean Home is a Roach-Free Home
All of the steps to getting rid of cockroaches involve keeping a clean home. Sometimes it’s hard to prioritize deep and frequent cleaning because we all live such busy lives. Consider hiring a professional cleaner to assist you in getting and keeping a clean home.
Ecoverde Cleaning keeps homes clean across Washington, Maryland, and Virginia.
Alison is a world traveler who loves to spend her time writing and reading. When she’s home, you can find her playing with her pet rabbit and baking.
Keeping cockroaches away your home