There are several effective ways to kill cockroaches:
- Soapy Bubble Spray: A mixture of water and shampoo, liquid soap, detergent, or dish soap makes bubbles that suffocate cockroaches when sprayed on them. The bubbles cover the cockroach's breathing openings and kill it almost instantly. This method is easy and clean for killing roaches on walls or out of reach.
- Baking Soda and Sugar Trap: Mix baking soda with sugar and place it where roaches travel. The sugar attracts them, and the baking soda reacts in their digestive system to kill them quickly.
- Boric Acid Powder: Boric acid is a highly effective cockroach killer. It clings to their bodies and is ingested when they groom themselves, dehydrating and killing them. It's best applied in thin layers in dark, damp corners, cracks, and edges where roaches hide.
- Diatomaceous Earth: A natural powder that damages cockroaches' exoskeletons, leading to dehydration and death. Spread it around entry points and hiding spots.
- Dish Soap and Water Spray: Directly spraying this solution on cockroaches clogs their breathing pores, suffocating them quickly.
- Alcohol or Fabric Softener Spray: Similar to soapy water, rubbing alcohol or a fabric softener mix can suffocate roaches by blocking air passages.
- Other natural repellents and traps include lemon juice, coffee grounds trap, crushed bay leaves, and petroleum jelly traps.
For severe infestations, professional pest control services are recommended for permanent elimination using specialized insecticide baits and treatments.
To effectively kill cockroaches, apply methods such as boric acid dust carefully in cracks and crevices, use bait stations or gels containing slow- acting insecticides, or spray a soap solution directly on cockroaches to suffocate them.
These methods can be combined depending on the severity of the infestation and the environment. References:
- Bubbles kill roaches by suffocation with soapy water.
- Baking soda and sugar trap and boric acid effectiveness.
- Boric acid application and bait station usage guidance.
- Additional natural and chemical sprays.
