Bug infestations are a nuisance, especially when dealing with roaches. They are unsanitary, sneaky, and experts at hiding in the tiniest places. They can thrive on waste like food scraps around the house. But the good news is that these pests can be easily eliminated from the house. All one needs to do is find their hiding spots. After this, one can hire professional cockroach control services or try home remedies to eliminate these pests.

Home remedies and best ways to get rid of a roach infestation

Glue strips and sheets
Generally, these tubes or sheets contain a sticky substance that can catch roaches within 24 to 48 hours. This can work when the infestation has just begun. But once the numbers start to increase exponentially, you may have to consider other methods.

Boric acid
A common pesticide, boric acid, is harmless to humans and pets. However, it works as a stomach poison that can kill cockroaches. Usually, these insects do not have a resistance to this solution, and once consumed, the roaches can die within a frame of 72 hours. While the boric acid may seem like a slow-acting solution, it sticks to the insects’ legs and wings as well. Then, once the roaches groom themselves, the poison is ingested, leading to their death.

Therefore, it’s considered best to put a tiny amount on a paper plate and keep an orange peel or food waste in the middle. Then, you can keep the plate near a known roach hiding spot.

Diatomaceous Earth
In most cases, Diatomaceous earth works as an abrasive or a scratching agent. Once the cockroaches run across it, the product sticks to their exoskeleton, drying and damaging it. But while using diatomaceous earth, remember that it may work slowly. Further, if you mistakenly use a large amount, then the roaches may notice it and just crawl around. So, use only small quantities on a surface and keep it in places that can attract insects.

Baking soda
A common product found across all households is baking soda. Mix the powder with some sugar to act as bait and reel in the roaches. When the insects eat the product and consume water, it may cause bloating and affect their internal system. This can finally kill them overnight and lead to a decrease in roach infestation.

Cockroach killer spray
A co ckroach killer spray is one of the easiest and most accessible methods to eliminate pests or roaches. These harsh chemicals are specifically designed to kill the pests quickly by getting absorbed into their skin. Then, after a while, it leads to complete paralysis, eventually leading to their death. However, most of these products are contact killers. So, if you want them to work efficiently, you must spray the chemical on the roaches.

In addition to these, you can also try other cockroach infestation treatment methods, such as hiring an exterminator or using insect growth regulators. Further, you must watch out for cracks around the house that can invite insects in and lead to an infestation.

Factors to consider while getting rid of a roach infestation
Consider certain important factors that can increase the chances of a roach infestation in your house. Some of these include:

Food
Although this factor seems extremely obvious, you must consider its importance. Just like other bugs and pests, cockroaches need food for their survival. So, if you have any food crumbs or food waste lying around the house or kitchen, these insects will surely stick around. One of the best ways to get rid of a roach infestation is to vacuum all the food scraps. This includes spaces such as counters, floors, and tables. But you must not stop there. Roaches consider other products like toothpaste, soap, and hair as food too. So, cover up these products and keep your house clean. This can effectively get rid of the cockroaches.

Leaks
Another resource that roaches need to survive is water. So, there is a possibility of finding these insects near leaky pipes. Moreover, if there are areas where water or moisture pools frequently, like basements and under the sink, you may find the roaches thriving in such places. Therefore, to keep away cockroaches, fix the leaks, and replace the faucets. Then, if you find the basement to be moist, use a dehumidifier or a sump pump to get rid of the moisture.

Dark hiding spots
Typically, cockroaches hide in dark places during the day. These can include cardboard boxes, newspapers, and other cluttered spaces. Hence, one of the easiest ways to get rid of the roaches as fast as possible is to recycle the boxes and remove potential roach hiding spots from your house.

In addition to the above, you must also be wary of other factors that can lead to a roach infestation: outdoor foliage and points of entry around the house.