Folk remedies for cockroaches: how to get rid of them at home

cockroaches, insects

17.06.2020

Cockroaches that appear in an apartment not only cause disgust, but can also harm human health. You can find many special insecticides on store shelves, but not everyone agrees to use chemicals when fighting parasites. Such people can be recommended to choose one of the folk remedies for cockroaches in the apartment - the most effective for their case.

When cockroaches appear in an apartment, it is necessary to immediately take measures to destroy them.

Danger of cockroaches for humans and pets

Many people do not attach much importance to the appearance of cockroaches in their apartment, believing that insects are not capable of causing significant harm. In fact, they can cause a lot of trouble to a person.

To understand why you need to immediately take measures to destroy the population, information that cockroaches:

They carry life-threatening microorganisms. The body of the insect is small and very smooth, thanks to which the pest is able to easily crawl into small crevices. First, they crawl through sewers and basements, feeding there on human excrement, bird or rat droppings. Then they make their way into a person’s home, bringing on their paws and body those harmful microorganisms and bacteria that were present in the waste. There are more than 10 diseases that cockroaches can transfer to food and household items. These include:

tuberculosis;
tetanus;
meningitis;
rubella;
leprosy;
diphtheria;
hepatitis;
polio.

Infected with helminths. On its legs and body, a cockroach is capable of carrying not only bacteria, but also worm eggs, which will certainly get into food if the insect comes into contact with them.
"Living foreign body syndrome." This is the medical name for cases when an insect makes its way into small openings in the body. A special type of cockroaches, the Prussians, are capable of such pseudoparasitism. Their body is small in size and they are predominantly nocturnal, which means they are able to get close to you when you are sleeping. Having climbed into the ear canal or nostrils of a person, they cannot get out in the opposite direction, which causes pain and irritation of the nasal coverings or the walls of the inner ear. In this case, you should not remove the insect yourself. It’s better to immediately call an ambulance or run to the nearest emergency room.
Allergens are tolerated. By excreting excrement and shedding their chitinous cover, cockroaches are able to infect humans with dangerous allergens that enter the respiratory tract along with dust. They are especially dangerous for young children. To minimize the risk of infection, be sure to wet clean at least once a week.
The black type of cockroaches, with a large population, has a smell of rot and dampness, which permeates the entire apartment.
They might bite. Cockroaches are not considered parasites that feed on human blood. However, if insects lack food or water, they are able to feed on the outer epithelium of a person, eating the skin around the lips, eyes or ears. In addition to severe mechanical damage from bites, harmful bacteria on the pest’s body can enter the human bloodstream and infect with dangerous diseases.

Pets can also be harmed by cockroaches. If you fought a pest with the help of chemical reagents, after eating an infected individual, the animal may become poisoned. Cats are especially susceptible to such poisons. You should not leave pets in the apartment if you decide to use toxic substances in the fight against insects.

How to prevent a second wave

To prevent cockroaches from returning, appropriate preventive measures must be taken:

Cover the ventilation shafts with fine mesh grilles.
Seal all cracks in the floor.
Monitor the serviceability of plumbing fixtures and repair leaks in a timely manner.
Avoid dampness.
Eat food in one place.
Do not leave leftover food on the table.
Always wash dishes and do not store plates and cutlery in the sink.
Store baked goods in plastic bags.
Make sure that there are no spilled sugar, cookie crumbs, etc. in the kitchen furniture drawers.
Ventilate the premises and keep them clean.
Carry out wet cleaning in the apartment more often; once a week, for preventive purposes, use a 1% vinegar solution to treat kitchen surfaces and floors.
If possible, get house plants whose smell cockroaches do not like.

Houseplants with a strong scent will help get rid of harmful insects.
As an alternative to the last resort, you can purchase a special repeller that will prevent pests from returning back to the apartment.

Using the Hawk MT repeller

Yastreb MT devices cannot kill cockroaches; their action is based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves, which, propagating through electrical wiring, even penetrate the walls along which it is laid. They cause discomfort in insects and force pests to leave the apartment or house.

The device operates from an electrical network and is capable of protecting premises up to 150 square meters from pest attacks. m. One of the undeniable advantages of the device is the presence of 3 modes. The changing frequency of the waves does not allow cockroaches to get used to the action of the device, thanks to which the Hawk MT repeller reliably protects the home from invasion of parasites.

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Advantages and disadvantages of traditional methods

There are many effective folk methods of fighting cockroaches. They are all good in their own way and have a number of advantages:

preparing poison or traps does not require special skills;
unlike chemical repellents, they are not dangerous to humans and pets;
many methods can be used by allergy sufferers;
are affordable and sold at any pharmacy or hardware store.

However, each of them has distinctive features that may make the method ineffective or not suitable for you.

Basically, all folk remedies are aimed at repelling, and not at destroying cockroaches.
Borax and boric acid do an excellent job of killing pests, but can cause poisoning if they enter the body of a person or pet.
The freezing method is only good in the cold season. In the summer, you will not be able to lower the room temperature to the level necessary to kill pests. In addition, the method is not considered fully effective, since cockroaches can return in the warm season.
Strong-smelling products such as geranium, essential oils, kerosene or ammonia will not cost much. However, their effect is limited only by the time they emit an odor. Once it wears off, the cockroaches may return.
Alabaster and gypsum work well at killing insects, but require your constant monitoring, since if the trap gets wet, it will become ineffective.

A complex approach

Traditional methods will be effective with an integrated approach to getting rid of cockroaches. You need to choose several methods to use at once.

For example, treat the surface with aromatic oils, skipping small intervals. Place poisonous baits on them.

For a long-term positive result, you need to remove cockroaches together with your neighbors. This is especially true for apartment buildings.

Otherwise, they will migrate from apartment to apartment through sewer and water pipes.

Ammonia

Ammonia has a pronounced pungent odor, which irritates the respiratory system of cockroaches, disorients orientation by disrupting the sense of smell, and can also cause chemical burns if it gets on the insect’s cover. Advantages of using ammonia:

is not an insecticide;
the pungent odor quickly disappears;
it is cheap and sold in every pharmacy;
a low concentration solution is not harmful to humans;
there is no need to remove dead individuals, since ammonia simply scares them away and does not kill them;
does not require much effort to process;
can be used in conjunction with other methods.

The product repels cockroaches with a smell and does not kill them, so it may not be effective against a large population. Also, the effect of ammonia is limited to 30–40 minutes, so be patient, as the weed will last a long time. There are several options for using ammonia against cockroaches.

Wet cleaning

Carry out wet cleaning in places where cockroaches accumulate using a rag soaked in ammonia solution. When cleaning, follow these steps:

Dissolve 1 hour. spoon of ammonia in 1 liter of warm water.
Soak a rag in the solution and wipe all possible and hard-to-reach surfaces.
Leave the room for a while.
Do the same cleaning every day for several weeks.

Impregnation with repellent

For a more effective effect, place a soft cloth soaked in ammonia in hard-to-reach places, under the sink, behind the stove and furniture. If possible, plug up the cracks in the walls with the same rags.

Repellent containers

The method assumes that after installing the traps you will leave the apartment. Taking safety precautions, pour a small amount of ammonia into wide, open containers and place them around the perimeter of the entire room. Then be sure to leave the apartment for a while. You can also pour the poison into the sink drain so that the pipes and sewers become saturated with the pungent odor.

Syringe for inaccessible places

Use a syringe or spray bottle to get into nooks and crannies.

Increased concentration for non-residential premises

A room where you may not be for a long time can be treated with a concentrated solution of ammonia. Just change the dosage of alcohol when diluting the solution from 1 teaspoon to 200 ml. You can enhance the smell of ammonia by adding 200 ml of vinegar to the finished poison.

Poisons

These are toxic substances that have a poisonous effect. The principle of action is that the poison penetrates the digestive system of cockroaches by eating it along with the bait or acts upon contact with it by the paws, shell and other parts of the body.

The main advantage is that insects are destroyed forever. Folk remedies are considered safe for people and animals, but only if they are not eaten.

Boric acid

This is an organic substance to which cockroaches do not get used. The product is sold in pharmacies and specialized stores in the form of powder and liquid solution. To combat household pests, the first option is used.

Peculiarities:

when using small dosages, intoxication occurs;
if large doses are used, cockroaches are paralyzed due to damage to the central nervous system;
It makes no sense to use food without bait;
upon contact with the body, the poison has no effect (only when eaten).

There are many variations on how to influence the digestive system of a cockroach using boric acid:

In liquid form. Dilute 1 sachet (10 g) of boric acid powder in 300-400 ml of water, pour into a container, and place in accessible places. Cockroaches will drink, thinking it is regular water.
With boiled egg. Mash 1 yolk and 1 boiled small potato with a fork, add 20 g of powder, 1 tsp. homemade sunflower oil, form into balls and place around the room.
With raw egg. For 10 g of boric acid, take 1 raw egg and 1 tsp. vegetable oil. If the mixture turns out liquid, add a little flour. Make circles.
Mix with water. Mix flour, boric acid and sugar in equal proportions, add water. You should have a dough-like mass.

To attract cockroaches, you can add any odorous ingredients to the “dough” - vanillin, cinnamon, honey, jam, jam.

To completely get rid of pests, it takes at least 1 month, since the procedure is repeated every 2 weeks or as the “barbels” eat the raw materials. The period depends on the number of eggs laid and the actual number of cockroaches.

During baiting, do not leave water in cups, sinks, or on surfaces; be sure to close the toilet, that is, exclude sources of liquid, otherwise, after drinking water, the cockroaches will decrease the level of concentration of the active substance.

Sodium salt

The substance is made from boric acid (called borax). It works the same way. The same balls are made from sodium salt. The period of persecution is the same as in the previous case, but the recipes for the “test” are different:

a simple option - take 1 part borax, 2 parts boiled potatoes;
complicated variation - powdered sugar (60 g), vanilla sugar (30 g), potato starch (60 g), borax (200 g).

Arsenic

This substance is used to bait rats and mice. It also kills cockroaches very well. Be sure to wear gloves.

How to prepare the product:

Make a backing out of paper - cut out a piece of cardboard with scissors or take any paper.
Add vanillin and arsenic in equal proportions.
Place the poison under the table, near the back wall of the refrigerator, near other household appliances, under the sink.

Denatured alcohol

Denatured alcohol is a technical ethyl alcohol, which has a powerful unpleasant odor and strong volatility. This is what determines its effectiveness (if insects inhale fumes, fatal poisoning occurs).

Recipe for preparing the mixture and further use:

Mix in a disposable container (which you will then throw away) 5 g of naphthalene and 5 tbsp. l. denatured alcohol
Mix well until smooth.
Apply to the floor and surfaces using a medical syringe (5 ml) in a targeted manner.
Update the layer every 2 weeks.

Pyrethrum

Few people know about this name, but everyone is familiar with the plant. Pyrethrum is a common medicinal chamomile, but only the inflorescences are included. The drug is sold in crushed form in the pharmacy. The main advantage is that it is natural and no harm to humans, although the product acts as a natural insecticide.

Use in different ways:

hang in woven bags;
place it under the carpet, baseboards, sink;
mix with bait (sugar, jam).

Change the grass every week until all the cockroach eggs hatch and the entire family is poisoned.

Onions and soda

When soda comes into contact with the gastric juice of a cockroach, carbon dioxide is actively released (hissing begins), resulting in poisoning, leading to death.

Onions, despite their pungent odor, attract insects, but on the other hand, they keep soda from unwanted premature reactions.

Optimal recipe:

Mix finely chopped onions and soda in equal proportions.
Add 1 tbsp. l. mixture 1 tsp. flour, powdered sugar and vegetable oil.
Mix and place in areas where pests are concentrated.

Any components are added to onion or soda. The main thing is that the overall composition contains a sweet ingredient. Renew the onion-soda mixture every week. The duration of bullying is at least 1-2 months.

Plaster or alabaster

Construction alabaster itself is not poisonous, but it quickly leads to the death of cockroaches. This happens due to the fact that when a pest enters the body, the bulk material combines with a moist environment, after which it begins to harden. This stone leads to death.

Gypsum is allowed to be mixed only with dry ingredients - granulated sugar, vanilla sugar, bread crumbs, cinnamon, etc.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures prevent spontaneous invasion of cockroaches. They are quite simple:

keep clean;
wash the floor with bleach more often;
install a mosquito net for ventilation;
promptly repair leaking pipes and taps;
take out the trash every evening;
do not leave crumbs, food and water in the open;
store food (cereals) in airtight containers;
clean up leftover food/water after cats and dogs;
grow geraniums;
Use the aroma lamp periodically.

Useful tips

People who use traditional methods in the fight against cockroaches share their tricks:

when preparing products based on poisons and toxic fumes, wear rubber gloves and a respirator with a filter;
leave citrus peels in the kitchen;
treat the back walls of household appliances, especially the refrigerator, as cockroaches love the warmth and smell of wires;
To avoid bringing pests back from a store or trip, carry a bag of mint tea in your bags.

A huge number of people use folk remedies for cockroaches because they are harmless, inexpensive and effective. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions, observe the dosages, otherwise the result will not be satisfactory. Don't be discouraged by the long duration of the baiting, as many store-bought remedies work similarly.

Borax for cockroaches

Borax has proven itself to be an effective and cheap remedy in the fight against cockroaches. Sold in hardware stores and intended for soldering metals. The sodium salt of boric acid, once in the intestines of the insect, has a paralytic effect, as a result of which the individual dies.

The essence of the method

For the bait to work, it is not enough to simply scatter the powder in the habitats of the pests. To ensure that the poison gets into the insect's intestines, borax is usually mixed with aromatic products. Roll into balls from the pre-prepared mixture. Prepare the mixture from borax powder with the addition of:

boiled or raw yolk;
potatoes;
sugar with flour.

Place the made balls in secluded places, behind cabinets and under the sink. The main thing in the method is to block the insects’ access to water, since if an individual eats the poison and drinks it, the effect of the borax will be weak.

Boric acid

Boric acid does not differ in action from borax. You can buy it at every pharmacy. You can fill containers with acid and place them around the perimeter of the kitchen. Just like with borax, boric acid can be used to make ball traps by mixing the substance with yolk, potatoes or vanilla. If desired, you can add strong-smelling products to the mixture, for example, minced meat or sunflower oil.

Application of essential oils

Essential oils that emit a strong aroma are good at repelling cockroaches. The pest will be disoriented by the strong smell and will not be able to find food or water by smell, as a result of which it will leave its previous habitat.

What oils scare cockroaches

Oils help get rid of “unexpected guests”:

vetiver;

citronella;

lemon balm;

geraniums;

eucalyptus;

mint;

cedar;

lemongrass.

You can buy any of the esters at a pharmacy or perfume store.

How to use oils against cockroaches

There are several options for preparing a cockroach repellent from essential oils.

Add 15 drops of ether to 1 liter of warm water and use the resulting solution to clean the room, paying special attention to baseboards, areas under the sink and near the trash can.
Add 2 tbsp to half a liter of warm water. spoons of vinegar and 10 drops of ether. Spray the resulting mixture in secluded corners and hard-to-reach places.

For the methods to work, repeat the cleaning and spraying procedure at least 3 times a week.

Factor ten: rats

Cockroaches are afraid of rats and do not share such a neighborhood. If rats settle next to them, then the cockroaches will immediately begin to look for another, more comfortable place for themselves. They can't even stand their smell. Experts believe that this is due to food. Cockroaches believe that when rodents appear, they simply won’t have enough food.

Of course, bringing wild rodents into your apartment to get rid of cockroaches is not a good idea. Although you can get a decorative rat and let it out of the cage from time to time so that it has time to leave its scent. The result will not take long to arrive.

Vinegar

Every family has vinegar in their kitchen cabinet. If you notice signs of cockroaches in your apartment, you don’t even have to run to the store. Both essence and simple table vinegar will do.

Advantages and disadvantages

Vinegar is a strong-smelling acid, so it repels cockroaches well.

Pros:

non-toxic to humans;
excellent for prevention;
if the recommendations are followed, it is very effective;
It's inexpensive.

Minuses:

the acrid smell, although not harmful, is inconvenient;
surfaces need to be treated as often as possible;
individuals do not die, but only go to their neighbors.

How to use

To scare away Prussians, the following treatment methods are used:

Soak a rag in undiluted vinegar and wipe all surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. Pay attention to what the surfaces being treated are made of. Some materials, such as varnish or paint, can deteriorate when exposed to acetic acid.
Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar with a glass of warm water and add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture. Spray the resulting solution into the cockroaches' habitats using a spray bottle, paying special attention to hard-to-reach areas.
Wash the floors with a non-concentrated solution, diluting 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar in 1 liter of water. Don't forget about nooks, floors behind furniture, stove or refrigerator.
Pour undiluted vinegar into containers and leave in suspected insect habitats. You can also pour acid down the sink or bathtub drain.

Repeat surface treatment and floor washing at least 3-4 times a week, then cockroaches will leave your apartment for a long time.

Cockroaches and low temperatures

It is known that cockroaches and Prussians cannot withstand very low temperatures. Their threshold is -8 degrees; in severe frosts, adults and larvae die. Just 2 minutes of ten-degree frost is enough for the insect to die. The method is really effective, but it is worth considering that in an ordinary apartment it is unlikely to be able to create “freezing conditions”. The method is more suitable for owners of private houses. If cockroaches are disturbing the lives of not only you, but also your neighbors, you can try to unite and turn off the central heating for a while and jointly destroy the cockroaches in the entire house.

First of all, choose a frosty day, with the thermometer reading below -8 degrees. Open all windows and doors and leave the room to ventilate for 3-4 hours. During this time, the frost will destroy the entire population of cockroaches in the house. If you are freezing in an apartment, take care of the safety of radiators and pipes by wrapping them in warm or heat-protective fabric.

Preparing for decisive action

To effectively control domestic parasites, you need to carefully prepare to combat them. It is good to start removing cockroaches in winter.

They are afraid of low temperatures, so books and children's toys can be placed on the balcony to get rid of insects. Carpets can also be exposed to frost.

It is important to remember that cockroaches can be found everywhere, feeding on things that are inedible from a human point of view. Therefore, everything needs to be cleaned and processed.

The main thing for cockroaches is water. If they are poisoned, the presence of water will save them from death. To avoid saving cockroaches, you need to remove water from the sink in the kitchen and bathroom (cockroaches will not get water from the toilet).

Be sure to inspect the pipe joints for leaks. Such preparation will allow you to achieve positive results faster.

Houseplants

Potted plants can also repel pests. The essence of the method is to repel cockroaches with the scent of aromas that Prussians cannot stand.

What plants are cockroaches afraid of?

Some of the most effective indoor plants are:

Ironwood or thuja not only perfectly freshens the air, but also has a repellent effect on cockroaches with the esters contained in the bark and leaves.
The orange tree, with a pungent odor no worse than the peels of a fresh orange, will repel pests.
Cypress is evergreen and repels insects with its refreshing aroma. It is especially effective if placed near a container of water.
Lemon smells great to humans, but is harmful to insects.
Homemade oleander is a poisonous plant that is good at repelling Prussians. You need to wear gloves to care for the flower and keep it out of the reach of children.

We use geranium branches

One of the most popular plants that can repel cockroaches is geranium. It is not necessary to put the flower in a pot. Simply place geranium branches in suspected insect habitats. The fragrant aroma of the branches will drive the population away from your apartment. Unfortunately, geranium will not cope if there are already a lot of cockroaches. In this case, it is better to use it as an additional prophylactic agent.

Tips from housewives

Before you poison cockroaches yourself with chemicals and toxic substances, you should acquire at least basic theoretical knowledge on the topic and ensure that you have the necessary protective equipment. Experienced housewives claim that mustachioed parasites cannot stand the smell of fresh lemon. By placing slices of this citrus in the kitchen, you can significantly reduce the number of Prussians.

Cockroaches are incredibly tenacious insects, which is reflected in their ability to quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions, including toxic substances. Therefore, it is not advisable to immediately use the entire arsenal of stored poisons. Control agents for mustachioed pests are introduced gradually as needed. The favorite refuge of parasites is the refrigerator. It is first subjected to disinfestation.

Homemade traps

If you don't want to use strong-smelling products or poisons, homemade traps are an excellent alternative. Unfortunately, homemade devices do not provide a 100% guarantee of the destruction of the entire population, since not all individuals will reach it. The method works great in combination with other means.

Trap options

There are several options for homemade devices for catching cockroaches. The method is based on luring the Prussians with an aromatic substance and making it impossible for the cockroach to return. You can use a deep container, the neck of which is lubricated with a fat-containing substance, as well as cardboard with double-sided tape.

How to make a cockroach trap with your own hands

To make a trap from a jar you will need: a 0.5 liter jar, beer or honey, Vaseline or vegetable oil. Pour some beer or honey into the bottom of the jar, then coat the neck and sides of the container with Vaseline. The insects will smell the fragrant product and crawl into the trap. In this case, they will no longer be able to get out.

A similar trap can be made from cardboard. You will need: a piece of cardboard, double-sided tape, honey or other aromatic product. Apply tape to the entire surface of the cardboard, and pour a little honey into the center. Cockroaches will flock to the fragrant treat and stick to the tape.

What is pyrethrum for cockroaches?

Powder made from a special type of chamomile - pyrethrum - fights cockroaches properly. Pyrethrum is harmless to humans, but harmful to cockroaches. You can buy the substance at a pharmacy or specialized department.

Sprinkle the product indoors or prepare baits similar to borax balls. When the powder enters the body of an insect, it has a paralytic effect, resulting in the death of the individual.

Factor nine: ultrasound

Ultrasonic repellers have a negative effect on both cockroaches and rodents. A person does not perceive ultrasound, but insects and rodents feel a sense of fear from its action and try to quickly leave the zone of its action.

If such a device is installed in an apartment, the insects will try to leave the apartment as quickly as possible. Modern products are compact in size and run on batteries. They can be installed in any room.

Bleach against cockroaches

Bleach is usually used to kill fungi or disinfect rooms. However, it has been noticed that cockroaches are afraid of bleach and run away when they smell it. Simply scattering the substance is not enough. Buy a 1–2% solution and treat the room. The strong smell of bleach should repel pests. The substance may have a negative effect on some materials such as plastic or metal.

Cleanliness in the apartment

To prevent invasion by Prussians, always keep your apartment clean.

Do not leave food or drinks out in the open overnight.
Place food in containers or wrap it in plastic.
Always wash washed dishes, wipe the sink dry, and close the taps tightly.
Avoid leaks in the water supply system.
Always clean the stove and walls of dirt and grease.
Do not leave food in the microwave or oven.

If you notice at least one cockroach, start any method of control with general cleaning.

General measures

The habit of many people to eat while sitting on the sofa while watching TV or in front of the computer screen leads to the appearance of crumbs, food debris and moisture in all areas of the apartment. Therefore, parasites can find food for themselves not only in the kitchen, but also in living rooms. Taking into account this and the fact that pests have the ability to reproduce quickly, a one-time campaign to persecute them will not give the desired result. You can only get rid of them using comprehensive measures.

Studying the habits of insects

Changing the optimal conditions for the existence of cockroaches, coupled with the use of insecticides, will allow us to develop tactics to combat them and achieve their complete disappearance.

In order for your actions to be competent, you need to know what parasites love and fear:

Light. It is a big misconception to believe that cockroaches can be eliminated by keeping the lights on in living areas all the time. Pests are not at all afraid of him. And the fact that they scatter at night from a sharply turned on light bulb in a dark room only indicates that the parasites are moving away from potential danger, which they sense well, and are not rushing around in search of a secluded dark place. After a week or two they will adapt to the light, and nothing else will be achieved other than an increase in the electricity bill.
Microclimate. These are heat-loving insects. The temperature that is considered comfortable for them is the same as for humans: +20…+25 °C. Its drop to +5 °C leads to inhibition of vital processes - hibernation, and to -5 °C - to death. The capsule with eggs can withstand temperatures down to -2 °C. Temperatures above +50 °C are considered destructive for pests. Therefore, in the fight against them, it is advisable to use steam or boiling water.
Food and water. A cockroach can live for a month without food, and a week without water.
Smell. Since parasites do not disdain to live in garbage chutes, they are not particularly selective about odors. The aroma of food attracts them the most. The aromas of some plants or essential oils can repel: geranium, mint, tansy, etc. But they will not help get rid of cockroaches, they will only scare them away. Substances with a pungent odor - gasoline, turpentine - are considered more effective. They work much more effectively than natural scents.
Electromagnetic radiation. Like other insects, cockroaches are sensitive to low frequency electromagnetic waves. Devices created on their basis, such as, for example, the Hawk MT repeller, will force parasites to leave the room, since the waves emitted by the device negatively affect their nervous system.
Nesting. If there are indirect signs of the presence of cockroaches in the apartment or single specimens have been noticed, it means that there are nests in which the pests sleep during the day and from where they come out to hunt at night. These can be secluded places behind kitchen cabinets, under a sink or bathtub, behind a refrigerator or gas stove, etc. Without detecting nests, pest control will be ineffective.

To get rid of cockroaches, you need to find their nest.

No sources of moisture in the house

Water is the basis of life for cockroaches. Without it, they will not be able to survive for more than a week. And the first step in the fight against parasites is to remove all its sources in the house.

To do this you need:

Eliminate any leaks in the faucets.
Wipe sinks, bathtubs or shower trays dry, and plug drain holes. Such actions are especially important before bedtime.
Keep kitchen sponges, wet washcloths and napkins in closed containers, and toothbrushes in cases.
Do not leave water in pet bowls overnight.
Wipe dry all work surfaces of tables and gas stove.
Make sure that the refrigerator tray does not contain water.
Place wet mops and floor rags on the balcony.

Daily removal of trash and scraps

First of all, you need to do a general cleaning in the kitchen, emptying the cabinets of the internal contents and washing them thoroughly. It is also necessary to clean the space behind and under cabinets, refrigerators, gas stoves and microwaves.

It would also be useful to do a general cleaning of the rest of the apartment.

After this, you must follow these rules every day:

Eat food only in the kitchen.
Every time after eating, carefully clear the tables and do not leave dirty dishes with leftovers or cups with unfinished liquid.
Before going to bed, sweep and mop the floor and put away uneaten food in containers.
Discard remaining food from pet dishes, wash and dry them.
Every evening, clean the area where the trash can is and empty its contents. The container itself must be closed with a lid.

To get rid of cockroaches, you need to wash dirty dishes on time.
All these measures will block insects’ access to food and, together with measures aimed at getting rid of them, will help win the fight against cockroaches.

Precautions when using cockroach repellents

Not all of the products described are safe for humans. Be sure to take precautions when using certain substances. For example:

When using ammonia, ensure air flow into the room where the treatment will be carried out. Protect your body with an apron, your hands with rubber gloves, and your respiratory system with a mask or thick gauze bandage soaked in water.
Use borax baits with extreme caution. Make sure that homemade traps are not accessible to children or pets.
When treating a room with vinegar, wear rubber gloves to avoid damaging your skin.
When using bleach, carry out the treatment with gloves and special clothing. Residents and pets should leave the apartment for a while, as the vapors of the substance irritate the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
It is necessary to treat surfaces with kerosene or turpentine while wearing a mask and rubber gloves.

Preventive actions

To prevent the reappearance of “uninvited guests”, take preventive measures:

try to avoid the appearance of dampness and mold in the apartment;
ventilate rooms more often;
repair leaks in the water supply system in a timely manner;
keep clean not only in living rooms, but also in storage rooms;
throw away garbage promptly;
store food in the refrigerator or closed containers;
place several pots with strong-smelling plants around the apartment;
Make sure there are no cracks in the walls.

Cockroaches are tenacious insects that are able to adapt to various living conditions. Pests especially love warm and damp places. They can live for a long time without food, but they won’t last long without water. If you have Prussians, begin to act immediately and use several methods of destruction or scaring away at the same time. Don’t forget that the key to a successful fight is cleanliness in the apartment.

Tenacious insects

Cockroaches are ancient insects that are well adapted to changing external conditions.

They live only 7 months. But they multiply very quickly. You can get rid of them only by thoroughly studying their reactions.

These pests quickly adapt to toxic chemicals and stop perceiving them.

But some natural remedies cannot be tolerated, such as vinegar or kerosene. Traditional methods of getting rid of cockroaches are based precisely on such negative reactions.