If your home is suffering from a cockroach infestation, your priority should be to get rid of the pests as quickly as possible. There are a lot of cockroach control methods out there, such as calling pest control professionals, or using insecticides yourself. But did you know that you can get rid of cockroaches with scents? There are smells cockroaches hate to their very core, and they will avoid them like the plague…
Why cockroaches hate certain smells
Cockroaches are some of the most resilient animals on the planet. They have adapted and evolved for living in unsanitary conditions since the beginning of time. They can create their own antibiotics, survive through significant injuries, and even regrow lost legs.
One of the survival features they have developed is their almost supernatural sense of smell. Their sense of smell helps them find food to sustain themselves and a partner to procreate. But you can use this fact to your advantage. You can place powerful scents around your home to overwhelm their sense of smell and drive them away.
Smells that cockroaches hate
Herbs, plants, and spices have always been known to be natural repellents of many pests, not just cockroaches. You can use them by crushing them or just buying their essential oil versions.
Simply spray or sprinkle the items on areas where you see cockroach activity, such as on their nests and passageways. If you are using an essential oil, make sure to dilute it in water first.
1. Bay leaves
You love using bay leaves in cooking because of how fragrant they are. But it is one of the smells cockroaches hate. They won’t go near an area with the smell of bay leaves. It’s even more effective if the bay leaves are crushed because they produce stronger smells this way.
The problem with bay leaves is that their smell is kind of subtle. You will have to crush a ridiculous amount of them for this cockroach control method to work. A few of them may get the job done, but you shouldn’t bet on it.
2. Eucalyptus
Another thing that makes bay leaves effective is the fact that they contain eucalyptol, a natural pest repellent. And what better source of eucalyptol there is than eucalyptus leaves themselves? The best thing about eucalyptus is that you can easily find them in various forms. You can find them as leaves or as essential oils.
Be creative with eucalyptus as a natural cockroach repellent. You can plant them in your garden to deter the pests, crush them and place them on strategic areas, or spray their essential oil around your home.
3. Garlic
Cockroaches hate certain smells because they can be overpowering. And there is nothing more overpowering than garlic. Even for us humans, garlic can have an overwhelming smell. Those with a better sense of smell, like cockroaches, find the smell even more unbearable.
Garlic is one of the most accessible DIY solutions to your cockroach problem. It may even be available in your kitchen right now. But it is not perfect. It can really be overpowering and uncomfortable if you spread it around your home. Cockroaches are not just the ones who will get repelled. You, your family, and your pets may suffer from the smell too.
4. Lavender
Lavender has a very pleasant smell. In fact, many people use lavender in aromatherapy to relax and reduce stress. Luckily, cockroaches don’t feel the same way… Cockroaches hate the smell of lavender.
Like eucalyptus, you can be creative in using lavender as a natural cockroach repellent. Plant lavender around your property to create some sort of defense mechanism against the pests or just spray diluted lavender essential oil around your home.
5. Lemon
When it comes to home remedies for pests, lemon almost always makes the list. And there is a good reason for this. Lemon and other citrus fruits have properties that repel and kill various insects. For example, lemon has d-limonene. This compound attacks the respiratory system of ants and kills them.
Indeed, you can use lemon for your cockroach problem. You can either place lemon slices or spray lemon juice around your property. But this is not very effective. The fact that lemon helps clean and disinfect your property has a bigger contribution than the fact that cockroaches don’t like their smell.
6. Peppermint
Peppermint is another one that almost always makes it on lists of home remedies. It doesn’t really have enough scientific backing, but many people have a lot of anecdotal evidence that it works. They usually use the essential oil version to help get rid of pests.
Many times, the peppermint essential oil is diluted in water with other essential oils, like citrus and clove.
Why you should not rely on these smells to get rid of cockroaches
All these natural remedies are accessible, cheap, and safe. But they all have the same flaw – they are not that effective. Sure, they can drive a few cockroaches here and there. But the cockroaches may just go to the other parts of your home that are not bombarded with their smell.
These natural remedies also don’t kill cockroaches. They are more effective only as repellents. If you have a mature cockroach infestation, they won’t really do anything.
More effective cockroach control methods
The best way to get rid of cockroaches will always be by calling pest control professionals. But if you really want the DIY approach, here are some effective methods you should try.
- Clean your home regularly. Cockroaches live in unsanitary places. If your home is in an unsanitary condition, you are making it attractive for the pests.
- Declutter by throwing away useless items. Cockroaches can live in cardboard boxes, magazines, and all kinds of clutter. If you have no use for these items, throw them away to avoid giving cockroaches more places to nest.
- Store your food and water properly. Cockroaches, like all other pests, are attracted to food and water. If these items are too available on your property, you are sure to attract them.
- Seal all possible passageways. Cockroaches get inside your home through cracks and holes, open doors and windows, and damaged pipes. Seal all entry points to minimize the risk of getting cockroach infestations.
- Use insecticides. There are commercial insecticides you can use to get rid of cockroaches. But remember that they have ingredients that could be dangerous to your health. Make sure to follow the instructions on the labels.