Are you disgusted by the sight of roaches? Don’t worry! Here are the most potent Ways to Get Rid of German Cockroaches from home and garden!
There are around 65-70 species of cockroaches that live in the United States of America and one of them is the croton bug, which can be quite a nuisance, both at home and gardens. If you want to get rid of it forever, here are the Best Ways to Get Rid of German Cockroaches.
What are German Cockroaches?
The German cockroach can be spotted in almost every American household. They breed very fast, and each egg case can further produce 20-40 baby roaches. Even if one female German cockroach enters your house, it can fill your home with over 30,000 roaches in just one year!
German cockroaches have broad, flat bodies with antennae and long hind legs. The wings lie folded on their back and are usually brown or black. However, they also have two parallel, dark stripes in light brown that run down the body, starting from head to wings.
German Vs. American Cockroach
Size
- German cockroaches are usually smaller, about half an inch long.
- The American cockroaches are the biggest home-invading species and can measure about 1.5-2 inches in length.
Appearance
- German cockroaches have parallel, dark lines from the head to the wings.
- American cockroaches are reddish-brown with a thorax lined in pale yellow.
Location
- Although both species love moisture and warmth, German cockroaches usually live in the bathrooms and kitchens.
- American cockroaches typically love to live in crawl spaces, basements, in and around drains.
Frequency
- Though the German species is most common among the two, an infestation by the German is more likely than the American ones.
Best Ways to Get Rid of German Cockroaches
1. Clean the House
Eliminate anything that can attract the German roaches.
- Wash, clean, and dry out all the dirty utensils and laundry.
- Clean spills and crumbs properly.
- Empty any stagnant water sources like the pet bowls.
- Dump the garbage every day, particularly before going to bed.
- Mop the floors regularly, including under mats, huge appliances, or anything kept on the floor.
- Do not leave any pet food hanging behind for long.
2. Use Glue Traps
Glue traps emit a sweet smell that lures in roaches, and when they step in, the glue traps them. Buy them from a nearby store and place where the cockroaches frequent.
3. Keep Eatables Covered and Packed
If you want to kick roaches out of the house, get rid of any food sources lying around open. Keep any perishables in the fridge, and keep veggies or fruits in closed containers.
4. Caulk all Entry Points
Look carefully in the gaps between tiles or walls, cracks in window seals and doors, or worn-out weather stripping. Use caulk to seal off any holes or possible entry points.
5. Duct Tape Trap
Use an arm-length duct tape strip to trap cockroaches. Place a roach bait by using a cube of cheese taped to the middle of the strip. This will trap them easily.
6. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is another excellent natural way to eliminate cockroaches. Sprinkle it on all the infested places and watch the roaches dehydrate to death.
7. Boric Acid
Another natural way to get rid of the German roaches is Boric Acid. While it is harmless to pets and humans, it can be deadly for roaches. When they consume this powder, it acts on their digestive and nervous system and kills them quickly.
Sprinkle 3-4 teaspoons of boric acid onto a paper plate, and place 2-3 orange peels or 1-2 spoons of peanut butter. Now, put it in a spot where you have noticed heavy roach activity and watch them die.
8. Baking Soda
Another easiest way to get rid of the cockroaches is something you already have in the kitchen pantry! Dice 2-4 onions, and sprinkle 2-5 teaspoons of baking soda over them.
Place it in a shallow dish in a space that is most frequented by the roaches. It will kill them instantly.
9. Citrus Oil
Citrus appeals to humans, but it’s a big repellant to German cockroaches. The fragrance of lemons and oranges can deter the roaches from coming to your home or garden.
Add 5-10 drops of lemon oil to 200 ml of water and use this solution to mop the floors. It will keep your rooms smelling fresh and send the roaches packing.
10. Borax
Borax is an easily-available laundry product that is great at killing German cockroaches. It dehydrates them as soon as they come in contact, killing them instantly.
Mix borax and white table sugar in equal parts and sprinkle the mix in every area roaches visit for best results.
11. Essential Oils
Another natural way to repel cockroaches is essential oils. Buy peppermint, lemongrass, rose, lavender, and lemon essential oils, dilute them with water in a ratio of 3:1 and spray where the roaches frequent.
The strong fragrance will keep them at bay.
12. Grow Plants that Repel Roaches
Another most organic way to eliminate German cockroaches is to grow plants that naturally repel them. Mint, lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, and lemon are some of the ideal choices.
Here are the best plants you can grow to keep cockroaches at bay
13. Hire a Professional
If the infestation is too much and nothing works, then it would be best to call a professional cockroach management team to eliminate the infestation once and for all.
The experts know how to identify the problem areas and stop the infestations effectively and safely without placing your pets, household items, and kids at risk.
