Natural Roach Killer: Top 5 Things You Can Use to Kill Roaches Naturally

Want to kill roaches naturally? Well, you’re in the right place. Read this post now to discover your best natural roach killer.

Roaches tend to like hiding in dark, moist spaces but if you’ve got an infestation, you’ll surely notice them. They multiply quickly so as soon as you see them, act fast.

Because they’re a common household pest there are all kinds of products available to kill cockroaches. If you’re looking for a natural roach killer, we’ve got the scoop on the most effective options.

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Best Natural Roach Killers
1. DIY Roach Traps
2. Borax and Boric Acid
3. Diatomaceous Earth
4. Baking Soda
5. Store-bought Products

Best Natural Roach Killers You Should Use to Kill Roaches Naturally

Below is the list of natural roach killers and 9 ways you can use them to kill roaches.

1. DIY Roach Traps

A variety of traps can be made at home with materials you probably already have lying around. They’re all very simple and you can throw them out when you’re done with them.

Each of these traps requires bait. You can use regular food but using bait that includes something deadly to roaches will help kill them faster. See the other points in this article for lethal bait ideas.

When you’ve only got a small infestation, traps are a good place to start. Make several of them and put them anywhere you’ve seen roaches crawling around.

Jar Trap

Some people claim that just putting out a jar is enough to catch an impressive number of roaches. We recommend adding some bait and grease to increase the likelihood that they’ll crawl in and stay in.

Locate a large glass jar and set aside the lid. A jar with a neck narrower than the body is ideal but any large jar will do.
Place some bait in the bottom of the jar.
Smear petroleum jelly around the inside of the jar’s neck. Any roaches that manage to climb to this point will slide down when they reach the greased area.
Place the jar in a dark space where you’ve seen roaches. Under the sink is a good place or near the back of appliances if there’s space. You could also try one next to the garbage bin if you’ve seen any roaches in your trash.
When the jar fills with roaches, pour in water or sprinkle in some diatomaceous earth to kill them. Then throw away the jar or empty it and set it up again to catch more pests.

Duct Tape Trap

This is another type of trap that catches roaches and holds onto them until they die. It’s extremely simple and the dead pests are thrown out with the tape when you’re done with it.

Cut a strip of duct tape. It can be one long piece or you can cut multiple smaller pieces.
Place the tape sticky side up wherever you have seen roaches.
Place a small amount of dry bait in the middle of the tape. Make sure to just use a bit of bait so that that there is still a lot of sticky space open.
When there are multiple cockroaches stuck on the tape, toss it out. Lay out a new piece with fresh bait to catch more.

Pan Trap

A pan trap doesn’t catch roaches like the other two traps listed here do. This one lures them through a field of powder that kills them through direct contact.

Choose a pan for the trap. Make sure it doesn’t have tall sides that could make it hard for the roaches to get into it. A disposable oven liner is perfect and you can cut it into quarters if you find it too large.
Cover the liner with a light layer of diatomaceous earth, borax, or boric acid.
Place a jar lid in the center of the pan with some bait inside it. If you don’t have a jar lid, leave a space in the middle of the powder for the bait.
Place the trap in an area you’ve seen roaches. If using borax or boric acid, make sure the trap is out of reach of kids and animals. Replace the bait and powder as needed.

2. Borax and Boric Acid

Borax is a mineral that kills roaches and other insects by damaging their digestive systems and exoskeletons. It’s non-toxic to people and animals but causes digestive upset if ingested to keep it away from children and animals.

The natural roach killer boric acid, which is made by refining borax, is another substance to consider. It’s even more powerful than borax and often considered the best natural roach killer.

However, ingestion of boric acid can cause poisoning which makes it quite risky around small kids and curious pets. If you can use it safely, boric acid is the stronger of the two, but both are great options.

Sprinkling Borax/Boric Acid

The main way people use borax and boric acid is sprinkling it in areas that roaches like to hide. Under the kitchen and bathroom sinks and behind large appliances is a good place to start.

When applying the powder, make sure you scatter it in a light layer. Roaches will avoid any areas with thick powder and won’t pick any up.

We often think that more is better, but the thin layer of powder is plenty. It doesn’t take much to affect a roach’s body, so don’t worry if it seems like too little.

Borax/Boric Acid Bait

Roaches aren’t naturally attracted to borax or boric acid as food. To get them to eat it, you’ll have to mix them with food.

Sugar is a good choice since its sweetness is irresistible to roaches and will draw them in. The fine texture of powdered sugar is ideal and helps it blend with the poisonous powder more smoothly.

When making bait, combine roughly equal parts of borax or boric acid with sugar or powdered sugar. Mix well and use it in your traps to attract and kill roaches.

3. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (also called DE) is a type of sedimentary rock made from the remains of creatures called diatoms. It is a powder that cuts roaches’ exoskeletons and causes lethal damage when they touch it.

It’s important to buy food grade diatomaceous earth which humans and animals can eat without negative effect. Avoid using other grades of DE for this purpose.

When investigating how to kill roaches, you’ll find that DE is among the safest and most effective options. This means you can use it all over your house without worrying about health risks.

Sprinkling DE

DE should be put down lightly because roaches will avoid it if it’s laid heavily. Start by scattering it in dark places that roaches tend to hide like under sinks and behind kitchen appliances.

When you’re finished with the diatomaceous earth, just vacuum it up. There is no dangerous residue left behind with this substance.

Make sure that the area you lay it down is dry. The sharp edges that scrape the roaches become softened when the powder is wet.

4. Baking Soda

As a natural roach killer baking soda is simple to use and very safe for people and animals. When a roach eats it, however, the baking soda causes a reaction in its stomach and kills it.

If you put out baking soda on its own it’s unlikely to attract any roaches, so be sure to mix it with something sweet like powdered sugar. Don’t mix it with syrup instead (or any liquid) as it has to be dry to be effective.

Baking Soda Bait

Combine roughly equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. You could try using granulated sugar but powdered sugar will mix better with the fine texture of baking soda.
Mix thoroughly.
Set the bait out on disposable container or jar lids or use it in a DIY trap.

5. Store-bought Products

Most insecticides in stores are full of toxic chemicals, but there are a few natural roach killers available.

Hot Shot Natural

Hot Shot makes numerous conventional insecticidal products but now have a natural line with two products suitable for roaches: Hot Shot Natural Home Insect Control (a spray) and Hot Shot Natural Ant & Roach Killer (an aerosol).

Each natural roach killer spray features lemongrass oil as its active ingredient. The make-up of this product makes it safe to use around kids and pets.

Use the products to spray roaches directly to kill them on contact.

EcoSmart Ant & Roach Killer

The Ant & Roach Killer from EcoSmart is an organic insecticide spray that is also safe to use about pets and children. Peppermint oil and rosemary oil are the active ingredients in this product.

Simply use the spray on roaches as you see them and the oils in the liquid will kill them. You can also spray the product on areas that roaches like to hide to repel them.

Conclusion

Choosing a natural roach killer over a conventional insecticide is good for you, your family, and the environment. Most of the options are very inexpensive and involve minimal effort so they’re convenient to put together and use.

Whatever you use, try to keep your home very clean and fill cracks that roaches can slip through as well. Getting rid of roaches requires killing the ones currently in your home and preventing more from coming along.

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9 Things You Can Use to Kill Roaches Naturally