What Are The 5 Smart Tricks To Keep Cockroaches Away From The Kitchen?

Cockroach Prevention Tips: Everybody hates the unpleasant surprise of spotting a cockroach scurrying across the kitchen floor. They are not just horrible creatures but also pose a real threat to the people. These pests thrive in warm, moist environments, making the kitchens their habitat and bathrooms their favourite hideout. These unwelcome pests are unsightly to look at as well as carry bacteria and allergens that can contaminate your food and compromise the family’s health. Thus, it is important to keep the cooking space clean and pest-free for hygiene as well as for peace of mind. With the best home remedies, you can keep cockroaches away from the kitchen.

Cockroach infestation at home transmits disease through contamination. These pests live through filth, picking up bacteria and pathogens, which, when they enter the kitchen, crawl on food bowls and utensils and spread infections like salmonella and dysentery. Cockroaches are also responsible for causing cholera and typhoid fever and their droppings and saliva can lead to E. coli infections.

Where Do Cockroaches Hide?

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects and they prefer to live and feed in the dark. If a cockroach is visible during the day, it is a sign of infestation in the home. Cockroaches generally flatten their bodies to fit into narrow spaces and they might hide under the rubber mats, behind the bed frame and even within wall cracks.

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However, to get rid of the cockroaches from the kitchen and other parts of the home, there is no need for harsh chemicals or costly pest control services. With effective cockroach repellents and the best home remedies, one can protect the kitchen from cockroach infestations. Here are some natural cockroach remedies that can repel the insects and maintain a clean, safe kitchen environment.

Best Home Remedies For Cockroach Prevention

Baking Soda And Sugar Trap

Cockroaches are attracted to sugary and starchy products and the best repellent is to mix baking soda with sugar to create a trap. Start by combining equal parts of sugar and baking soda in a small bowl and then sprinkle it in corners near the kitchen or other parts of the home where roaches take shelter. The sugary smell will attract the cockroaches to the mixture and lead them to eat it, getting rid of the cockroach problem.

Garlic, Onion And Pepper Spray

Cockroaches hate the smell of garlic and onion and when used as a spray along with pepper for hiding pests in the kitchen cabinet, they work wonders. This spray made of garlic and onion contains sulfur compounds and sharp scents that cockroaches dislike and actively avoid. Pepper contains capsaicin, which can irritate the cockroaches and repel them on contact or via strong smells.

Natural Cockroaches Repellents (Image Credits: Canva)

Boric Acid

Boric acid comes in gel and powder forms and is considered as one of the most widely used methods to cure the cockroach infestation. Boric acid has an electrostatic charge, which clings to the cockroach's body as it walks through the treated place. Through their body, the pest ingests this dust, which attacks its nervous system. Once it is ingested, it acts as a stomach poison, disrupting the metabolism of cockroaches and damaging their digestive system.

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Bay Leaves

The smell of the bay leaves keeps cockroaches away. To use them properly, crush the leaves and scatter them in areas where roaches are present to repel them effectively. Besides, you can also place a whole bay leaf in the kitchen cabinets and drawers for long-lasting protection.

Neem Oil

Neem oil has natural insecticidal properties. It is known to disrupt the life cycle of cockroaches, acting as a repellent. Azadirachtin, a compound found in neem oil, disturbs the hormonal balance of cockroaches, hindering their ability to lay eggs, especially. Dilute neem oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it to cockroach-prone areas such as under sinks, behind appliances and into the cracks where cockroaches hide.