Getting Rid of Roaches

• According to Grandma's Home Remedies, there are more than 4,000 species of roaches. Most live in the wild, with only around 30 species living around people in buildings and homes. Getting rid of roaches can be difficult because they lay their eggs in spaces that are often not visible. Harsh chemicals can be used to control roaches, but many people are seeking more natural, non-toxic ways to get rid of them.
  
  

Natural Roach Eliminators

• One tried-and-true way to rid living spaces of roaches is borax. Sprinkle borax around the perimeter of rooms and in cracks and crevices. Roaches will not cross the borax barrier. Boric acid, flour and a little confectioner's sugar also works. Combine equal amounts of boric acid and flour and add a bit of the sugar to attract the roaches. Make a paste by adding water. Roll the pasty dough into small balls and place in small candy paper cups. Place the balls in corners and crevices. The roaches eat the dough and dry out. It may take a couple of weeks to rid the space of the bugs.
  
  

Home Remedies

• There are a couple of home remedies that get rid of roaches. Mixing baking soda and sugar will attract the roaches to eat the sugar. The baking soda will mix with their stomach acids and kill them.
  
  Another method utilizes petroleum jelly. Put some petroleum jelly on the inside rim of a glass jar, and place some peelings from apples, banana, or potato in the jar. Roaches can crawl in but cannot crawl out. Place where roaches have been spotted. Empty the next day.
  
  A final home remedy is a homemade spray. Add one clove garlic, one onion and 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper to 1 quart water and let marinate one hour. Add 1 tbsp. liquid soap and spray in areas where you've seen roaches.
  
  

Keeping Roaches Away

• It may take several applications of homemade remedies to rid the living space of roaches. Once they are gone, keep the home clean and food in containers to ensure that roaches do not return. If you live in multiple-unit housing, it can be difficult to keep roaches away unless every dwelling also takes steps to get rid of roaches. Otherwise, they just go from place to place and may eventually return.