How can you get rid of cockroaches without killing them? It is really frustrating when you switch on the kitchen lights and see or hear roaches running around on your cabinets and counters. They can also get into your food and spread bad germs. Even when you try to get rid of them, they manage to survive.
Cockroaches are gross. We all know how tough it is to make them go away. We have some ways to remove cockroaches without hurting them. Just follow these simple steps to get rid of those annoying bugs for good.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches Without Killing Them
You can do a few things to expel cockroaches, like cleaning up and using bait. This helps get rid of current roaches and stops more from coming in. Follow these simple steps to get rid of cockroaches without killing them.
1. Thoroughly Clean Everything
When cockroaches show up in your home, start by cleaning everything well enough. Focus on the kitchen and bathroom. Get rid of grease, old food, crumbs, and water. Clean your cabinets and appliances, like the stove, oven, and freezer (and the walls nearby). Use water to clean the outside of appliances, and vacuum the dusty spots near the motors. This makes your home less tempting for cockroaches.
You can also use bleach or other cleaning stuff to really clean your bathroom. Keep it dry too. If there’s a plumbing problem, fix it so water doesn’t gather. To stop cockroaches from coming in, seal up spaces around lights and pipes (especially near the washer, washing machine, and under sinks).
2. Eliminate What Cockroaches Eat
Cockroaches eat a lot and are considered opportunistic feeders. They particularly prefer sugary and fatty stuff. One way to make them go away is to stop leaving food bits on the counters or dirty dishes in the sink at night. If you have pets or kids, keep their food safe too, so roaches don’t show up.
3. Get Rid of Where Cockroaches Hide
Since cockroaches can’t control their body temperature indoors like humans, they need a warm, dry place to live during the cold winter or when there is no sunshine.
Even though it might be tough to keep these critters away from your home, keeping your home clean by vacuuming regularly and reducing clutter and trash can help. The best way is to keep it clean and tidy. Put things in sealed containers or bags to hide food and water that attract pests. This will make it hard for them to get inside.
4. Properly Maintain the Space Around Your House
Cockroaches do not really mind where they live if they can’t find a home indoors, so they might stay outside happily. However, you can stop them from coming into your yard if you keep your trash and recycling bins clean and away from your home.
Also, clearing away piles of firewood in your backyard, trimming the plants around your house, and making sure there are no gaps around your pipes, windows, and doors can get rid of cockroaches without killing them.
Don’t forget to put some gravel in your water meter box. This will stop water from collecting and keep cockroaches from getting to it.
5. Get Rid of Roaches Hideouts
Roaches can’t live comfortably in your house if they have nowhere to hide. Throw away all the extra stuff, like papers and cardboard boxes. Use caulk to seal up cracks, gaps, and spaces between tiles to keep them from getting in.
Check the outside of your windows and doors. If you see light coming in around your door, make sure to close the gap.
6. Make a Trap Using a Jar and Vaseline
If you want to get rid of cockroaches without killing them, you can create a trap using a glass jar. Tape newspapers on the outside of the jar and put Vaseline on the inner lip. Put some food inside the jar, away from your kitchen. The cockroaches will get stuck on the Vaseline and you can let them go wherever you want.
7. Cucumber with Aluminum
Cucumbers with aluminum worked for some people but not for everyone. See how it works for your cockroach problem. Cucumbers attract cockroaches, but when you put them in aluminum, it makes a chemical reaction and gives off a strange smell. This bad smell makes cockroaches stay away.
8. Maintain a Clean Home at All Times
Cockroaches are tricky, so even really good cleaning might not make them leave entirely. Keep them out by keeping your home super clean. Do not leave dishes in the sink. Also, sweep and mop often, and clean the kitchen utensils and counters a lot. Take out the trash every day, and keep your food in sealed containers to get rid of cockroaches without killing them.
Why Do Cockroaches Come to a Tidy House?
Even if your home is clean, cockroaches might still come around. They like food, water, and places to hide, so even a little bit of leftover food or dampness can make them interested. Here are some reasons why cockroaches could be attracted to a neat house:
1. Unsealed Food Containers
Even if you close containers, cockroaches can still find the smell of food through them. To prevent this, use containers that seal tightly and quickly clean up any crumbs or spills.
2. Unclean Dishes
Cockroaches might like dirty dishes in the sink, so remember to wash them quickly and not leave them there overnight.
3. Water Sources
Cockroaches need water to live, so any water that’s sitting around or leaks from pipes and appliances can give them the moisture they like.
4. Clutter
Even if your place is clean, stuff lying around can let cockroaches hide. Keep things tidy and organized to have fewer hiding spots for them.
5. Entry points
Cockroaches can sneak in through tiny cracks and holes, so be sure to close up any spots where they could get in.
Signs of Cockroaches in Your Home
Before using home methods or calling an exterminator, it’s crucial to check if you have a lot of cockroaches in your home. Watch out for these signs:
- Roach poop. Roach droppings are like tiny black specks and can be seen where roaches hang out, like kitchens, bathrooms, or near trash cans.
- Roach shells. When cockroaches grow, they leave behind their old skin and sometimes egg cases. You might see these in dark, secret spots like under sinks or behind appliances.
- Musky smell. Cockroaches can give off a smelly, oily scent that gets stronger if there are more of them around.
- Spotting roaches. Cockroaches are active at night and might be seen running on the floor or walls when it’s dark.
- Food packaging mess. Roaches might munch through food packages to reach what’s inside.
- Smear marks. If you have cockroaches in your home, you should find their smear marks.
Where Cockroaches Hide in Your Home
Roaches in the house: Cockroaches are pests you might see in different parts of a home, especially where it’s warm and damp. Here are spots where you could find them:
1. Kitchen and Bathroom Areas
Where Roaches Like to Hang Out: Roaches look for places with food, water, and warmth. Kitchens and bathrooms are perfect because they have food bits, grease, trash, and water, which roaches really like.
2. Walls and ceilings
Roaches on the Move: Roaches can crawl up walls and stick to ceilings. They might sneak into cracks, gaps, and empty spaces. They can also hide behind things hanging on walls, like pictures and frames.
3. Appliances
Roaches in Appliances: Roaches might sneak into things like fridges, dishwashers, and ovens because they’re warm and have leftover food.
4. Furniture and Messy Stuff
Roaches in Stuff and Mess: Roaches could be hiding in furniture like sofas and chairs, and also in places with lots of things lying around, like messy closets, storage boxes, and piles of papers. To catch them early, here’s where to look for roaches:
- Around where you make food
- Under the sink cabinets
- In or under trash cans
- In dark, chilly spots
- Near the bed
- By the shower and toilet
Although cockroaches do not bite, their scratches can become infected since they live in bacteria-rich areas. This makes them a health worry for humans. Roaches carry germs that can cause various illnesses such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, typhoid fever, plague, poliomyelitis, and salmonellosis, as stated by the CDC.
Final Thoughts
If you try to get rid of cockroaches without killing them but it won’t work, it might be time to contact a local pest control provider. They will apply effective control methods in your home to not only expel roaches but also prevent them from returning. So, at this point, you need professional intervention to remove any infestation and reclaim your home.
