If you have noticed a few roaches scurrying around your kitchen, you may be afraid they are getting into your cabinets and contaminating your food and want to try to keep them out. If so, use the following three-step home treatment for repelling and killing roaches invading your cabinets.
Step 1: Clean The Cabinets With A Vinegar-Based Solution
The first step involves cleaning the inside and outside surfaces with a homemade cleaning solution made from white distilled vinegar. The acetic acid in the vinegar cuts through dirt as well as grease and grime left by spilled food. Since vinegar is edible, it is also safe to use around your food as opposed to store-bought cleaners containing chemicals.
Make the cleaner by mixing a cup of vinegar and two cups of water in a plastic spray bottle. Spray a liberal amount on every surface of your cabinets, and let it sit for about five minutes. Then, use a clean, wet rag to wipe up the cleaning solution and dirt. Let the surfaces air dry, then go on to the second step.
Step 2: Wipe The Outside Of The Cabinets With Homemade Repellent
After cleaning the cabinets, the next step is to wipe the outside of the cabinets and doors with a homemade repellent. Insects such as roaches do not like the strong scent of citronella essential oil and will usually run away from anything that has it on it.
The repellent also contains borax, which not only keeps the roaches away but also kills any that decide to try to walk along the surface. The laundry additive dries the insects' exoskeletons, as well as dries them from the inside out if the bugs ingest any.
When using borax, make sure you wear gloves and eye protection, since it can have the same effect on you as it has on the roaches. It can also cause intense vomiting if you accidentally swallow it, so keep your children and any pets away from the area while you are applying it so they do not accidentally ingest it while it is wet.
To make the treatment, dissolve two cups of borax in four cups of warm water in a one-gallon bucket. Then, mix in four tablespoons of citronella oil.
Dampen a rag or sponge with the repellent, and wipe the outside of the cabinets and doors. Let the treatment air dry for about an hour, then go on to the third step.
Step 3: Put Out Poisonous Roach Bait
Once the outside of the cabinets have been treated, it is time to set up roach bait on the inside that will kill any roaches that are able to make it past the repellent. The primary ingredient is borax, so use the same precautions as described above. When placing the bait, make sure it is not near any open containers of food to avoid contaminating it.
Use a small, used lid from a glass jar, such as baby food jars. Inside the lid, mix a tablespoon of borax and a teaspoon of white sugar, which serves as the bait. Repeat for each one you wish to make, and place a trap on each shelf in the back of the cabinets. Refill the lids as needed, and replace them once a week.
Using the above home treatment once a week can help keep roaches out of your cabinets, as well as kill any that do invade the space. However, if you start noticing an increasing population in the unwanted bugs, you may want to contact a pest control service like Albemarle Termite & Pest Control to discuss your options for getting rid of and keeping the roaches away for good.
Share31 March 2016
After marrying my sweet husband ten years ago, I moved into a fixer-upper. I immediately started making a list of remodeling projects I wold need to complete before the house would be comfortable to live in. For instance, I had to rip out the old linoleum flooring in the kitchen, mud room, and bathrooms. I also had to buy a complete set of new furniture. Only a few days after moving into this house, I also discovered my need to contact a reputable pest control specialist. The house contained huge, disgusting roaches. After a local pest control technician visiting my house, my home was free of potentially health damaging roaches. On this blog, you will discover the latest trends in the pest control industry for successfully removing roaches from a home.
