How to Kill Roaches Safely

Roaches are not only creepy, they are also unhealthy to have in a home. They cause allergic reactions in humans, even if the people in the home are not prone to allergies. However, killing roaches is often done in ways that is even worse for the air quality in the home than if the roaches were left alone.

Toxic Roach Control Methods

Bug sprays are a well known roach killer, but they can irritate the lungs and skin. Some contain carcinogens such as permethrin. One of several carcinogenic chemicals used in commercial bug sprays, permethrin can has been found by the EPA to cause tumors. It is also suspected to cause chromosomal abnormalities and other neurotoxic effects.

Exterminators often use bug sprays as a fast ad effective roach killer, but there are safer methods that can be used at home to get rid of roaches. These methods are also far less expensive than hiring exterminators.

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Roach Bait

One of the easiest, most effective and most inexpensive roach control methods is to place roach bait around a home in hard-to-reach areas. Anywhere that is dark and hidden is a place that roaches will lurk until after dark. A roach bait can be slipped into tight spaces under refrigerators and furniture to poison roaches that come across them.

After going into a roach bait, cockroaches eat a little of the bait and then go back to their hiding place. When they defecate, some of the poison will be present in the defecation. Roaches consume each other’s waste, and this is what poisons the other roaches in the home.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is a popular way to get rid of roaches because it is perceived as being non-toxic. While boric acid is less toxic than poison sprays, it is still a poison that should not be used around food preparation or in areas where children will walk or crawl on it.

To use boric acid safely, use a small amount in areas that will allow it to lie undisturbed. Under appliances, in closets and in the garage, boric acid can be applied in a thin layer. This allows cockroaches to walk through it and to continue on, taking the poison back to the other roaches. A thick layer of boric acid can cause roaches to walk around it to avoid the unfamiliar substance.

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Old-Fashioned Roach Killer

To kill roaches the old-fashioned way, put down glue traps. These may be flat glue trays or the “roach motel” style that has a roof. Roaches wanted into the glue and never come back out. While some of these contain poison to kill roaches faster, many are non-toxic.