If you have ever had the unfortunate experience of coming home to discover that you have a cockroach problem, then you know just how scary they can be. Besides being disgusting and unhygienic, they are also capable of making our homes unsafe as they can spread diseases and germs.
However, if you want to get rid of them in your home once and for all, then there are a few tricks that you can use to do so. Cockroaches don’t like the smell of anything other than garbage – which is why we’ve put together this list of the top smells that repel cockroaches.
These natural ingredients will not only make your home less appealing to these unwanted guests but will also help keep them away for good.
What is the Smell That Repels Cockroaches?
While the smell that repels cockroaches is a little more complex than that, we need to start by identifying what that smell is. The smell that repels cockroaches is ammonia, which is a chemical that comes from our urine and sweat. So, the more ammonia that is found in your home, the less appealing it is to cockroaches.
That’s why it’s important to regularly clean your house, especially in places where cockroaches like to hide, like behind your fridge and in your kitchen drawers. A clean home is less likely to attract cockroaches in the first place.
1. Bleach
Bleach is one of the strongest smells that repel cockroaches, making it a great choice for those who want to keep these pests out in the long run. To use it as a cockroach repellent, simply pour some bleach into a spray bottle. Then, once a week, spray your entire house, paying special attention to cracks and crevices where these pests love to hide. Be sure to ventilate your home well while you do this, as bleach is toxic.
2. Coffee and Coffee Grounds
Coffee is not only delicious, but it’s also a powerful cockroach repellent. To make a coffee-based cockroach repellent, simply fill a jar halfway with coffee grounds. Leave it open in a place where it can catch the breeze and the smell will quickly spread around your home. Alternatively, if you want to make a more concentrated coffee-based repellent, mix coffee grounds with water to make a thick paste and spread it around your house. You can also try to make a coffee-based spray using water and coffee grounds.
3. Dryer Sheets
If you want to keep cockroaches out of your closet, then dryer sheets are the way to go. Simply place a few dryer sheets in your closet and the smell will quickly repel cockroaches away. While these are not particularly effective on a large scale, they are great for keeping the roaches out of your closet.
4. Egg Shells
Another kitchen item that repels cockroaches is egg shells. Simply crush a few eggshells and spread them around areas where you see cockroaches most often, like under your sink and in your pantry. These are especially useful if you have a bad infestation. They are non-toxic and completely safe for children and pets.
5. Peppermint Oil
An easy way to repel cockroaches with a natural peppermint oil repellent. Simply mix peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it around your house. Alternatively, you can put a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them in areas where you tend to see cockroaches often. Peppermint oil is a strong, natural bug repellent that is safe for people and pets.
6. Raid and other Cockroach Repellent Sprays
While these work well in the short term, they are not a good, long-term solution. Cockroach-repellent sprays are full of harsh chemicals that are toxic and harmful to your health. They are also very likely to cause irritation and allergic reactions in children and pets.
7. Roach-Repealing Natural Foods: Bananas and Tomatoes
If you want to repel cockroaches naturally, try putting down some slices of banana or tomato. These are both incredibly effective at repelling cockroaches, and they are completely safe for people and pets. You can either put the bananas or tomatoes directly on the floor or you can put them on a piece of cardboard to make them easy to pick up when they get too messy.
Summary
These are the top 8 smells that repel cockroaches, and each of them is effective in its own way. For the strongest and longest-lasting effect, use bleach. If you want a cheaper alternative, try coffee grounds, dryer sheets, or peppermint oil. No matter which method you choose, be sure to use it in all the places where cockroaches love to hide, like behind your fridge, in your kitchen drawers, and under your sink.