Store packaged foods in sealed containers. Keep food covered when dishes are sitting out on the counter. Store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator. Store potatoes in a bin with tiny holes to allow airflow but keep roaches out.
Potatoes, especially when decaying, can be a significant attractant for cockroaches. The starch in potatoes provides a rich food source for these pests, and the decaying process makes them even more appealing. To prevent this, store potatoes in a cool, dry place and regularly check for any signs of decay.
They must be stored in a dark, dry and cool spot, in a burlap or brown paper bag (cut holes in the paper bag). Do not store any potatoes that are soft or have begun to sprout. Never wash them before storing.
While peppermint essential oil is an effective cockroach repellent, there are a few other oils that are proven to be effective too. These include citronella, cinnamon, cedarwood, and tea tree. All of these essential oils are derived from plants, so they won't cause a fire.
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
Cockroaches are most attracted to the smell of garbage and rotting food–one of the biggest reasons they enter homes is in search of food sources. Because of this, it is important to regularly clean your kitchen and remove your trash before it gets too full.
Store all of your food in metal, plastic, or glass containers which have airtight containers. This will keep roaches out. 6. All shelves, cabinets, and drawers need to be lined properly and any kind of damage needs to be immediately repaired.
Plastic bags themselves are not a food source for roaches. However, these pests are attracted to the residues of food that often cling to the inner surfaces of bags, especially grocery bags that have carried perishables.
Put Away Food Properly: Leaving food out is pretty much an invitation for cockroaches to enter your home. Never let leftovers sit out overnight and don't allow dirty dishes to pile up in the sink.
Maintain A Cool and Dry Environment
Store your potatoes in a cool, dark place (45°F to 50°F is the ideal temperature range), such as your pantry or unheated basement. 2 Do not store them on top of your refrigerator or next to your stove, as both spots emit heat.
Powder the potato plants with food-grade diatomaceous earth. The bag of diatomaceous earth comes with a tool to blow it on the leaves. It's recommended to do this after a dewy morning or rain so it sticks to the leaves. The potato bugs do not like crawling on this powder.
They need to live in a dry, breathable container, but I also hate buying baskets! Thankfully, sturdy paper grocery bags provide a great solution. Just cut them off an inch or two below the upper fold. Two of them side-by-side fit nicely in my standard-size cabinet, so I can sort red and yellow onions.
Catnip. Catnip contains a natural chemical that is toxic to cockroaches. You can sprinkle dried catnip around areas where cockroaches infestation are found or make a tea with catnip and water and spray it in affected areas.
A plastic basket with open weaving (something like a small laundry basket) makes a great storage bin for potatoes. Just make sure you place the basket in a dark place, like a closet or pantry. It's also important not to wash potatoes prior to storing them. You can wipe them off with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Attractor #1: Food
What attracts cockroaches more than anything is food. Roaches need food to survive. Eliminating access to food can help eliminate a roach problem. Throw away any food that has been left out on the counter.
In short, yes—cockroaches can easily live in washing machines.
If the infestation is very large, it may be best to discard small electric and electronic appliances such as coffee pots, alarm clocks, etc. These provide excellent hiding places for roaches, and it is virtually impossible to treat the appliance with any treatment product.
They particularly like starches, sweets, greasy foods, and meats, but roaches are not picky eaters. They'll feast on almost anything that is derived from something that was once a living organism, such as plants and animals.
Plastic storage boxes are the best storage containers to keep bugs out. They provide the best protection because pests won't be able to chew through or rip them open. Plus, they're easily stackable and much better at protecting your stored items from damage!
Store packaged foods in sealed containers. Keep food covered when dishes are sitting out on the counter. Store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator. Store potatoes in a bin with tiny holes to allow airflow but keep roaches out.
Mint. It has been said that cockroaches dislike the strong smell of mint, so using this scent in your home can be effective in keeping these pests away.
Ways To Repel Cockroaches From Your Home
Due to their strong sense of smell, cockroaches dislike several pungent herbs and spices, including cinnamon, citrus, thyme basil, citronella, basil, mint, garlic, coffee grounds, peppermint, and bay leaves.
Sweets, starches and animal proteins are a roach's favorite foods. They also like greasy food, cheese or anything that's moldy or fermented. Take extra care to keep sugary foods in airtight containers, clean up your meat prep stations and wipe down your counter for bread and any other crumbs left behind.