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1. Baking Soda and Sugar

A simple yet effective mixture. Baking soda and sugar are able to effectively help kill roaches, and you’ll be able to notice a quick decline in the population as a result. You’ll need to know where the roaches are hiding out, so it’s important to make note of where you’ve seen these pests before planting the bait for them to eat.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Baking soda
• Sugar
• A bowl or cup

Baking soda is not toxic in the same way as boric acid, and it will begin to mix with the roach’s stomach acid, causing it to die over time.
You’ll need to mix equal parts baking soda with equal parts sugar (1/4 cup of each is a good start). Now, all you’ll need to do is sprinkle them in the areas that you’ve seen roaches. You’ll need to leave this bait out and repeat your sprinkling of the mixture often to ensure there is enough to kill the roaches
Sugar isn’t the deadly portion of the mixture, but it will work to attract the roaches.

Boric acid can be purchased in stores or online, and this is one of the best killers of roaches, ants and a variety of other pests. This acid has been proven to be effective at killing roaches, and it’s one of the most widely used remedies for this purpose.
But boric acid isn’t safe for consumption, so you’ll need to keep it out of reach of children and pets.
This is a poison, and long-term exposure can cause you to become ill. Ingesting boric acid will result in poisoning as well. Roaches will die if they come in contact with this acid, but there are a few points you need to consider when sprinkling boric acid in your home:

• Only a light dusting is required (too much, and it will be ineffective)
• Boric acid is not effective when wet

The goal is to have the roaches walk through the boric acid powder, which is difficult if the roaches are in tight corners or under the cabinets. Once you’ve placed the acid, the roaches will get it on their antennae, legs and body. During grooming, the acid will be ingested, which will result in death for the roach.

2. Fabric Softener Spray

A home remedy to get rid of roaches that takes a little action on your part. Fabric softener can kill roaches, but it can’t just be placed on the floor in hopes that it will get the job done. Instead, you need to make a spray and actively spray the roaches you see out and about in your home.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Natural fabric softener
• Water
• Spray bottle

You’ll want to mix three parts fabric softener with two parts water. For example, you can combine 3/4 cup of fabric softener and 1/2 cup of water together in a spray bottle and mix it up. A simple shake of the spray bottle before usage is really all that is needed.
The solution will be rather thick, so keep this in mind when going to spray.
When you see roaches, squirt them with the solution. If you see a roach skitter behind a piece of furniture, you can often squirt them with greater ease than if you tried stepping on them, for example.
Roaches breathe through their skin, so when the thick spray gets on the roach, it will suffocate them. This is one of the home remedies for roaches that works best if there is a massive infestation where you’re sharing every inch of your home with these pests.
Dish soap can be used in lieu of fabric softener, but we found it to be less effective.

3. Bay Leaves

Maybe you have a soft spot for roaches. Perhaps you don’t want to kill them, but you just want to keep them out of your home. Bay leaves are a natural roach repellent – they simply hate the smell of them.
Another major benefit is that bay leaves aren’t poisonous to humans, so you won’t have to worry where you place them.
To get started, you’ll need the following:

• Mortar and pestle
• A handful of bay leaves

Now, you may not have a mortar and pestle available, so just use a bowl and something to crush the leaves effectively. The back of a butcher knife can crush dry leaves effectively. You can use your hands, too, but it will take longer.
Simply place the leaves in a bowl and crush them into a powder. This powder will be sprinkled in areas where you know roaches are present and possibly nesting.
If you can’t find bay leaves in the store, make sure to check the Asian, Ethnic or Indian aisle to see if they’re available. This is an Asian spice, and since the smell is overpowering to roaches, they’ll be repelled by it.
Cucumbers can also be placed around the home (slices or peels) as a repellent against roaches.