Cockroaches are a problem that everyone has to deal with. We’ve all come across cockroaches running across the kitchen floor in the middle of the night or racing out from a hiding spot in the basement or attic that has been revealed after someone moves a box or some other stored item. There seems to be no escaping these horrid pests.

The first thing that generally comes to mind when it comes to controlling cockroaches in your home is the use of chemical baits or insecticides. Not every person feels comfortable using insecticides inside their home, particularly families with small children that might inadvertently ingest said insecticides. If this is the case, then there are non-chemical methods of controlling cockroaches available for use instead. Their success rate depends a lot on the extent of an infestation, and are usually recommended for use in conjunction with other control techniques such as making your home clean and less hospitable to cockroach pests in a number of ways. These non-chemical control methods are also often used together with chemical insecticides to treat larger infestations.

If you are dealing with a light infestation, sticky traps with or without pheromone lures can be used to control cockroaches. These can be placed anywhere cockroaches have been spotted or detected, as well as areas that attract the pests such as kitchens and bathrooms. These traps must be monitored frequently to check for full or old traps that need to be replaced. You can also make your own simple trap out of a glass jar. You first want to glue or tape a paper towel around the outside of the glass jar, so the cockroaches have a rough enough surface they can climb up the jar, which they will then fall inside once they reach the top. To keep the cockroaches from getting out, line the inner lip of the jar with petroleum jelly. Place a piece of bread soaked in beer or another food item that will actively draw cockroaches inside the jar. Finally, place the jar upright in a cabinet, on the floor in the kitchen or anywhere else you have seen them, and leave it there overnight to attract some unlucky roaches. When you check it in the morning, if you find some cockroaches, they can be killed by closing the jar and placing it in the freezer or filling it with water and detergent.

Another non-chemical control method is using temperature to kill the pests. Cockroach pests can be eliminated through heat treatments. However, this only works if you are able to heat the entire room or apartment to around 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 6 hours straight. Cold treatments are used effectively on smaller infested items. The object must stay at a temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit continuously for at least several days in order to eliminate all cockroach pests, including nymphs and oothecae.

Have you ever used any non-chemical control methods to eliminate cockroaches?