Borax. The mineral borax (sodium borate) is frequently used in cleaning powders, laundry detergents, and cosmetics. It can also kill cockroaches if they ingest it. Borax sticks to cockroaches' legs because of static electricity.
Powdered laundry detergent with Borax is preferable to some while others prefer Dawn dishwashing detergent. A very high concentrate of water and detergent sprayed on roaches penetrates into the spiracles preventing air from entering into the trachea drowning the roaches.
The latter was confirmed by this study, which found that 95% of adult German cockroaches could be killed by a 1% dishwashing soap solution in water.
Cockroaches will eat soap, so it is not toxic to them. However, if you cover them sufficiently with a soapy solution, it will disrupt their ability to breathe through their spiracles and they will suffocate. So yes, Dawn soap will kill a roach when used correctly and accurately.
Fortunately, just like adult cockroaches, eggs will not survive a wash and drying cycle. The heat is too intense for the delicate eggs. But the best way to prevent cockroaches from laying eggs in your laundry is to keep them out of your home in the first place.
The results of the present study revealed that Dettol, a commercial cleaning product drive away cockroaches.
The short answer is yes. Cockroaches can lay eggs in clothes. Cockroaches prefer nesting in areas that are more likely to absorb their strong odor — places where you store paper, cardboard or wood. Thus, if you store your clothes in a wooden dresser, cockroaches will be more likely to lay eggs in your clothes.
Pine-Sol and Fabuloso are strong, all-purpose household cleaners. Similar to bleach, these products kill roaches on contact. Some homeowners suggest spraying Pine-Sol around the outside of your house to keep cockroaches away.
Good old-fashioned soap and water is a safe, reliable, and inexpensive method. Create a soapy water solution that you can spray with a bottle. It will only take about 2 – 3 sprays to kill any roaches, as the soapy solution will cover their breathing pores and suffocate them.
Cayenne, Garlic, and Onion Powder
Walk around your home and sprinkle all cockroach-prone areas with this spice mixture. Cockroaches can't stand the smell of these spices and will avoid all areas sprinkled with them.
You may love the smell of fresh citrus, but cockroaches hate the scent. That means you can use citrus scented cleaners in your kitchen and bathroom to chase any lingering roaches away. You can also keep a few citrus peels around your home in strategic places.
Studies have found a boric acid and sugar combination to be a very effective killer of roaches, but more readily available is Borax mixed with sugar, which also gets the job done. Simply mix three parts Borax to one part sugar for bait, and be sure to keep your pets out of the vicinity.
Something as simple as spraying soap water on cockroaches can haunt their existence. Pouring a soap solution on cockroaches blocks their pores and kills them instantly.
Cockroaches dig warm, moist hiding spaces – hence, they tend to be attracted to appliances like fridges, washing machines and dishwashers.
The soapy bubbles clog up their roachy book lungs which usually kills them in under 90 seconds, unlike roach sprays that have them twitching for 5+ minutes after you spray them. The soapy water works especially well on roaches because it prevents them from climbing walls.
Method: Take equal parts of baking soda and a pinch of sugar in a shallow bowl, then place it near to the cockroach-infested areas or in where roaches are usually roaming at your house. The sugar attracts the cockroaches while baking soda will kill them.
For cockroaches, window cleaner can make them temporarily unconscious so that you can squash them. This works on initial contact, but Windex will not continue to kill bugs after it has dried. Laundry Detergent – Dilute a few drops of laundry detergent or dish soap in water and use the mixture as a spray.
A concoction of baking soda and sugar is an effective cockroach killer and controls the multiplication of these pests. Sugar acts as a bait to attract cockroaches and the baking soda kills them. You just need to identify their hideouts and sprinkle this mixture in those corners.
Distilled vinegar does not kill or repel roaches, making it completely ineffective. Distilled vinegar will help keep your kitchen clean, giving cockroaches less to snack on. However, roaches can live for months at a time without any food at all, and they will eat almost anything to survive.
All About Vinegar
Unfortunately, it doesn't actually kill these problem insects. It's more of a cleaning tool than anything else, and it won't actually help eliminate your roach problem. It can, however, help deter roaches and get rid of germs in the kitchen when used as a cleaning agent.
Even stranger than that, studies show that cockroaches also like the smell of laundry detergent, so not even your clean clothes are immune to their attention.
They Can Ruin Clothes
Cockroaches are not only attracted to food crumbs and sweets. According to entomologists, these creatures are also attracted to stains and sweat. Your dirty clothes in the hamper is a common attractant to cockroaches. This is one of the reasons why we experience torn clothes and loose fabric.
If you have any wet towels or sponges, put them in an airtight bag overnight. Leaving them on the counter can attract roaches. You should also empty your pets water bowls every night and refill them every morning. Leaving out a bowl of water is an open invitation for cockroaches.