Nobody likes cockroaches. On the other hand, we have serious misgivings about the pesticides that are often used to exterminate them. Are there natural approaches to discourage cockroaches and other pests?
A Home Remedy to Discourage Cockroaches:
Q. I do not like using pesticides. Do you have a home remedy for roach control?
A. We agree that it is best to avoid pesticides whenever possible.
A listener to our radio show sent us this recipe from Toxic Free NC:
“1 cup borax, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup minced onion, 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, 1 Tbsp. water. Make a paste of the ingredients and roll into little balls.
“Place 2 or 3 balls in a sandwich bag anywhere you have a roach problem. The roaches will eat the balls and carry them home to their nests, where they will die.
“Boric acid or borax is safe to handle, though inhaling it can irritate the respiratory tract. It is not a nerve poison, and roaches will not become resistant.”
Anyone who tries this should probably wear a mask and gloves while mixing the concoction.
Do Dryer Sheets Kill Cockroaches?
Q. You’ve had questions on how to get rid of cockroaches. A simple way to get rid of them and other insects is to place a few fabric softener sheets around your home in the corners, on the floors and on the kitchen counters behind appliances.
I guarantee that soon there will be NO insects. Some chemical in these dryer sheets really irritates and kills bugs. The cockroaches are big enough to saddle up here in Texas, but they will soon disappear. While they are slowly dying, they walk out to the center of the room so that even a very slow moving person can kill them.
This is easy and cheap. I use off-brand fabric softener sheets.
An Urban Legend?
A. Many years ago, an email circulated on the Internet claiming that fabric softener sheets could repel ants, yellow jackets and other insects. Skeptics scoffed.
Then scientists at Kansas State University determined that Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets actually do repel adult fungus gnats (HortScience, online Dec. 1, 2010).
The scientists also analyzed the dryer sheets and found that they contain linalool, a pleasant-smelling compound naturally found in basil, lavender and marjoram. This compound is known to be toxic to certain mites and other insects.
We were not able to find any data on cockroaches; the claim that dryer sheets discourage cockroaches may be an urban myth. We did find a study demonstrating that rosemary or oregano essential oils are toxic to roaches (Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Oct. 4, 2016). More recent research identified thyme and lavender essential oils as killing German cockroaches when applied directly to their bodies (Insects, Jan. 18, 2025). Whether there are practical methods for applying these oils is unclear. We welcome comments and research reports from other readers.
Citations
- Sharififard M et al, "Evaluation of some plant essential oils against the brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (Blattaria: Ectobiidae): A mechanical vector of human pathogens." Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Oct. 4, 2016.
