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You can 100% get rid of roaches, but it takes weeks or months of consistent killing effort, meticulous kitchen clean-up, and airtight food storage. Working with a local roach control pro to fight an infestation enhances your DIY efforts to ensure total elimination. A multi-pronged approach with a roach contractor prevents repeat infestations.

Bug bombs do not typically eradicate a pest infestation completely. The bug bomb chemicals cannot reach into the small cracks and crevices that pests like to live in, so it may not reach every live bug. It’s much more effective to hire a professional pest control company to perform a home fumigation, removing the infestation fully.

Roaches have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by a variety of potent aromas. Scents that can help deter them include citrus (such as lemon and orange), herbs like peppermint, mint, basil, thyme, and oregano, spices like bay leaves, cinnamon, clove, and garlic, as well as lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, tea tree oil, and vinegar.

You can use these scents in several ways to create an unwelcoming environment for roaches:

• Plants: Place mint or lavender plants in your home or garden.

• Powders and Leaves: Sprinkle garlic powder or place crushed bay leaves and citrus peels in high-risk areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entry points.

• Sprays: Create a diluted solution with scents like lemon or vinegar to spray in your home. These can also be used in cleaning products or as room fresheners.

• Essential Oils: While essential oils of these scents can be used, be cautious as they can be toxic to pets if inhaled.

It is important to note that while these smells can help keep roaches away, they typically do not kill them and may not be enough to drive out an existing infestation entirely. For best results, combine these scent-based deterrents with regular cleaning. Be sure to clean up all food spills, crumbs, and dirty dishes promptly, and keep trash cans covered with a tight-fitting lid to remove potential food sources.

There are several ways to dry out flea eggs. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural ingredient that can dry out fleas, but it’s messy to apply and can also cause respiratory issues for members of your household if inhaled. Salt is safer and easier to apply, so shake it liberally over affected areas. Boric acid is another way to get rid of fleas and other insects, but this, too, can cause respiratory issues and health problems if inhaled or ingested.