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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.

Make it easier for your inspector to do a thorough assessment by preparing your home ahead of time. That includes:

• Noting any signs of pests around the home

• Removing obstacles in the way of the attic, basement, plumbing, garbage, and other key areas that inspectors will need to access

• Keeping children and pets away from inspection areas

Contact pest control if you have a stink bug infestation that you need to eliminate quickly. It’s difficult to kill them without crushing them and releasing their signature odor, or without using a toxic insecticide. Some homeowners have had luck with peppermint oil sprays or soapy water traps. But a professional exterminator will have the best advice and course of action.

We recommend using diatomaceous earth to create roach repellent barriers outdoors. Most oil and spray applications will quickly wear down in outside weather, so they aren’t as much use  in the outdoors. If you are really struggling with an outdoor roach problem, we suggest looking for pet-safe bait traps you can set.