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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.

While bleach is an effective roach killer, we don’t recommend using bleach as a drain cleaner. Bleach can release toxic fumes from your drains. Applying this chemical could cause damage to the entire drain system over time. It's better to use homemade drain cleaners or cleaners that don't contain bleach.

Your household members and pets should remain out of the house for at least two to four hours after using a bug bomb. However, you should adhere to the product’s safety guidelines, as well as any professional guidance from an exterminator.

Wasp removal is challenging for pros and novices and carries the risk of painful stings. Therefore, it’s not surprising that wasp removal is not free. You can save money by going the DIY route, but paying a professional exterminator increases the chance of effective removal—and keeps you from painful wasp stings.