Kill German Roaches

The German cockroach is a common type of cockroach found in homes and restaurants.You may be able to kill German roaches in your home or restaurant by using gel bait, bait stations, and sticky traps. Boric acid is also an effective way to kill German roaches. If the infestation is severe, then you may need to use a combination of methods to kill the roaches. Place the bait in dark spaces in your kitchen and bathroom, such as behind the refrigerator, oven, and toilet, and inside kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Steps

Baiting and Trapping German Roaches

1. Use gel baits. This type of bait comes in a tube and is applied by squeezing the tube to dispense the gel. Apply the gel along window and door trims, behind the trashcan, and along the cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathroom. Also apply bait gel under sinks where the drainpipe enters the wall in your kitchen and bathroom.
   • Apply gel bait in the crevices and cracks of your kitchen drawers, and along upper shelving and baseboards.
   • If you have children or pets, then make sure to apply the gel in areas that are out of their reach.
2. Try a bait station. Bait stations consist of a plastic housing that contains poison. Cockroaches enter through small holes in the housing to retrieve the bait. Make sure to place the bait stations against the walls and in corners in high traffic areas like your kitchen and bathroom.
   • Place bait stations behind the refrigerator, microwave, oven, toasters, toilet, and other major appliances in your kitchen and bathroom. Also place them underneath your dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, washer, dryer, and hot water heater.
   • Identify high traffic areas by looking for roach droppings. Roach droppings resemble ground black pepper.
3. Use a sticky trap. Sticky traps contain pheromones that will attract the roaches. Upon entering the trap, the roaches will become stuck in it and suffocate. Also place these traps against the walls and in corners in high traffic areas.
   • Place sticky traps in the same areas you place bait stations.
   • Do not spray sticky traps and bait stations with insecticides or cleaning products. These will contaminate the baits. If the bait is contaminated, then the roaches will not enter.

Using Boric Acid

1. Use a duster bulb to apply the acid. A duster bulb will enable you to apply a thin layer of boric acid. Squeeze the bulb to puff a small layer of powder along the floor and walls in your kitchen and bathroom. The layer should be barely visible to your eye. Do not apply too much boric acid. If you do, then the roaches will be able to detect it and they will avoid the area.
   • Do not use a spoon to apply the boric acid.
   • You can purchase the acid from your local hardware store.
   • Do not apply the acid on countertops, especially where food is prepared.
2. Administer boric acid in between your walls. Drill a hole in your drywall big enough to fit the tip of the duster bulb. Place the tip of the duster bulb into the hole. Squeeze the bulb to dispense the boric acid in between your walls.
   • Since roaches tend to live in between walls, this is an effective way to kill them.
3. Use it in combination with gel bait and bait stations. But do not use it in combination with sticky traps. The traps will prevent the roaches from going back home, which helps spread the acid to other roaches.

Preventing German Roaches

1. Sanitize surfaces in your kitchen. Remove particles of food and clean up spills on your counters, tables, sink, stovetop, and other surfaces in your kitchen. Also make sure to sweep your kitchen and dining room floors, as well as other areas where you eat at least five times a week, if not every day.
   • Try not to leave dirty dishes and food in the sink overnight.
   • Empty the trash every night and cover the trashcan with a tight fitting lid.
2. Store food in airtight containers. Store flour, sugar, cookies, bread, cereal, crackers, and other food items in airtight containers. This will prevent the cockroaches from smelling the food and invading your kitchen.
3. Caulk holes and cracks. Use an expanding foam to cover cracks, holes, crevices, and gaps along the bottom of the walls in your kitchen and bathroom. Make sure to cover cracks and crevices around the pipes under the sinks in your kitchen and bathroom as well.
   • You can purchase expanding foams from your local hardware store.

Tips

• You can also try to kill the roaches with a basic sugar-baking soda mix. Mix equal parts sugar and baking soda and place it in a gallon lid. Also pour some water into a gallon lid. Place the lids where you have seen roach activity in your kitchen and bathroom. When the roaches feed from the lids, the water will react with the baking soda, causing their stomachs to explode. It may take several weeks to kill the roaches this way.
• Look in small appliances to see if the German roaches have found their way into them. Place the appliance in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight to kill the roaches. Rinse and wash it thoroughly.
• Boric acid is low in toxicity to pets, children, and adults.
• Call an exterminator if the infestation is severe.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get Rid of Roaches
• Identify a Cockroach
• Get Rid Of Roaches In an Apartment
• Get Rid of Roaches by Caulking
• Trap Cockroaches
• Get Rid of Roaches with Borax
• Eliminate Cockroaches with Roach Balls